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Caroline (Carra) Quinlan Wetzel passed away on Oct. 15, 2026, in Traverse City, Michigan. She was born on Jan. 30, 1934, in New York City to Charles G. and Alice Cobb Quinlan. As the oldest of six, she lived in Barcelona, Spain; London, England; New York, New York; and Washington, D. C., before her family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut. Carra graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich and Newton College of the Sacred Heart, Newton, Massachusetts.
It was at Newton that Carra met her future husband, Ed Wetzel. They married on Oct. 6, 1956, a year after their college graduations. They began their family and lived for many years in Greenwich, Connecticut, later moving to Dayton, Ohio, when Ed found a position in the midwest.
When her children were all in school, Carra went to Manhattanville College for her Master in Education degree and the University of Bridgeport for certification in Remedial Reading and Language Arts. She then began a career as a teacher and reading specialist teaching in Greenwich and Dayton, Ohio.
Health issues mandated that Carra leave teaching, but that did not stop her from continuing to meet the needs of her community. At the age of 60, she completed a Master of Social Work degree at Virginia Commonwealth University.
In 1995, Carra and Ed moved to Powell, Wyoming, to be near their son and his family. Carra opened a private counseling practice and served as the social worker for the Park County Drug Court, retiring twice from the position, as she was greatly admired and feared by the judges and clients.
Carra was an active member of the Powell community through her involvement in St. John’s Episcopal Church, P.E.O. International, and Al Anon. She spent many hours gardening and even more sewing, with many family and friends as the recipients of her beautiful quilts.
Carra was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ed Wetzel; her parents, Charles G. and Alice C. Quinlan.
She is survived by her four children: Alice Ann Wetzel (Mark Chubb) of Seattle, Washington, Martha Keltner (Dave) of Traverse City, Michigan, Catherine Wetzel (Nabil Zahrah) of Chicago, Illinois, and John Wetzel (Shelby) of Powell, Wyoming. She also leaves behind 11 treasured grandchildren: Carra Chubb, Liz Chubb, Christopher Keltner, Jonathan Keltner (Hannah), Peter Keltner, Grace Zahrah, Faris Zahrah, Margaret Zahrah, Claire Wetzel White (Travis White), Quin Wetzel, and Ben Wetzel (Megan), and five great-grandchildren, as well as her five siblings, Alice Quinlan, Sheila Brown, Faith Perkins, Gordon Quinlan and Alby Quinlan.
Carra loved spending time with her family in Wyoming and across the country, wherever her children and siblings lived. An avid reader, she loved sharing books with others. Carra also prioritized writing letters and notes to support her extended family and friends with their various life events, her penmanship distinctive and lovely to the end of her days.
Carra will be remembered for her grace, warmth, spirit, kindness, intelligence, and love shared with her family and all who knew her. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 308 Mountain View St, Powell, Wyoming followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 308 Mountain View St, Powell, Wyoming 82435 or the Wetzel Family Scholarship at Northwest College Foundation, 231 6th St, Powell, Wyoming 82435.
