Iola Carter

Mrs. Iola C. Carter, 96, of Colfax, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, IL.

She was born February 7, 1929, in Anchor, IL, to Paul and Pearl (Smith) Grosse.

Iola grew up on a farm where her summers were filled with kittens, her horse Lucky, and Buddy the dog. Her job was keeping her grandfather’s cattle from wandering into the road.  She spent all of her days outside with her horse and dog.  She lived quietly being a great student. At the age of 17, Iola began nurses training in Champaign and worked as a nurse’s aide in the polio ward.

As a young woman, Iola married Richard Owens and gave birth to her first daughter, Iris. After the marriage ended, she returned to Anchor to live with her parents. It was there that she began working Double B Barn. Just across the street from mom’s childhood home and her Aunt Fern worked there. This tall lanky guy, Loren Carter, a cheerful Cubs fan with a big grin who worked just across the other street.  He loved Aunt Fern’s beef and noodles. And this cute little girl who just started.  They were married on August 22, 1952. They lived in the small white brickhouse. Then I was born. Then Loren came along 18 months later …that small white brick house was getting crowded. Iola’s mother, just a few blocks away—they lived a full and joyful life. In 1958, after inheriting Loren’s mother’s two-story house in Colfax and learning they were expecting again, they welcomed their youngest daughter, Mona.

Iola thrived as a homemaker and tended a vibrant garden, baked delicious apple pies from the tree in their side yard, led Brownie troop, and hosted countless round house whiffle ball games with neighborhood children. She taught her daughters to sew on her grandmother’s treadle machine and later took up crocheting sweaters and vests. After Loren’s passing from cancer in 1972, Iola continued to care for her family while working at Woolworths and Perkins in Bloomington. Her children grew up and started families of their own. She became a devoted grandmother to Todd Hays (Deanna); Tracey Knorr (Robbie); Sarah Hahn (Nathan); Jim Laub (Amanda); Nikki Conner; and Tim Cole. Over time, she was blessed with 3 more Shannon O’Brien (Phillip), Nathan Murrell (Laconda), Heather Murrell. Iola has 15 great grand kids and 4 great-great grand kids. All because they both loved the Cubs and beef and noodles.

Books were among Iola’s greatest joys. An avid reader throughout her life, she amassed a personal library of over 3000 books—many of which she read more than once. She often read through the night and slept during the day. In her final years, she found comfort in reading and the companionship of her beloved cats: Taffy, Stripes, and Missy. Her granddaughter, Nikki, has been her accountant, grocery shopper, and caregiver. In 2020, she set up her home office in the 2^nd bedroom and spent her days working from Iola’s home.

My mom had the best care. Iola remained fiercely independent until the end of her life. In 1994 she moved into a cozy one-story home around the corner from her long-term residence in Colfax and retired there surrounded by memories and family visits. Her granddaughter Nikki provided loving care during her final days. She is survived by her four children: Iris Murrell (Leonard) of Colfax; Paula Laub (Tom) of Altona; Mona Hubbard (Joe) of Bellflower; and Loren Carter; and her cherished feline companions.

She was preceded in death by her parents Pearl and Paul Grosse; her husband Loren Carter; her sister Eileen Paternoster; and her infant granddaughter Katie Laub.

Iola C. Carter lived a long life filled with resilience, love for family, quiet strength—and books that carried her through every chapter of it. Read on till dawn, Mom.