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Dorothy S. Carnahan
RANDOLPH, N.Y. - Dorothy S. Carnahan, 89, formerly of 195 Main St., East Randolph, died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, in the Heritage Park Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility.
A lifelong area resident, she was born July 5, 1924, in the Town of Conewango, the daughter of the late Bryon E. and Marion Kirkpatrick Seely.
She was the widow of Myron (Mike) W. Carnahan, whom she married April 3, 1948, in the East Randolph United Methodist Church, and who died December 2, 1992.
She was a 1941 graduate of Randolph Central School, and in earlier years had worked for the former Empire Mutual Insurance Co. and Quality Markets.
Dorothy retired from Cattaraugus County in 1986 after being employed for two years as secretary to the County Clerk and 18 years as secretary to the County Attorney. After retirement she worked in the Domestic Building at the Cattaraugus County Fair from 1987-2002. She was Randolph Town Historian for 43 years retiring in 2008 and was Clerk of Vital Statistics for the Village of East Randolph for 50 years retiring in 2010. She also served as election inspector for the Town of Randolph and Randolph Central School for many years.
She was a life member (63 years) and past president of Randolph Unit 181 of the American Legion Auxiliary. She served as Cattaraugus County President of the American Legion Auxiliary and was a past 8th District President. During her tenure as District President, she served as historian for the Department of New York and received an award for the best history in the Eastern Division comprised of 11 states. She also served as historian for the Past 8th District Presidents and was a charter member and past chapeau of Cattaraugus Salon 610, 8 et 40.
Other memberships included the VFW Auxiliary 6533, Fidelity Chapter No. 239 Order of the Eastern Star, AARP, and the Cattaraugus County Women's Republican Club, where she was named "Woman of the Year" in 2003. She was a 62-year member of the East Randolph United Methodist Church where she served as trustee during the building of the Fellowship Hall and Parsonage.
She enjoyed reading; traveling (having visited all 50 states); playing bingo, tickets, and cards; and was rarely found without a raffle ticket to sell. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and loved planning her high school class reunions.
Surviving are two sons, Dennis M. (Kathy) and Kirk P. (Ida) Carnahan of Randolph; two daughters, Jean C. (Ray) VanNess of Randolph and Joann C. (Danny) Timmer of New Port Richey, FL; 13 grandchildren, Jeremy (Laura) VanNess of Warren, OH, Shawna (Jim) Baumbach of Lindenhurst, Erin (Jeremy) Archer and Ian Carnahan of Jamestown, Lauren Carnahan of Latham, Hillary Carnahan of Fredonia, Rhiannon and Ericka Carnahan of Randolph, Melanie LaMar of Dunedin, FL, Rick (Gina) Chapman of Glen Allen, VA, Eric (Christy) Chapman of Jamestown, Amy (Luke) Griffin of Randolph, and Jean Horton of Olean; and 11 great grandchildren, Sydney and Brooklyn VanNess of Warren, OH; Stella Baumbach of Lindenhurst, Sarah, Kaitlyn, and Wyatt Joneson of Glen Allen, VA, Mason and Cole Chapman of Jamestown, and Christopher Horton, Cierra Farmer, and Cameron Mower of Randolph. She will be sadly missed by her special friend, John Harry Grace, of Palm Desert, CA.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Seely and James B. Seely; and a sister, Alice Marie Goodrich.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 17, 2013), in the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, Randolph. A memorial service by the Randolph American Legion Auxiliary will be held at 7:15 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the East Randolph United Methodist Church with Pastor Rodney Mileham officiating. Burial will be in the East Randolph Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the East Randolph United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 67, 122 Church Street, East Randolph, NY 14730, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 181, 62 Jamestown Street, Randolph, NY 14772, or the Randolph Free Library, 26 Jamestown Street, Randolph, NY 14772.
Published in The Post-Journal, October 14, 2013
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