Caroline M. Lacey, 72, a lifelong resident of Downsville passed away Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Delaware Valley Hospital, following a long illness.

Caroline was born July 30, 1946 in Shavertown, NY, the daughter of the late Lillian Hadden and Louis Sprague and her loving step-father Arely Hadden. She married the love of her life, the late Leonard S. Lacey on October 15, 1966 at the Harvard Methodist Church.

Caroline was employed for many years as a custodian as well as a bus driver at the Downsville Central School. Caroline wrote the Corbett and East Branch news for the Reporter for years, and loved to write poems and short stories. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, the American Legion Post 167, the Tub Mill Hunting Club, Corbett Community board member and an avid member of the Colchester Community Church. She loved helping at rummage sales, soup sales, and the food bank.

Caroline enjoyed the great outdoors where she loved hunting, fishing, 4wheeling, snowmobiling, gardening in her lovely flower beds and decorating for every holiday. Indoors she loved talking with her friends and family, playing cribbage, pinochle, canasta and bingo; drinking wine, cooking, and baking for the entire family and listening to old country music.

She is survived by her loving family, her four sons: James and Noma Lacey of Cooks Falls, Leonard and Kimberly Lacey of Corbett, Dale and Tammy Lacey of Corbett, and Joseph of Corbett. Grandchildren: Matthew (Darla) Lacey, Mandy (Tom) Roberts, Melinda (Sean) Matthews, Jessica Lacey, Timothy (Amanda) Lacey, Jonathan Lacey, Miranda Lacey, Jeremy (Mary) Jenkusky, Roger Vernold, Kristin (Chris) Vernold, Samantha Lacey, Elizabeth Lacey and Joseph Lacey Jr. Her siblings: Marie (Jerri) Flora, Mary (Don) Charles, Charlotte (Craig) Emerich, Alan (Janet) Hadden, several nieces, nephews, cousins, great-grandkids, friends and a couple that she considered as her kids, Danny and Gerri Peterson. She was predeceased by her loving husband Leonard S. Lacey, her mother Lillian and loving step father Arely Hadden and father Louis Sprague, her grandparents, and siblings Arely HaddenJr., France Eschbach, Doris Fairchild and a very special couple that were like family to her, Arthur and Mary Peterson.

Friends and family are invited to services on Friday afternoon, June 7, 2019 starting at 12noon at the Colchester Community Church, 15151 State Hwy 30, Downsville, where funeral services will be held with Father Michael Shank officiating. Burial will follow in Paige Cemetery, Downsville. Arrangements are with Courtney Funeral Home, Walton. Memorial contributions in Caroline's name may be made to family members to help with funeral costs, PO Box 366, Downsville, NY 13755