Carol Sue Huntoon

Carol Sue Huntoon, age 81, of Ontonagon, Michigan was born March 29, 1938 in Lansing, Michigan to Florence (Lang) Huntoon and Max Thales Huntoon.  She graduated from J. W. Sexton High School in 1956 and attended Michigan State University where she earned her BA Degree in Art Education (1960).

Carol taught art and remedial reading in St. Johns, Michigan (1960-1963) and at the Air Force Dependents' High School in Goose Bay, Labrador (1963-1964). In June of “64 she boarded a freighter and headed to Germany where she studied oil painting and the German language for a year. During breaks in her studies, she traveled over 25,000 miles in her VW Kombibus visiting 11 European countries and dozens of cities and villages.

Near the end of her year, and almost broke, she got a job working on the production line of a cable factory in Berlin.  She finally booked a berth on a freighter, and along with her beloved VW, returned to the United States and Michigan. Carol got a job as a sorority assistant housemother and work study librarian aide at MSU in order to support herself and earned her MA degree in Education (1966).

She went on to serve as the Art Teacher and Assistant Director of Recreation for the Women's Job Corps in Marquette, Michigan (1966).   In 1967 she accepted the position of Director of Student Activities at Northern Michigan University.  Subsequently she served in several positions in her 25-year career at NMU including Assistant Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Residence Halls and Director of Commuter and Nontraditional Student Services.  In 1992 she was awarded the University's Excellence In Service Award.  During her tenure at Northern, Carol earned her pilot's license (a long time goal) and completed all of the course work for the Educational Specialist Degree.

Prior to her retirement from NMU in 1992, Carol purchased a farm in East Branch (“back of Mass”) with her friend Sherrie McCabe, and together they established a llama herd that at one time numbered 18.  For several summers, they provided a “Take a Llama to Lunch” guide service, which drew tourists from throughout the Midwest.  In 2001, after selling the farm, she became the Airport Manager for Ontonagon County Airport-Schuster Field.  Her background in administration and aviation were helpful in her ability to secure engineering and federal/state funding for several developmental projects at the airport including security lighting, card reader self-serve refueling, snow-removal equipment building for the newly acquired tractor with a snow blower and a dump truck with plow blade, new wind cone tower, runway navigational lighting, runway rehabilitation (resurfaced in 2010) and terminal building improvements.  Carol retired from her airport position in 2016.

Retirement also meant time for volunteer work. Carol served on the Ontonagon Area School Board, the Friends of the Porkies board, was instrumental in building the Artist in Residence cabin in the park and enjoyed being an Ontonagon County Animal Protection (OCAP) volunteer.

Carol always felt fortunate to live her life in her favorite location on the shores of Lake Superior.

Carol is survived by her partner Sherrie McCabe, brother Willard Lang (Louise Heinze) Huntoon and nieces Lorie (Greg) Brace, Julie (Paul), Maisonneuve, Ellie (Michael) Roberts, Dr. Kristin Huntoon (Colin McCluney), and nephews Jacob and Sam Huntoon and great nephews Christopher and Tyler Maissonaeau and Jay Brace.

She was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law Jack and Gayl (Thornton) Huntoon, and her parents Max and Florence Huntoon.

Visitation for Carol will be at the Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon on Thursday, September 19 from 4 until 6.

Inspired by Carol’s love for all animals, memorial donations may be made to OCAP, 19504 State Hwy M-38, Ontonagon MI 49953

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