Koleen DeMoss

Koleen Louise DeMoss, 79, of Ottawa, KS died Saturday, September 16, 2023 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.

Koleen, known to many as K, was born May 11, 1944 on Mother’s Day in Girard, KS the daughter of William Melvin and Alta Maude Kernick.  She went to country school, Liberty #69, which was on the corner of her parents’ farm.  Many times she would cross the pasture to school when she was running late after doing chores.  She attended McCune Rural High School from which she graduated in May 1962.  She was a 4-H member for 6 years, during which she worked with her dad raising and showing registered Duroc hogs.  They even showed at the American Royal in Kansas City. 

She was baptized at a country church called Lakeview at the age of 10.  The church used the Neosho river to baptize people as the church was a regular country school during the week.

After graduation from high school, she entered nursing school in Winfield, KS, graduating in June 1965.  She met and married her wonderful husband Jack on February 11, 1965 in Osawatomie, KS.  Jack always told his friends it would be a cold day in hell when he got married and it was with a foot of snow.

K worked at the Osawatomie State Hospital full and parttime from August 1965 to September 1998, when she retired after 32 years.  She and Jack were blessed with 3 fine sons who were born and raised on the farm near Parker, KS.  She and Jack lived on the farm from October 1967 until May 2007, at which time the moved to Ottawa, KS. 

K enjoyed her family, and fishing and hunting with Jack and the boys.  She also liked to go to the Royals baseball games as well as watch the Chiefs games with her family.  She learned to trap shoot with Jack and the boys, and was observed taking a potshot at a quail in a tree, as that was the only way she could hit one.  K liked to play badminton, baseball, and many table games with the boys and grandkids. 

K was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, and 1 sister.  She is survived by her husband, Jack, of the home; 3 sons, Dean DeMoss and wife, Terri, of Osawatomie, KS, Scott DeMoss and wife, Eryn, of Dothan, AL, and Brad DeMoss of the home; 3 granddaughters, Erin and husband, Curtis Musgrave, of Osawatomie, KS, Tiffany DeMoss of Pittsburg, KS, and Allison DeMoss of Osawatomie, KS; 2 grandsons, Max and Cooper DeMoss of Dothan, AL; 1 great-granddaughter, Teagan Musgrave of Osawatomie, KS; a brother, Gerald Kernick and wife, Linda, of Summerville, SC; a sister, Charlotte McColm and husband, Karl, of Girard, KS; and many nieces and nephews. 

There are no services planned at this time.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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