Carol was born March 11, 1943, in Savannah, GA, to Ethel Crane and Charles Carroll Stevens.
At the age of eleven, Carol and her mother moved to Montgomery, following the sudden death of her father.
When Carol entered her senior year at Valley Central High School in Walden, NY, her school district merged with another one in the area. This fateful circumstance resulted in her walking past Paul Schoonmaker in a hallway. He asked her out on a date, perhaps it was a dance or the movies, neither could quite remember, but that detail didn’t matter because they were married shortly after, and four children quickly followed.
They put everything they had to creating happy childhoods for the kids. From baseball to “Cornfests,” drag races; Pioneer Girls, go-carts, back yard pools, trailbikes, summer trips to the Jersey Shore and cross-country explorations in their station wagon.
When the children moved away in different directions, Carol and Paul began building their dream home high in the Catskill Mountains. This was inspired by what they saw on their road rallies throughout Europe. It was on one of those trips, amid beautiful hills, waters and chalets they declared, “We will build a place like this in our own mountains.” Surrounded by endless trees and crystal-clear streams, they thrived.
Through the years, Carol would make flower arrangements, split wood for the fireplace, do her crossword books and play “her (video)games, write lengthy letters to people she loved, play with the dogs and cats and go on long walks. She walked everywhere with Paul, always hand in hand. One of their most exciting hobbies was to attend regional car shows and compete for trophies with their respective cars—Carol’s green 1968 Jaguar 2+2 Coupe ,and Paul’s blue 1953 J2X Allard race car.
On Wednesday December 27th, 2023, Carol entered eternal rest. Carol was predeceased by her youngest son Mark Douglas Schoonmaker, her parents and her brother Arthur “Kidd” Stevens.
Carol leaves behind her best friend and husband of 63 years, Paul Miles Schooonmaker; three children, Michael S. Schoonmaker (Sharon), Allen P. Schoonmaker (Nance) and Amanda L. Grey (Tom); her loving daughter-in-law Christine Pennes (Vic), her eight grandchildren, Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker, Logan M. Schoonmaker, Elan M. Schoonmaker(Daniela), Erin Grey Kachur (Sergey), Ryan T. Grey, Mark D. Schoonmaker Jr., Riley L. Schoonmaker and Roland S. Schoonmaker. Very recently, she was ecstatic to meet and hold her first great-grandson, Miles Henley Schoonmaker. When Carol recently learned she had a brother, Arthur, she was deeply blessed to forge an everlasting bond with his children and grandchildren including: Rose Stevens Mullice, Alicia Mullice and Mercedes Stevens Byrd, all in Midway, GA; Irene Stevens Ward (Randy) in Richmond Hill, GA; Charlotte Stevens Merritt (Charlie) in Bonaire, GA; and Wendell L. Stevens(Joyce) Philadelphia, PA.
A memorial service will be held, Saturday, January 6th, 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church Station Rd in Rock Tavern.
Arrangements were made by Millspaugh Funeral Directors.