Obituaries

Carol Sue Comer

Photo of Carol Sue Comer
Carol Sue Comer, age 54, of Jefferson City, quietly passed away on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at her home. Born August 31, 1966, in Willoughby, Ohio, she was the daughter of Mary (Pettet) Comer and Stephen Comer, and they survive. Carol was largely raised and lived most of her life in Franklin Township, Indianapolis, Ind., which was her true home. Carol was a 1984 graduate of Franklin Central High School. She went on to attend Indiana University (IU) where she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree from the IU Kelley School of Business in 1989. Carol then went back to school to become a joint-degree student at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, as well as a Juris Doctor from the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Carol was the law school's first Environmental Law Fellow. She began her environmental law career at Plews Shadley Racher and Braun in Indianapolis immediately following law school and stayed there until 2002, when she transitioned to Administrative Law Judge for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for a year. In 2003, Carol moved to Phoenix, Arizona to become an Attorney Of Counsel at Lewis Roca Rothberger until 2005. She then moved back home and worked for the State of Indiana from 2005 to 2017, where she served as a Senior Administrative Law Judge for eight years, Chief of Staff of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for three and a half years, and then as the Commissioner of IDEM for a half year. Carol was enjoying her most recent position serving the State of Missouri as the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, which she held for the last four and a half years. Carol was an avid traveler. Visiting six out of seven continents and just under 40 countries, Carol had plans to visit the seventh continent (Antarctica) in January 2022. Carol was always the "cool aunt". She loved to spoil her nieces and nephew, and adored them to bits. She also loved to shop, support the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, collect artwork, read, hike, attend concerts, theatre productions and musicals, and baking, especially cheesecakes! Carol was an outstanding friend and an incredible boss lady who was a pleasure to work with. She will forever be immensely missed by friends, family, and colleagues. Other survivors include her brother, Michael Comer and his wife Leticia of Indianapolis, Ind.; one brother-in-law, Roger Laird of Morristown, Ind.; three nieces and a nephew, Mary (Laird) Knepp and her husband Joas of Milroy, Ind., Max Comer of St. Charles, Mo., Samantha "Sami" Comer of Carmel, Ind., and Emily Laird of Morristown, Ind.; one great-niece, Vera Knepp of Milroy, Ind.; two dogs/fur babies, Mia and Lena Comer; a plethora of aunts and uncles; and a bunch of cousins whom she cherished very much. Carol was preceded in death by her sister and best friend, Catherine "Cathy" (Comer) Laird on March 5, 2002; grandparents, Ray and Ardath Pettet and Max and Ferol Comer. Memorial Services will be held at Franklin Central Christian Church in Indianapolis, Ind., at a date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be made to God's Bounty Food Pantry (8946 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46239 or godsbounty.org), Franklin Central Christian Church (4100 S. Franklin Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46239 or fcchristianchurch.net), or a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109, (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com.

Published June 27, 2021