Honoring Alan and Dorothy Caron for their Lasting Gift to Vocations

The Diocese of Gaylord is thankful for the donation of more than $1 million from the Alan and Dorothy Caron Estate Trust to the diocesan vocation education endowment fund. With a great desire to support men going into the priesthood, Alan and Dorothy Caron’s donation will support one seminarian’s education in perpetuity. The late Alan and Dorothy Caron were devout Catholics who were parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish in Traverse City from 1982 until their passing. Alan entered into eternal life in 2007 at the age of 83; Dorothy in 2023 at the age of 101.

Both served in the military. Alan was a pilot in the US Army Air Force in WWII, while Dorothy, an R.N., was an Army nurse in both WWII and the Korean conflict. They were married in 1947 and had two children who preceded them in death. Alan and Dorothy’s careers took their family to Peoria, Illinois, Kalamazoo, and Maple City, Michigan. As leaders in their fields, Alan was in the glass industry, and Dorothy was in nursing. Then, together, they owned and operated Maple Valley Nursing Home. In the early ‘80s, after retiring, they settled in Traverse City. The couple enjoyed spending summers in Traverse City and winters in Brooksville, Florida.

The Diocese of Gaylord and our seminarians thank the Carons for their generous legacy gift.