Carolyn Lucy Simon

Carolyn L. Simon passed away Friday, March 17, 2023 in her room at the Manor at Carpenters. She was 96. Born in Chicago, Illinois November 10, 1926 to Alfred and Emma Trembly, she graduated from North Austin High School, and received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and Masters in Christian Education from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

While at Garrett, she was pursued by a young ministerial student named John, with whom she was “intrigued.” When she entered the infirmary with mono, she was relieved that he couldn’t see her in such a disheveled state. He, however, told the nurse he was her clergyman and presented Carolyn with a teddy bear. They were married June 14, 1950, a partnership that endured more than 72 years until his death in December, 2022.

Mom was a woman of many talents and interests. She always had a sewing project in process and made many of her family’s clothes, first out of necessity and subsequently as a creative outlet. She loved music, singing with choirs in every church Dad served as well as ringing hand bells. An avid reader of everything from murder mysteries to anthropology, she was also a more accomplished artist than she ever gave herself credit for.

Though married to a prominent Methodist minister, Mom was quietly determined to maintain her own identity, a value she passed along to her children. When a choir director once addressed her as “Mrs. Preacher,” she gently set him straight and he never made that mistake again.

Even In her declining years, as arthritis crippled her and she became increasingly bedridden, she determined to make a life with her ever-present IPad on which she explored the world (google!), played games, read books, exchanged emails with relatives and gloried in the latest pictures of her great grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister Diane Trembly of Tampa, son Larry Simon of Lakeland, daughters Lynne Kane (Michael) of Melbourne and Jennifer Simon of Lakeland, grandchildren Daniel Kane, Kevin Kane and Robin Morris, and four great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, March 31, 2023, at 3:00 at College Heights United Methodist Church, 942 South Blvd, Lakeland, FL., with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her name would be welcomed to College Heights UMC or the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, Florida.