Carol Ebert, 83, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will follow at Chester Cemetery north of Grinnell.

Carol's family will receive friends at the visitation held from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, March 16th at the Smith Funeral Home.

Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell Friends Church and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Carol's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Carol Sears was born on October 6, 1941, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Russell and Francene (Worthy) Sears. She was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1960.

On April 28, 1961, Carol married Richard Ebert, in Newburg, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Kevin, Jeffrey, and Rhonda. Carol worked as a bookkeeper at APCO Station, that was owned and operated by Richard and Carol. She dedicated much of her career to her work as a seamstress at DeLong's Sportswear and Rock Creek Athletics, where her skilled hands and attention to detail left a lasting mark.

Carol's greatest joy in life was her family. She treasured every moment spent with loved ones and took special delight in family gatherings. As a devoted mother and grandmother, she never missed an opportunity to cheer on her family at their events, always their biggest supporter. Thoughtful and kind, she had a gift for remembering birthdays and sending heartfelt, beautifully written cards. She enjoyed the "4 Sears Girls" sister weekends and took the Grinnell paper to show where they traveled to.

A woman of strong faith, Carol was a longtime member of the Grinnell Friends Church. She will be remembered not only for her deep love for her family but also for her spirited personality—a true spitfire who brought energy and warmth to every room she entered.

Carol is survived by her children, Kevin Ebert, Jeffrey Ebert, and Rhonda Bair, all of Grinnell; her grandchildren, Justen Rice, Jeffrey Ebert, Jozellann Ebert, David Ebert, Ryan Peak, Russell Ebert, and Casey Bair; her great-grandchildren, Seth Williams, Kaiden Peak, Akasha Rice, Aries Rice, and Kwintyn Ebert; and her siblings, Judy Bohner of Blue Springs, MO, and Linda (Tim) Stanley of Danbury, WI; her brother-in-law, Robert Tarantino; and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Ebert in 2017; her brother, Larry Sears; grandson, Damion Marsh; great-grandchild, Taylor Rice; sister, Barbara Tarantino; and nephew, Bret Bohner.