Carolyn Edna Kelsey passed away on the morning of July 24 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospital House in Scarborough. She was born on June 11, 1937 in South Bristol to Norman Everett Kelsey and Helen Hatch Gilbert.
Her educational accomplishments include graduating from Bristol High School in 1955, and Central Beauty School in 1979 with her daughter Sheila. They were the first mother and daughter to attend and graduate together. In 1982 Carolyn became an instructor there. In 1983 she and her youngest daughter, Kelsey, entered the University of Maine, and in 1988 Carolyn earned an Associate Social Service degree.
Carolyn’s career accomplishments included: Resource Consultant at CED in Newcastle, Career Image Consultant with Vocational Rehabilitation in Bath, and Vista Volunteer Coordinator for the Tedford Shelter in Brunswick.
During her early childhood, while her father was serving in the Navy, she spent many happy days with her grandparents, Everett and Edna Kelsey in Walpole. She often referred to the family history stories that her Grammie Kelsey would tell her. This sparked a passion in recent years for genealogy. Her love of books and family history led her to volunteer at Skidompha Library, organizing and cataloging references in the genealogy room. Carolyn also enjoyed her roots with South Bristol, and volunteered at the South Bristol Historical Society. She passed on her passion for genealogy to her daughter Tracy and they spent many enjoyable times “digging” up information about ancestors.
Carolyn leaves behind sister, Patricia Dubord; nephew, Mason; daughters, Nadine Brown and husband George of Pittston, Sheila Chadbourne and husband Glenn of Newcastle, Tracy Verney and husband Verne of Sheepscot, and Kelsey Chute and husband Nate of Nobleboro. “Marmie” was the proud grandmother of Jasper Reed and wife Shannon and their daughter Layla, David Reed and wife Crystal and their daughter Sydney Carolyn, Deric and Paige Verney, Chad Erickson and Ben Chute.
A private committal service at will be held at the West Bristol Cemetery in Walpole. A memorial gathering and story sharing will be held at the Skidompha Library in Damariscotta 3 p.m., Sat., Aug. 11.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the Skidompha Library Genealogy Room, PO Box 70, Damariscotta, ME 04543 or the South Bristol Historical Society, PO Box 229, South Bristol, ME 04568.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements under the direction and care of the Strong Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
