Carol McBride, 75, of Chesterfield, passed away February 25, 2023, with her family by her side.

She was born to the late Levert and Lena Faye Hughes April 16, 1947, in Alton, Illinois. Carol graduated from Civic Memorial High School in 1965 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1969.

She married Allen McBride in 1969, and they lived together in Marine, Illinois twenty-five years before relocating to East Alton, Illinois in 1999 and then to Chesterfield, Missouri in 2013.

Carol is survived by her husband, Allen, and three children: Tracy Giese of Kansas City, Missouri, Beth Flach of Wildwood, Missouri, and Christopher McBride of Wood River, Illinois. She is also survived by her brother, Lindell Hughes of Pennellville, New York. Carol has eight grandchildren who were her constant joy. She adored her nieces and nephews as well as their children. Family was the center of her life.

As a youth she and her brother, Lindell, enjoyed many outdoors activities including boating and camping on the Illinois River as well as annual trips to Sarasota, Florida. She loved travel of any kind and visited 20 countries over her lifetime. Carol was a creative soul. She was a crafter in many mediums and collector of art. She was an extraordinary cook and enjoyed entertaining. Her mother managed a well known restaurant near SIU dental school named The Delux and from age 10, Carol worked beside her mom. Her love of cooking grew as she attended several culinary classes over the years. She enjoyed entertaining and was always hosting friends and family. She loved a challenge in the kitchen and could cook any dish well.

Her career included two years at Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and then as a Claims manager for CNA and the John Hogan Insurance Group companies. She and Allen owned several businesses during their 53 years of marriage. Their businesses included McBride’s Laundromats in Marine and Greenville, the East Alton Dairy Store & Restaurant, Grandpa Mac’s Ice Cream in Alton, and the mainstay McBride’s Printing in Alton from 1985 to its closing in 2021.

Carol’s legacy is she loved her family well and had a fierce energy for living a full life. She left a network of close friends and loving family behind. She will be greatly missed and always remembered.

Carol’s family is planning a memorial in May 2023.  The family requests donations in support of Region II Illinois Special Olympics in lieu of flowers please send donations by check to:
Region 2 Team, PO Box 296, Highland, IL 62249