Carol Ebert

Carol Ann Ebert

Beacon of Goodness

Honor her for all that her hands have done – Proverbs 31:31a

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  – Galatians 5:22-23a

Carol Ann Ebert - Mother, Grandmother, GreatGrandmother, Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt, Friend.

Carol Ann (Lilley) Ebert was born on March 28, 1941 to Paul Lilley and Naomi (Pickel) Lilley.  Fittingly, she began her eternal life on March 16, 2024.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Ebert; one daughter, Nancy Ebert; both parents; three brothers, Glen Lilley, Danny Lilley, and Paul Lilley; one brother-in-law, Tim Allen; and two nieces and two nephews.  She touched so many with her beautiful servant heart including five surviving children:  Rebecca (Kim) Glenn, Robin (Scott) Martin, Robert Ebert, Rhonda Welles, and Roger (Tina) Ebert.  Carol reveled in her role as a Grandmother with 11 Grandchildren and 12 GreatGrandchildren.  She continues to be beloved by her remaining six siblings; Don (Violet) Lilley; Lois Blum; Alma (Steve) Weidner; Sherry Allen; Paula (Ted) Beer; and Cindy (Manuel) Lilley.  Carol is also survived and remembered by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces, and great- and great-great-nephews.  

As the oldest of 10 children, Carol nurtured others from a very young age.  She was found in the crib trying to soothe her baby brother when she was only 18 months old herself.  Growing up on a farm, Carol became proficient in cooking, canning, and gardening.  At the tender age of 10, she began her unpaid lifelong career as a hairstylist by giving her own Mother a perm and cut.  She crocheted doilies, knitted baby booties, and sewed everything imaginable including 5 wedding dresses.

Carol enjoyed fishing even when she was untangling lines and baiting hooks and taking off fish for her children and grandchildren.  She could fillet a fish so that the skin was thinner than paper and yet not a single bone was left.  Then she would bread and fry that fish so even those who claimed they didn’t care for fish became converts.  Carol bagged a 9-point buck the first time she went deer hunting.  She processed the deer herself - sometimes with help, but often alone.   Carol also handled the preparation for anything else an outdoorsman might bring home – rabbit, squirrel, dove, duck, pheasant, and frog legs.

Carol continued to use those skills she learned on the farm, but she never limited herself.  She learned to ride a bike as an adult.  After learning it was less expensive if she rented skates for herself, she taught herself to roller skate at the age of 37.  Without the help of the internet, Carol took on projects herself before DIY became an acronym.  She learned how to be her own auto mechanic – she could change fuel pumps, water pumps, alternators, starters and more.  Anything to get the vehicle back on the road at minimum cost.  A water pipe was leaking?  She became a plumber.  She designed and sewed the tent for a large mobile ice shack.  That worked so well that she then created a custom-made duck blind for the family boat.  Carol continued to see new challenges as opportunities for adventure.  So much so, that she ziplined and walked a 5K after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.  She was 75 at the time.  Carol could get lost in a story, so she purposely put off reading novels for decades to focus on raising her children.  Once she had retired and her children were grown, she almost constantly had something to read – magazines, romance novels, devotionals, newspapers…it didn’t really matter the source.

Carol relished being present for family.  She tried to attend as many graduations and weddings of her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, and nephews as possible.  Without making it seem like it took much effort, Carol endeavored to maintain relationships with extended family and friends across the years.  She was willing to sacrifice her own plans and comfort for anyone else. 

Carol loved to travel.  She told of her first road trip with an Aunt and Uncle trip to visit Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore.  She took an Amtrak train all the way from Illinois to California.  Her first flight was later- a trip to San Antonio, Texas.  Carol would hop in a car to visit with family members all across the United States as often as possible.  Later, she experienced the joy of Work & Witness Trips with the Church of the Nazarene.  She participated in short domestic trips plus overseas trips to Madagascar, France, and Honduras.  Her cooking skills were always appreciated, and on the trip to Madagascar her and a teammate joined together to teach other ladies to sew.  They designed, patterned, cut, and sewed window treatments for 26 windows for a new school and co-located apartments in less than a week.  Missions became very important to Carol, and she continued to support missionaries and mission teams with her talents, finances, and prayers.

Carol epitomized the Godly woman described in Proverbs 31.  She exemplified love as laid out in 1 Corinthians 13.  She put love in action as outlined in Romans 12.  The fruit of the Spirit defined in Galatians 5 was evident in her life.  As others describe Carol, some phrases come up time and time again:  she had a peaceful spirit; she had a servant’s heart; she was loyal and faithful.  One description stands out – she was a beacon of goodness in this crazy and chaotic world. 

Carol, Mom, Ma, Grandma, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Friend.  You touched lives with your hands – they provided healing to those who were hurting, help to those who needed assistance, food for the hungry, clothes for the needy, and a soothing touch of peace for the weary.  You shined so brightly.  You are missed.  You are loved. 

There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 30, from 10-11 a.m. at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign. The funeral service will begin at 11 at the funeral home followed by burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana. 

Memorials may be made to Church of the Nazarene, Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, MS 66220.

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