Carolyn Elizabeth (Spearman) Shaw, Franklin, IN, joined her husband, as well as friends and family, in heaven, passing peacefully while surrounded by her loved ones on Sept. 11, 2018.

Carolyn was born in the “hills and hollers” of Scottsville, KY in 1949. She loved the country land and had many places to explore and play as a young child. She and her parents moved to Indianapolis, IN, where Carolyn went to school in Franklin, IN. She was a straight “A” student and grew up loving music. Many drawings of George Harrison can be found in her school notebooks. As a child, she met Ronal D. Shaw. While they played cowboys and Indians as kids, years later after high school, she and Ron were married after he returned from Vietnam. Sept. 28, 2018 would mark their 50th year of marriage.

In November 1973, Carolyn joined Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA). She was a lifetime member, with 46 years of philanthropic service. She served in numerous leadership roles, including local chapter presidencies and as Indiana State President in 1993. She earned the Fourth Degree of Pallas Athene, meaning wisdom understanding and truth, for all of her volunteer hours. This is a high recognition of her unselfish service and contributions of growth and service to others. Her children, Adriane E. Crabtree and Alex M. Shaw, were born into ESA, which helped mold their childhoods to always understand the importance of service to others.

After giving birth to her two children, she lovingly called herself a domestic engineer. While she did work as an administrative assistant for a several years, and was an expert in shorthand, she preferred to stay home with her children to help them. She always said it was important to give your children roots and wings, and she did.

Carolyn would wish that you spend time with your children, grandchildren, friends, take time to give to others, and stop to smell the jonquils and pink roses, her two favorite flowers.

While in heaven with her husband Ron, she and he will continue to love and guide their daughter Adriane E. Crabtree and son-in-law Ross D. Crabtree of Greenwood, IN, son Alex M. Shaw and daughter-in-law Sarah E. Shaw of Indianapolis, IN, and her four grandchildren Cora & Harper Shaw and Lydia & Robert Crabtree. She is also survived by siblings Thomas Spearman, Leo Spearman II, Monica Eldridge Eck, Larry Eldridge, Paula Eldridge Ramey, and Marty Eldridge. Carolyn is also survived by the many caregivers of Morning Pointe, who loved and cared for Carolyn like one of their own family members.
Carolyn was preceded in passing by her husband Ronal D. Shaw, her parents Leo T. Spearman and Nancy Meador Eldridge, and sister Freda Eldridge Eck.

The Reverend Larry McAdams will conduct a service Saturday, September 15 at 5 p.m. at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN, where friends may call from 3 p.m. until service time at the mortuary.

Final inurnment will take place in Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, IN, at the same time as her husband Ron. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carolyn’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.