- Date Of Birth: July 1, 1934
- Date Of Death: October 16, 2021
- State: Arizona
Carol Louise (Dorn) LaRue
July 1, 1934 – October 16, 2021
Carol Louise (Dorn) LaRue died peacefully on October 16, 2021, in Scottsdale, AZ, surrounded by loving family and sure in her faith in God that she was finally going home. She cherished her family, friends, and church, had a quick wit, a ready laugh, a love of adventure, and a heart for service.
Carol was born July 1, 1934, in Detroit, MI to Ruth Marie (Fackler) Dorn and Ernest William Dorn. In her childhood, she enjoyed many glorious summers with cousins in Arcadia along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, playing cards and swimming. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 1956 with a degree in Geography and soon after moved to Washington, DC, to join her sister Margaret as an analyst at the CIA. She would enjoy a long career with the federal government, transition to a full-time homemaker, then return to the workforce and retire from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Carol had many adventures, including sailing on the Queen Mary with friends to Europe in 1958 to explore all the sites they had read about and dreamed of seeing in person. While living in Washington, DC, she met James LaRue on a blind date and married him on November 14, 1959. She continued her passion for travel over the years, taking trips with James to Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Tanzania, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, Russia, China, Thailand, and Cambodia, along with many U.S. destinations. When traveling, she cherished time with local families, learning about their customs and culture and diving into local cooking styles.
Carol also cared deeply about her personal friendships. She loved her time with the Crazy Ladies bridge group in Saginaw, where bridge was an excuse to laugh, tell stories, have dessert, and plan trips together. In Fountain Hills, she loved her Grouping Sisters at Shepherd of the Hills and looked forward to the weekly sharing, love, and support of these women.
Carol always made room at the holiday table to welcome anyone who was alone, new in town, or just wanted to have a midwestern family experience.
Carol also participated in performing arts throughout her life. She had a blast in productions of The Music Man and A Christmas Carol at Pit and Balcony in Michigan, acting, singing, sewing costumes, and going to cast parties. She was a choir and handbell choir member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Saginaw, MI, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills, AZ, and the Fountain Hills Community Choir. She also brought laughter and the message of the Gospel to her community through Clowns for Christ at Shepherd of the Hills as “Daisy.”
Carol is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, James LaRue, her daughters Jeannine Tebeau of Howard City, MI; Laura (Mike) Gertz of Washington, DC; and Katherine (Matthew) Eppley of Fountain Hills, AZ; her grandchildren Rachel (Eric) Roberts, Brenna Eppley, Reed Eppley, and Noelle Gertz; her brother John (Natalie) Dorn; and her brother-in-law Leo (Nancy Plencher) Damkroger; as well as many cherished cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Ruth Dorn, her brother and sister-in-law David and Ada Dorn, her sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Thomas Drescher, her son-in-law David Tebeau, her mother-in-law and father-in law Estella and Clarence LaRue, and her sister-in-law Lois (LaRue) Damkroger.
Her family would like to thank The Auberge at Scottsdale for their compassionate care over the past 18 months, Hospice of the Valley, and all those in the community who loved and cared for Carol.
The family respectfully requests that all individuals attending the in-person service wear face masks. Carol loved a lively celebration, and guests are encouraged to wear their “Easter best” and favorite brightly colored clothing!
