Carmen Soward

Carmen Jane (Bush) Soward, age 71, of Bitely, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly after some medical complications on Friday, July 7, 2023. She was born July 28, 1951, in Leighton Township, to the late Colonel Willard Bush and Betty Jane Genereaux. Carmen was a PROUD elder of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. She served on the Merrill Township Fire Dept and would go on to help create the Lilly Merrill Rescue Squad. She eventually went on to become a first responder. Carmen moved to Baldwin in 1985 and went back to school to get her HS Diploma. She then went on to become a Paramedic for Lake County EMS and a reserve for the Lake County Sheriff Dept. She would eventually retire from the medical field. She would then meet the love of her life, Lee Roy and move to Woodland Park. She worked at Big Rapids Components and permanently retired from there. Some of her favorite things to do were Camp in her Kia at Little River Campground all summer. She loved her casino slots, cold Pepsi, and warm fresh white rolls from Hilltop Bakery in Grant, Fry Bread and Corn Soup. Carmen loved her children and grandkids like no tomorrow. I asked mom what she enjoyed the most and it was "Little River Language Camp with my family". Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Lee Roy Soward; children, Shawnee (Thomas) Perez, Earl Hossler Jr, Daniel (David) Hossler, and Steven Hossler; bonus children, Sherry Soward, Aaron Hutchins, and Anthony Soward; grandchildren, Melinda Hossler, Kendra Jones, Derrick and Dexter Hossler, Jacob Soward, Honesty Soward, Steven (SJ) Hossler, Sontheya Johnson, Alekzander Perez, Nariyon Hossler, Clarence Hossler, and Angel; bonus grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler, Monica and Chris; great-grandkids, JaQuell Ojeda, Miila Twa and Nevaeh Hossler; siblings, Joe & Robert Bush and Patricia Lay; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and best friend, Rita. Carmen was preceded in death by her parents; Willard Bush and Betty Genereaux; siblings, Florian (Sonny) Genereaux, Nick Bush and William (Billy) Toothman; great-grandchild, Damien Kelman; bonus child, Andrea Soward; and her best friend, Karen Hills. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at 1:00 pm at the Bitely Community Center, 10733 N. Bingham, Bitely, MI 49309. We would like to thank the staff at Mercy Trinity Health in Muskegon, for everything they did to make mom comfortable. Also a big thank you to Tommy Bush, Kolton Toothman, JaQuell Ojeda, and Tom and Alekz Perez for tending to mom's fire. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carmen Soward, please visit our flower store.