Carolyn Jean Soley, 81, formerly of Tamaqua, PA, died peacefully in her sleep on July 4, 2026, in Mercy House Hospice, in Chambersburg, PA. Surviving are her four sons: Samuel & wife, Paula in Fairfield, PA. Scott in West Penn Twp, PA. Stephen & wife, Olga in Caret, VA. and Sherwood in Barre, MA. Carolyn had four biological grandchildren; Ashley, Cameron, Kaitlyn, and Kendall.

Born October 1, 1944, in Coaldale, PA, she was the last surviving of five children to the late Henry and Ethel T. (Major) Hower; Gloria Rimm, Henry Hower, Richard Hower, and Elizabeth Fabian. She was also preceded in death by her estranged husband, Samuel A. Soley, Sr. in 2002.

Carolyn graduated from Tamaqua Area High School in 1962, where she was a proud member of the all-female Drum & Bulge corps. Carolyn had been a member of the West Penn Lioness Club and Little Acorn Sporting Club. She loved her four boys and was active in supporting them at football & baseball games, wrestling competitions, and marching band performances. She dedicated time to various TAHS booster clubs and activities while her boys were in school and beyond.

Carolyn was co-owner of Soley’s Country Store (West Penn and New Ringgold). Food was her love language, and she served the community through it. She ran Carolyn’s Kitchen, a food truck she took to auction sales, festivals, and events, with many people praising her homemade Chicken Pot Pie. She also opened up shop at the Andreas Sporting Club for multiple years. She became a Dietary Manager at Mahoning Valley Nursing & Convalescence Home. After she was semi-retired, she continued to work in cafeterias through the Tamaqua Area School District.

Carolyn was protestant and loved attending church, having the angels by her side. Carolyn was a shining example of kindness and generosity, welcoming friends to the dinner table, supporting school functions like bonfires, little league, band camps, and helping children in need. She organized friends and coworkers to support a local children’s orphanage, which started with an angel tree for the holidays and grew to helping collect donated supplies year-round.

No viewing or funeral. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. To memorialize Carolyn’s memory, the family is asking that donations be made to Mercy House of Chambersburg (https://mercyhouseofchambersburg.org) or to donate to a local organization in your community providing care and support for vulnerable children.

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