Carolyn Virginia Tee passed unexpectedly into the presence of the Lord Jesus, due to pulmonary embolism four weeks after childbirth, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Waynesville, Missouri.
Carolyn, known in childhood as Carrie, was born on May 15, 1986, to Tom and Susan Steere of Hornell, NY. Always bold and strong-willed, she became the first pupil in the Steere Family School.
She attended high school at Alfred-Almond Central School, graduating in 2004. She majored in fine art at Alfred University, graduating in 2008.
From age seven on, she spent many happy weeks at Camp Iroquoina, a Christian camp in Hallstead, PA, serving as camper, counselor, and staff member.
She loved travel and completed training with The Airline Academy. Following graduation from Alfred University, she spent 2 months in Burundi helping at the Rainbow Center for abandoned babies and displaced teen girls, then served for a year as an au pair near Cologne, Germany.
She married Edward Lewis Tee, originally from Welch, West Virginia, in a small private ceremony May 10, 2015, at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri, with a larger wedding celebration April 8, 2016, in Fayetteville, NC.
As the Army moved Edward to various posts, Carolyn worked in several retail positions, including with Verizon Wireless, and finally became a Territory Manager for Heartland Payment Systems. She was assisted by nannies who cared for her children, most notably Adriana Gaitan Sevilla.
She recently “retired” to fulfill her life-long dream of being a full-time homeschooling mom to children Ethan, Gemma, and Edward, and to better support her bonus daughters, Graciella and Genesis.
She is survived by her husband and children, as well as by her parents and brothers and their families: Dan & Carissa Steere of Youngsville, NC, Artemas & Mollie Steere of Fulton, NY, John & Dallas Steere of Morrisville, PA, James & Madilyn Steere of Jamesville, NY, and David & Emily Steere of Hornell, NY, along with seven nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, Gordon and Virginia Steere of Athens, NY, and John and Mary Ellen Westlake of Hornellsville, NY.
A Celebration of Life was held in Waynesville, MO, on January 30 at Westside Baptist Church, with assistance from Memorial Chapels and Crematory.
A second Celebration of Life will be held in Carolyn’s hometown of Almond, NY, Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m. at the Alfred-Almond Bible Church. Guests are invited to share memories of Carolyn and to stay for a luncheon following the remembrance.
To help with planning, please RSVP, if possible.
Search for the memorial for Carolyn Tee on the website, EverLoved.com or contact Tom & Susan Steere. https://everloved.com/life-of/carolyn-tee
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