Carrie Jo Young, 63, of Berea, passed away peacefully on Dec. 7, 2025, after a life filled with laughter, creativity and fierce love for the people (and cats) who mattered most to her.
Born on May 7, 1962, in Battle Creek, Mi., to Linda and Ronald Kelly, Carrie spent the first 39 years of her life in the state she always called home. In 2001, she made the bold move south to Berea where she quickly claimed the town as her own. If you lived in Berea and the weather was warm, chances are you spotted Carrie cruising the streets in her wheelchair, wind in her hair, a grin on her face and probably waving at half the town like the unofficial mayor of summer.
Carrie was an artist in every sense: her hands created beauty, her humor created joy and her heart created lifelong bonds. She loved cats with an enthusiasm that was contagious, and she loved her friends with a loyalty that never wavered.
She was the proud and devoted mother of Brianna Jackson (Young), and the delighted grandmother to three grandchildren who were the light of her life. She is also survived by her sister, Wendy Mondragon (Young), and a wide circle of friends who became family.
Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Linda and Ronald Kelly.
Rest easy, beautiful soul. The streets of Berea won’t be the same without you cruising by.
In keeping with her wishes, Carrie will be cremated. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date when friends and family can gather to tell stories, laugh until they cry, and remember the one-of-a-kind woman who made the world brighter just by being in it.
In lieu of flowers, hug your cat a little tighter, call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, or simply smile at someone on the street—because that’s exactly what Carrie would have done.
