Carol L Fillmore, 78

Carol L Fillmore was born Aug. 23, 1943, the third child of seven born to Harry and Gladys in Sidney, Neb. She was raised a classy farm girl. After graduation, she left the farm in pursuit of an education in Nampa, Idaho. There she met her future husband John and wooed him into marrying her. They married and raised three children; Debi (Stephanie, Trenton, Spencer) — the perfect child, then Vicki (Larry, Krista, Blake) — the curious child and adventurer, and then Lisa (Jim, Margo) — the one that everyone loves. They produced six grandchildren, who in turn produced six great-grandchildren, for Carol to love.

Carol loved her family and when the girls all left home she took John to the far reaches of the world from East Asia to East Africa as a missionary to serve her Lord’s family. Carol loved the people of Africa so much, particularly the children and pastors in the bush. She had a small but effective photo printer that she took into the bush wherever the car could go, and many places it shouldn’t, where she took pictures of pastors and their wives, who had never seen a picture of themselves, and gave it to them. She was also deeply loved by all people and was John’s passport into their hearts as well. Carol spent almost 11 years living on foreign fields as a wonderful missionary wife to John, and a mother and friend to everyone she met. To the Africans she is known as Mama Carol.

Carol was the perfect example of the type of hospitality Christ expects of all of us. Her home was always open to others no matter their social status or level. She simply and effectively displayed the love of Christ to everyone from the yard man in Asia to the Governor in Africa. They were all welcome in her home and ate at the same table together!

Carol returned home to North Idaho 13 years ago to begin her battle with cancer and fought gallantly for life, enduring many surgeries and winning the hearts of all medical people who served her. She was and is loved and prayed for by thousands, and maybe even hundreds of thousands, of people around the world. She returned to Africa three times after being diagnosed with cancer.

Carol passed away at home, peacefully in her sleep, on March 25 at 1 a.m. There will be a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m., on Saturday, April 23, at the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene, 4000 N Fourth St. Carol requested that in lieu of flowers a contribution can be made to the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene (Teachers Training College), 4000 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, or through Upward Thrusts Foundation website @ upwardthrustsfoundation.org.