Obituary of Carol S. Spencer

On June 18, 1941, Carol Sue Hall started her journey into life in the home of Eli and Mrytle (Meeks) Hall, in the city of Portland, Indiana.  Eventually, with her father and siblings, Carol moved east to Canajoharie, attended and graduated Canajoharie High School in 1959.  Her first stop out of school was to graduate from airlines stewardess training, but alas she was deemed too young to fly.  So she joined the United States Marine Corp.

In the Marine Corp, she met and married a fellow Marine, William C. George.  That 15 year union brought forth twin girls, Brenda and Belinda, and a son “Billy” (William C. George, Jr.).  In 1979, at their twentieth high school class reunion, Carol and Earl Spencer, a local dairy farmer, met up and ultimately a marriage resulted.  From that union was born another daughter Danielle.

Carol worked on the farm and ran the household, but pined for more contact with people. When the Amish community in Palatine was being established, her idea was to start a store, “Expanding Horizons” featuring Amish handmade crafts, like quilts, dolls, hickory furniture and literature about the Amish society.  Along with Earl, Carol helped present over 100 talks to local groups and organizations, trying to explain the Amish way of life, not as experts but as students of the Amish society.

Because of their closeness with the Amish community, the Spencer’s were “invited” to help them build a milk receiving station in the Stone Arabia area. By about 2000 the milk plant had morphed into a cheese plant, but it was struggling to gain a foothold.  The Amish decided to market their milk in a different method. The Spencer’s by now had retired from dairying, seemed to be logical parties to buy out the assets of the cooperative and give cheese making a try.  In 2002 a deal was struck and the Spencer’s moved the cheese making operation to the former Fort Plain packing plant in Nelliston.  Once again Carol was in her glory because she was in charge of the retail store and could interact with a whole new customer base. 

Carol was a “people person” as those who knew and grew to love her enthusiasm for whatever she involved herself in.  She had a strong Christian faith and again was never-ending in her efforts to encourage others of her positions. She was strong-willed, opinionated and she felt that inner strength helped her beat cancer the first time around.  She was a proud and supportive mother and wife and she was especially proud of her service in the Marines and subsequent membership in the Air National Guard as a security officer at the Scotia Air Base.

Carol completed her tour of duty on this earth on December 9, 2019 after a battle with cancer and lung disease.  At her request, there will be no funeral.  A memorial honoring Carol is anticipated at a later date at the convenience of the family.

Carol is survived by her husband, Earl; daughters, Brenda (Jeff) Hill, Belinda (George) Bowerman, Danielle (Jon) Schoff; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers, Jerry (Carol) Hall, Eli (Barbara) Hall, Chris Hall; sisters, Melody (Raymond) Keller, Sharon Hall, and Patty (Leroy) Nestler.  Also by step-siblings, Bill, Jerry, Candy, and step-daughter, Mara Spencer.  Carol was predeceased by her parents, Eli and Mrytle; sister, Louise; brother, Don; son, “Billy”; and step-mother, Gertrude.

Donations or memorial gifts can go to the local Lion’s Club of which Carol was a member, or to an organization of your choice.