Carolyn June York

Carolyn June York, 92, of State Center, Iowa passed away on May 3, 2024 (on her birthday) at her residence.

She was born May 3, 1932, to parents, Arlie Brisco and Nellie Fanny Lamb (Martin) in Mark, Iowa on a farm one mile north of the Iowa/Missouri Line. Her K-6 education started at Washington School; a one room country schoolhouse located near several farming families. Carolyn then attended Junior and Senior High in Lancaster, MO but moved on to graduate from Bloomfield High School in 1951. While attending High School in Bloomfield, she met her future husband and was married on June 11, 1950, to Benjamin Wayne York at The Mark Baptist Church in Mark, IA.

As a young girl and a member of the Mark Baptist Church, Carolyn was baptized in a local farm pond. Her faith in Christ was cemented by a firm foundation in church with strong farm, community, and family relationships.

Carolyn was taught to play the piano by her mother and also took lessons from a local piano teacher. Her musical development also included the saxophone and was part of her school curriculum. Her love of music blossomed while growing up in the farm life she loved. Tales of farm life adventures were often passed on to her children and grandchildren. She shared many experiences of helping with chores, gardening, caring for honeybees and apple, peach and cherry orchards.

Carolyn had many talents; her best one was Mom; she excelled at being a mother to her six children. She extensively gardened and canned homegrown foods, sewed clothes for her children, and baked many pies and breads–also well known for her Christmas candies. She played the piano for several local church services and was involved in many church committees and activities at Hillside Church of Christ, New Hope Christian Church and Lamoille Congregational Community Church. Being an excellent pianist, she passed this talent on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Carolyn played the saxophone as did her daughter Cindy, Cindy’s son Eric, Eric’s son Makai, and Andrea’s son Avery, making four generations of saxophone players.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years; her parents; infant sister Dorthia Pearl Lamb; brother Gordon Ralph Lamb; brother Loran Max Lamb and grandson Bruce Ryan York and several sisters and brothers-in-law.

She is survived by her six children: Cynthia (George) Brooks, Harlan Iowa; Cheryl (Larry) Johnson, Centerville Iowa; Barry (Tami) York, State Center Iowa; Bryan (Julie) York, Kettering Ohio; Brant (Kathy) York, State Center Iowa: Carletta (Jeff) Markley, Mokane Missouri. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren with one to be born in September.

Carolyn lived in several places in Iowa: her family farm near Mark; Bloomfield; the York farm near Mark; Harlan, Clarinda, Ledyard and State Center where she passed.

Carolyn found joy in life, her relationship with God and the hope of heaven was important, and her hope was all of her family would have that same relationship and the hope of Heaven.

OUR MOM: Independent, Stubborn, Courageous, Creative, Determined, Opinionated, and Perfectionist.

SHE LOVED: to share her home and make guest feel welcome with good food and an openness, to work and bake, especially bread and pies and occasionally homemade ice cream, plants and flowers inside and outside, gardening and canning, the British comedy shows, babies, to keep her house clean and orderly, her piano, to drive fast, to sew on her mother’s old machine. Above all, she loved the Lord and family. Loved to reminisce about her days on the Mark Iowa farm with her parents. Mom is home now!

The piano sits in silence today in Honor of Carolyn. Her musical talent was passed on. It would please her to see this group today. There are younger ones just starting too. They played for you Mom.

Lovingly written by her family.

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday May 11th, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at the Lamoille Congregational Community Church. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation, one hour prior to the service. She will be laid to rest at the Inskeep Cemetery near Bloomfield, Iowa. Carolyn and her family are under the care of Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.