Carolyn M. Clark

In the early morning hours of October 31st, 2025, Carolyn M. Clark took her final breath at home on the road that she had lived on for most of her adult life, after a lengthy illness.
Carolyn was born September 19th, 1950 to Elizabeth Wood Roosa and Ernest Shapley. Although she attended school in a few different districts including Oxford she graduated from Sherburne High School. Soon after graduation she married the love of her life, Lawrence (Larry) Clark on September 27th, 1969, and became a farmer's wife.
As a small business co-owner of Carmay Dairy she took on the challenge of working in the barn, in the fields and handling the bookkeeping for the farm. Carolyn and Larry welcomed four daughters. Tina (Robert) Tinker of McGraw, Tammy (Todd) Cornelius of Deansboro, Tracey (Chris) Combs of Sherburne, and Terri Hughes of Kendall.
As the Clark girls grew older she began volunteering in their classrooms which led to her becoming a substitute and eventually a teacher's aide for the Sherburne-Earlville School District where she worked for twenty years until she retired. Despite working so much she still found time to attend school concerts, extracurricular events, and sporting events that her children and later grandchildren participated in.
Through the gift of their grandchildren, Carolyn and Larry received the boy they had always hoped for. Jake and Elizabeth Tinker of Camillus, Grant and Taylor Tinker of Rochester, Hunter Cornelius (Kaylee Gager) of Vernon, a granddaughter Makayla Cornelius (Cameron Newman) of Vernon, Logan Cornelius of Deansboro, Jordan Combs and fiancée Kalie Fleming of Hubbardsville, Josh Combs and fiancée Kayla Still of Waterville, Colby Hughes and Cooper Hughes, both of Kendall. They also had five great grandchildren. Clark, Braxton, Clara, Beau, and Blair.
She is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Frances and Jeanette Shapley of Norwich, William and Melissa Roosa of Sherburne, a brother-in-law Charles Curry of Sherburne, Larry's family and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Carolyn was predeceased by two sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Curry and Permelia (Penny) Wood, and three brothers Charles (Charlie) Shapley, Edward Shapley, and Bruce Roosa.
Carolyn loved country and bluegrass music and to dance (especially square dancing) at local establishments Mountainview, Fun Haven, and the Cortland Country Music Park where they followed the bands that they loved and met up with many of their friends.
After retirement she and Larry were able to travel, including driving cross country through the United States and Canada to Alaska in their camper. As well as Nashville and too many Bluegrass Festivals to mention.
Carolyn was an avid bowler and competed in both a Women's League and Couples League at Hi-Skor Lanes in Earlville, and once even appeared on the local tv show Bowling-For- Dollars. She also found time to coach Youth Softball. When her children's 4-H Club devised a Community Project of a safe trick- or- treating experience for the neighborhood, she was instrumental in bringing the Annual Neighborhood Halloween Hayride to life. She drove the tractor for more than twenty years so that not only her children and the neighborhood children, but also their children could experience a safe, fun Halloween. After retirement she loved volunteering at the Christmas bazaar at the school. She also participated in a sewing guild and the Home Bureau.
Above all else Carolyn will be remembered as a die-hard Yankees fan. Through the years she listened to countless games on the radio, watched her beloved Yankees on tv, and took her children and grandchildren on bus trips to Yankee Stadium.
A funeral will be held on November 15th, 2025 at noon at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St. Sherburne, NY 13460. Interment will follow in Wilcox cemetery, (Town of Smyrna). A Celebration of Life will continue from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the American Legion Post # 876, 15 S. Main St. Sherburne, NY 13460.
Carolyn touched many lives through the years and her family hopes that they will come and share their favorite memories of her.
Her family would like to thank Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, 33-39 Court St. Norwich, NY 13815 for their excellent care and guidance during her final days. Contributions in her memory may be made to them in lieu of flowers.
To leave a condolence online or sign the book of memories, go to:
www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com