KNUDSON, Carolyn Kay (Lilley) - b. August 29, 1940 - d. June 22, 2015

[patyrn]

Carolyn Kay Knudsen of Emporia, Kansas died at Newman Regional Health on June 22, 2015 at the age of 74.  She was born in Howard, Kansas on August 29, 1940, the daughter of Frederick Wayne and Clarice (Criger) Lilley.

Kay was raised in Greenwood County and attended Tonovay Grade School and graduated from Eureka High School with the Class of 1958.  She then attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. In 1961, she was united in marriage to Ronald Demler in Eureka, Kansas.   After her schooling, she worked for the Emporia Unemployment Office and Dolly Madison Bakery.   Kay later returned to Eureka and worked as a CNA at Greenwood County Hospital for twenty years.  She then returned to Emporia and worked for Holliday Resort until retiring in 2007.

Kay is survived by three sons, Matt Thom of Brownsville, Texas, Jeffrey Demler of Emporia, Kansas, and Bradley and wife, Cara Demler of Emporia, Kansas; one daughter, Sharon and husband, Richard Vogts Jr. of Olpe, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Taryn Morris, Cassidy Demler, Krista Vogts, Tate Demler, Madisyn Demler, Brianna Vogts, and Abbie Demler; two sisters, Helen Butler of Toronto, Kansas and Aline McKenzie of Howard, Kansas; and two brothers, Ralph Lilley of El Dorado, Kansas and Frank Lilley of Fort Collins, Colorado.  She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Lilley.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka, Kansas with Rev. Malonne Davies of the Olpe First United Methodist Church officiating.   Interment will follow at the Piedmont Cemetery in Piedmont, Kansas.  A memorial has been established in her name to the Emporia Friends of the Zoo.  Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.

(taken from the Koup Family Funeral Home website)