ONEONTA - Constance Carolyn (Wykes) Osterhout passed away Feb. 15, 2017, at Hospice-by-the-Sea in Boca Raton, Florida, following a brief period of medical complications.

Born June 19, 1926, Connie was the only child of Paul Wykes and Elizabeth Tarbox (Wykes) Harrington, growing up on a large farm in Otego.

She graduated from Otego Central School and married John Forster Herring of Otego, on Oct. 17, 1944. Together they built a home where they began raising their three children, Gail, Sharon and John.

She was a Girl Scout leader, and later worked part-time at the Otego Central School.

She enjoyed the blessings of living in a small village, being close to two generations of family, caring for her children, home and garden. As an accomplished seamstress, she designed and sewed her little girls matching coats and dresses, as well as dance and baton costumes for many Otego children. During those years Connie formed many life-long friendships.

Connie later moved to Oneonta, where she met and later married William A. Osterhout on March 12, 1960. Their daughter, Shelley, was born in 1961, Bill's first girl, after having raised three sons, Donald, Wayne and Bruce.

It was in 1962 that Connie began her lifetime dream of becoming a nurse. As the president of the first LPN class of Oneonta Consolidated School District, her class attained the highest New York State board score in 1963. Upon recommendation of the late Dr. C. F. Ryan, Connie became the first per diem nurse hired at A. O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.

For the next 42 years, Fox Hospital became her second home working in the emergency room, medical surgical and numerous departments. She later served as office nurse for physicians, Edward Keegan and E. D. Rames. Connie later returned to the State University of New York at Morrisville, commuting weekly from Oneonta, and received her RN degree in 1984. As a nurse for Porta Medic of Binghamton and Syracuse for 20 years, she traveled throughout Otsego County conducting insurance company physicals. Her dedication to the world of quality nursing care continued at Jupiter Medical Center and later at Jupiter Medical Center Home Care. "Connie was absolutely the finest bedside nurse who gave every patient the most professional TLC"... her colleagues' words.

In later years, Connie and Bill traveled extensively throughout the United States. Avid campers, especially enjoying gatherings of friends and family around a campfire. For years they welcomed summer guests at their Goodyear Lake Bed and Breakfast, later at their Hillside Drive B&B Oneonta home, traveling to Juno Beach, Florida, for winters. Bill and Connie celebrated their 52-year marriage prior to Bill's death on April 12, 2012.

Connie loved being active and outdoors. She took great pride in caring for her perennial gardens, flower boxes and riding her lawn mower. She was an active, long-standing member of the local DAR An avid bird-watcher, she regularly attended Audubon Society lectures, supported local veterinary care facilities, volunteered weekly at Saturday's Bread - First United Methodist Church and Catskill Area Hospice, Oneonta, and at the Loggerhead Marine Center (Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation) in Jupiter, Florida.

She loved the world of music from a very young age and regularly attended concerts in her community. She played the piano, loved singing, and for many years sang in the First United Methodist Church Choir in Oneonta, and most recently was active in the Oceanview United Methodist Church choir, Juno Beach, Florida. She loved animals, especially traveling by airplane to Nebraska and Florida with her beloved Shih Tzu companion, "Becca." Time spent with her widespread family always brought joy to her heart.

She is predeceased by her husband, William A. Osterhout.

Survivors include her four children, Gail H. Niles, Oneonta, Sharon A. Cortese, (Dr. Carrie Greenspan) Parkland, Florida, John R. (Linda) Herring, Wellington, Florida, Shelley (Dr. Guy) Williams, Bennington, Nebraska; three stepsons, Donald (Beth) Osterhout, Wayne Osterhout, Bruce (Cathy) Osterhout, all of Norwich; seven grandchildren, Daniel Scott Cortese, Frisco, Texas, Kara Niles Sherry, Parker, Colorado, Shanna Cortese Rooks, Ocala, Florida, John K. Herring, West Palm Beach, Florida, Dr. Jenna Herring, San Diego, California, Jaclyn Herring, Asheville, North Carolina, and Blake Williams, Bennington, Nebraska; and seven great-grandchildren.

Your loving memorial contribution may be made to Saturday's Bread, c/o First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820, Oneonta Veterinary Hospital 525 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820, or a charity of choice.

You are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Service, including columbarium inurnment at 3 p.m., June 17, at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta, with Pastor Teressa M. Sivers officiating.