Sara Jane Dost of Fairgrove, age 78, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at her home, surrounded by the love of her family. Sara was born September 5, 1936 in Caro, the daughter of the late Timothy and Helen (Atherholt) Sheridan, and attended Graham and Moreland Country Schools before graduating from Fairgrove High School with the Class of 1953. She went on to study at a comptometer school in Flint and graduated from Flint Junior College, now Mott Community College. Sara was united in marriage with Donald D. Dost on September 22, 1956 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Reese. The Dosts lived in Lapeer after their marriage, where their two oldest children were born, and then moved to Flint. In 1963, they moved to the family homestead on Sheridan Road, where Sara and Don would spend the remainder of their lives. In that same year, they purchased the Caro True Value Hardware Store in downtown Caro, and continued to operate it until 1989. Sara was a constant presence in the Caro business community, and served the area as a business and community leader. She was a member of the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Downtown Development Authority, and was instrumental in establishing Atwood Park in Caro as well as creating a downtown presence for the Caro Chamber of Commerce. Sara was creative in finding efficient ways to accomplish a task, and would often lead inmate work-release crews to complete building projects. The streetscape seen in downtown Caro came from Sara’s vision for a better shopping district, and she originated the idea of selling bricks with the donor’s name to be placed along State Street next to the new lighting and trees. She is also responsible for the music that can be heard playing in downtown Caro and the weekly summer concerts at Atwood Park. She served on the Tuscola County Community Foundation Board of Directors and contributed her time generously to the area’s aged and physically handicapped. In 2002, she was awarded the Caro Citizen of the Year Award by the Caro Chamber of Commerce. Sara leaves a legacy of blazing the trail for women in business while raising a family and giving back to her community through progressive volunteerism. Sara is survived by two sons, two daughters and their spouses, Paul and Joyce Dost of Reese, Jane and Jeff Clark of Colleyville, Texas, David and Becky Dost of Flower Mound, Texas, Susan Dost and Lindsey Sugar of Los Angeles, California; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, one brother and their spouses, Anne Laethem of Caro, Timothy M. and Doris Sheridan of Caro, Patricia and Donald Hurst of Farmington; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Sara was preceded in death by her husband, Don, on May 31, 2009. A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Caro with Rev. Christian Tabares officiating. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Caro. The family was present to receive friends at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and on Wednesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to Sara J. Dost Scholarship Fund with the Tuscola County Community Foundation. The family was assisted with these arrangements by the Ransford Collon Funeral Home of Caro. Friends may share memories thoughts and prayers online at www.RansfordCollon.com.