Dorothy Clary Obituary

Dorothy Clary
December 2, 2023
Dorothy Clary, 90, of Baldwinsville, NY, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023 at Loretto Geriatric Facility; The Commons on Saint Anthony, in Auburn, NY.
Born Dorothy Sedgwick, she married Edward "Ted" Simmons in 1952 and began their family of three children, Jerry, Judy and Gail. Her husband Ted passed in 1966 and she married Robert "Bob" Clary in 1968. He brought a son, Michael, into the family. She was predeceased by her parents, Ruby and Floyd Sedgwick; her husband, Bob, in 2018; her stepson, Michael, in 2015; her sister Barbara Scott and great granddaughter, Grace Anthony, in 2020.
Dorothy grew up in the Onondaga Valley area of Syracuse, where she was a very active girl. She attended Onondaga Valley Academy, graduating in 1951. Her Senior Prom dance card was full. After high school, Dorothy was employed at the New York Telephone Co. when she met and married her husband, Ted. The family relocated to the Baldwinsville area in 1960.
Dorothy drove bus for the Baldwinsville Central Schools until her retirement in 1987. She loved being a bus driver, taking kids back and forth to school and on sports runs. Toward the end of her career, she was transporting special-needs children - a responsibility she especially enjoyed. Dorothy spent her personal time doing the things she loved; as a Paramedic for the Baldwinsville Ambulance Corp; working at the Methodist Church clothing exchanges; and snowmobiling trips with family and friends from the Cato Snowmobiler's Club.
She participated in school bus rodeos; chaperoning her daughters' Girl Scout and Methodist Youth Fellowship trips; picnics with fellow drivers, and time at her beloved cottage on Cross Lake where she and many family gathered with friends to have fun. Dorothy was an active member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Onondaga Valley. She prided herself in the happiness of her children and her love of family. She was a member of the TOPS group of Phoenix, NY; the American Business Women's Association (ABWA), her women's golf league, and many other organizations.
Dorothy is survived by her son, Jerry Simmons of Camillus, NY and her daughters, Judy (Carl) Bauchspiess of Columbus, OH and Gail (Ed) Gray of Elbridge, NY; her grandchildren, Erin (Timothy) Lightfoot of Chelsea, MI and Steve (Annie) Anthony of Saline, MI; her great-grandchildren, Veronica and Jillian Lightfoot and Lucas and Isaac Anthony; her twin sister, Dorene Schuelke of Syracuse, NY; her brother James Sedgwick of Vero Beach, FL; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Alice Clary of Cato, NY and several nieces, nephews and cousins, whom she dearly loved.
Calling Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 18, 2024 at Gates Funeral Home, 29 West Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, NY with a funeral service immediately following at 2 p.m. Interment will follow on May 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery, 70 Tappan Street, Baldwinsville, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mom's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern NY https://www.alz.org/northeasternny or the Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance Corps. https://www.gbacems.org/. Either organization would be truly grateful for your monetary gift.
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