Carolyn M. Alcorn

Carolyn Marie Alcorn, 84, of St. Joseph passed away on July 14 in Urbana, Illinois after a short illness.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday July 18, 2023 at Mount Olive Cemetery in Mayview. Arrangements are by Freese Funeral Home.

Carolyn was born in Mansfield, Illinois on November 27, 1938 to Elsie Edith Stone Colmer and Frank Philip Colmer, Jr. She graduated from Mansfield H.S. in 1956. Carolyn worked at various jobs in the Champaign-Urbana area, including Willis Department Store (where she even got to do some modeling), The News-Gazette, and Champaign National Bank.

Carolyn met her husband, Charles “Chuck” W. Alcorn, Jr., the love of her life, at a dance at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. She and Chuck were married on June 22, 1958 and enjoyed 42 years of marriage. Dancing was one of their favorite activities, especially the polka. They enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to attend the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. They also loved just being at home and working outside in their yard. Chuck preceded Carolyn in death in 2000 following a 5 ½ year battle with ALS. 

A loving wife and mother, as well as a devoted homemaker, Carolyn will be greatly missed by her children, Lisa (Andrew) French of Albion, MI, and Rodney (Dorota) Alcorn of Orlando, FL; grandchildren, Katelyn French (Elliott Valentine) of Madison, WI, and Brennen (Rev. Kelsey) French of Hopkins, MI; sister Mary (Ray) Jones of Savoy, IL, and brother Gerald (Margaret) Colmer of Gold Canyon, AZ; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the ALS Association, Clark-Lindsey Legacy Fund, or the charity of your choice.

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