Kathy (Patzkowsky) Carlile was born in Thurman, Colorado to loving parents.  She and her siblings were raised on a farm north of Strasburg, Colorado.  Given farm life, combined with being a child in the Great Depression, she learned a number of skills and developed grit and determination that served her well the rest of her life.

On leaving Strasburg to start her own family, she lived in Fort Morgan and Keenesburg, moving to Akron in 1956.  Akron and its people and the First Baptist Church and its people have been her home ever since.  There in Akron she raised her 3 sons: Paul, Tim, and David.  Her daughter, Diane, was with the family on the move to Akron but died of drowning at the age of 8.

In Akron, Kathy worked in the office of Dr. Asbury.  Following that she worked as a waitress, then moved to Dietary Services as a cook at the Washington County Hospital and Care Center.  She always gave 100% to her employer and was always willing to learn something new.

Having a perpetually curious mind, she was interested in just about everything but limited her energies to several hobbies .Kathy loved nature, probably because it spoke of her Heavenly Father.  Specifically she loved her yard and her garden.  She delighted in the flowers and the trees and the vegetables and fruits out of her garden.  In her younger days she would look forward to the Field's Seed Catalog every spring.  She experimented with blue potatoes and tried to grow peanuts. "Always up to something in the garden".  Kathy loved to listen to the birds and watch the squirrels.  In good weather she would most often be found on her front porch, content and loving life and God's creation.  After the adverse microburst in Akron earlier this year, she befriended a rogue chicken that adopted her yard and soon even Kathy herself.  The chicken would sit in her lap, perch on her shoulder, and ruffle through her hair.  This just delighted her!  Kathy's mom raised chickens, so Kathy had a fondness for them.

It follows somewhat naturally that Kathy enjoyed food and cooking.  She had a vast collection of cook books that she actually read and consulted.  Several years ago, she compiled a 3-ring notebook for family members that was full of only her "favorite" recepies.  Candy and sweets were a sub-specialty for her.  She enjoyed making candy, cookies, dipped pretzels, and baklava at Christmas time.  Her family and friends enjoyed the fruits of her labor!

Music and hymns of the Christian faith have been a lifelong love for Kathy, as has been Jesus Christ, her beloved Savior.  Back in Strasburg as a child, her Grandfather Roster gifted her a piano and piano lessons at 25 cents each, telling her, "I see music in you!".  Kathy could play just about any hymn from memory in grand revival style.  She also knew the words to one if not several verses of each hymn.  She was skilled at the piano and also the organ and used those talents to praise the Lord and serve at the First Baptist Church for years.

Kathy leaves a wonderful legacy for her family.  She loved Jesus wholeheartedly and allowed His love to flow through her .Her family describes her as "amazing" and "awesome".  She developed lasting friendships and held those friends close to her heart and was a true friend in return.  Kathy was astute and understood the heart and soul of a person--deeming one family member an "old shoe" because she was so comfortable to be with.  Kathy was fiercely loyal to those she loved and was quick and eager to forgive.  It was her habit to think things through and try to understand the culture and the times.  She would commonly ask for opinions or more information on things she didn't understand.  Lest you think her a saint, she did take part and sometimes was the mastermind in harmless mischief and lighthearted pranks!

Kathy was a one-of-a-kind, never to be duplicated mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, aunt and friend.  She was open to God, open to love, and open to life.  She will be tenderly missed and fondly remembered, always!

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, siblings (1 sister and 2 brothers), 2 children and 2 grandchildren.  She is survived by her 3 sons, Paul (Susie) of Longmont, CO, Tim (Peggy) of Rush, CO, and David (Kandie) of Brush, CO; 6 grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday, December 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Akron.  A graveside service will follow immediately.  In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the First Baptist Church, 875 East 3rd Street, Akron, Colorado, 80720.