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Obituaries: Obituary: Mary Sherman Caskey
March 25, 2008
On a blustery first day of spring in 2008, Mary Sherman Caskey died at her home in Cornwall, N.Y. She was 83.
Mary was born in Fremont, Ohio, the daughter of J. Homer Sherman and Mary Williams Sherman. Upon the death of her mother, Mary was lovingly raised by Lucy McGormley Sherman.
A graduate of Oberlin College with a degree in music, Mary also attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., where she studied organ with her dear friend and mentor Claire Coci.
Some considered her the “sound of music” as she taught and played music throughout Orange County for decades. During her 30-year career as organist at Grace Episcopal Church in Middletown, N.Y., Mary created the Festival Brass Group. It accompanied her to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where they had the honor of performing a concert.
Prior to her tenure at Grace Church, Mary was the organist at Bantam Episcopal Church in Bantam, Conn.; Moulton Memorial Baptist Church in Newburgh, N.Y.; and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cornwall.
Mary was a bookkeeper at the Storm King School in Cornwall. She was one of the original trustees and also served as treasurer of the Museum of the Hudson Highlands (originally known as the Cornwall Neighborhood Museum Association); secretary and a member of the Orange County Citizens Welfare Committee; a longtime volunteer with Meals on Wheels and The Guild of St. Margaret; treasurer of the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists; and treasurer of the Pine Hill Cemetery in Middletown.
Besides her parents, Mary was predeceased by her husband, Robert; her brothers, John, Philip and Richard; and her nephew John H. Sherman. She is survived by her son, Jeremy Carroll, and his wife, Anne, of Maryland and Anne's son, Tyler; and many other family members, colleagues and dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Robert Caskey Organ Maintenance Fund, The Robert Caskey Memorial Holiday Dinner Fund, or The Guild of St. Margaret, all c/o Grace Episcopal Church, 12 Depot St., Middletown, NY 10940.
Small of stature, Mary was a feisty woman with a heart bigger than herself. Her door was always open and many found refuge at Mary's at difficult times in their lives. She could often be seen in her trusty little station wagon with her dogs in the back, heading off to her next charitable deed or errand on someone's behalf. She was generous in sharing her love of music with others, especially children, whom she treated as equals. Many remember with pleasure her tours of the pipe organ at Grace Episcopal Church, an introduction to the mysteries of sound and acoustics. Her life was as many-layered and rich as a Bach fugue, and echoes in the hearts of those who loved her.
There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Middletown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
Funeral arrangements by Quigley Bros. Cornwall-on-Hudson NY
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