Charlotte Dowding

Charlotte M. Dowding, age 91, of Olivet, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, September 17, 2021. She was born August 23, 1930, at the family farm on Narrow Lake Road in Brookfield Township the daughter of Harry and Blanche (McDonald) Hisler. Charlotte grew up during the Great Depression. Her parents worked hard on the family farm raising crops and milking cows and they always had plenty of food on the table. As a child she attended the Verplank School and later graduated from Olivet High School in 1947, at the age of 16. She then attended Western Michigan University where she earned her teaching certificate. Charlotte was the youngest school teacher, at age 19, in Calhoun County history. Charlotte had a passion for children and loved teaching. She taught Sunday School and volunteered at Fern Persons Elementary School in their Read to Succeed program. She also volunteered at Hayes Green Beech Hospital as a greeter and worked as secretary of the physical therapy department for many years. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Charlotte. Charlotte enjoyed playing cards, traveling, and playing the piano. Charlotte was a devoted mother and always did her best to ensure her family was well cared for. Whenever you visited her home there was always oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies in the freezer and you never left without them. The family would like to especially thank Cari Montague, Fred, Carlie, Autumn, and Trevor Marshall for the loving care they provided Charlotte. Charlotte is survived by her daughters: Susan (Greg) Norton of Charlotte, Nancy (Robert Hewitt) Dowding of Bellevue, Carol (Joseph) Kita of Olivet; grandchildren: Kelly (Brandy) Norton, Jason (Laura) Norton, Daniel (Sherrie) Hewitt, Cory (Becky) Hewitt, Cari (Fred Marshall) Montague, Kathryn (Joshua) Rateike; 11 great grandchildren, 2 great great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Dorma Hisler. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Kathryn (Leo) Stevens, Harry “Bud” Hisler, and Virginia (Darrell) Hicks. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 1 P.M. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Clarence Center Cemetery. Those desiring, may make contributions in Charlotte’s memory to the Fern Persons Elementary School Reading Program.