Carla W. Goyarts

Carla Goyarts passed away at the age of 85 on Monday, February 28, 2011 at Grace Healthcare in Abingdon. Carla (Carolina Wilhelmina Maria Willemsen) was born March 11, 1925 in Arnhem, The Netherlands, was the daughter of Frans Willemsen and Ans Willemsen-Gribnau.

Carla graduated from Den Bosch high school in Arnhem and immediately pursued employment. She met the love of her life, Keith Goyarts, in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Keith accepted an engineering position in Montreal, Canada and Carla followed him several months later with her wedding dress in tow. They were married on July 12, 1952 in Montreal. Carla had a determined spirit. When she left her homeland and started a new life across the ocean, she faced many challenges. She had some education in English and French in high school but her language skills were really tested in Montreal, especially at work. She moved frequently throughout her life as her husband changed jobs. From Montreal they moved to South Bend, Indiana, then to Cleveland Ohio, where Earl Goyarts was born in 1958. They moved again to Battle Creek, Michigan, where they established their first home, designed by Keith. She did most of the landscaping and gardening around the new house planting trees, shrubbery, ground cover and of course beautiful grass. She started working part-time at Kmart when Earl reached middle school. The family was regularly skiing and Carla quickly progressed. After 12 years with Clark Equipment, Keith was offered a new engineering position with Ingersol Rand near Washington, PA. So they moved again, Keith designed a new house and Carla did the landscaping, gardening and worked at a Kmart. Carla continued skiing with her son and took up a new interest, finance. She started playing the stock market and did not stop until her final days. While her son was in graduate school, Ingersol Rand relocated Keith to Bristol, VA. Another house was designed by Keith in Abingdon, VA, and Carla did the landscaping and gardening. She again found work at Kmart in Abingdon. They both retired while living in Abingdon. Earl got married in 1994 and had a daughter, Laura Goyarts in 1995. Carla had lots of energy and continued skiing with friends she met in Virginia until she reached 80. She had a vegetable garden and lots of flowers to take care of during the summer months. Carla lived in Abingdon for 28 years. She was active in the neighborhood, was a caring person who developed long lasting friendships. Carla always offered her opinion on everything, especially politics and investing. She was always busy and lived a long life in excellent health. She was never hospitalized until she got cancer about 3 years ago. Her husband of 57 years passed away in August 2009.

Carla will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Her only grandchild, Laura Goyarts, now age 15, is the daughter of Earl Goyarts and Zsuzsanna Vegh-Goyarts. Additional family members include her sisters in The Netherlands, Dory Beekman and daughters Francis and Karen and her younger sister, Cis Drent, her husband Bob Drent, son Jasper and daughter Hanneke.

The family will receive friends between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011, at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon. Condolences may be sent to the family by email Goyarts@optonline.net.

The family of Carla Goyarts is being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276) 623-2700.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 301 E. Valley Street, Abingdon, VA 24210.