Mary Kathryn "Ki" Rudesill

Mary Kathryn "Ki" Rudesill, 91, of Cape Girardeau, MO died Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at Chateau Girardeau Health Center in Cape Girardeau, MO.She was born Friday, August 11, 1922 in Cape Girardeau, MO to the late Edward and Mary Lorene Litzelfelner. After her first few years living on a farm in Neely's Landing in north Cape County, her family moved to Cape Girardeau where she grew up surrounded by many aunts, uncles, cousins. Ki was a big sister to three brothers, Jack, Bob and Jim.Ki graduated from Cape's Central High School as president of the Art Club and art editor of the yearbook in 1939. She continued studying art in college (SEMO) and worked at Bartel's on Broadway doing the artwork for ads and creating window displays. During WWII Ki met her future husband, Cliff, who was a flight instructor at Harris Field south of Cape. After a long distance romance while Cliff was flying transports over "the Hump", the war ended and they married at Centenary Methodist Church, where Ki had been a long time member.During the first twenty years together they lived in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Indiana. They raised Mary Gail and Mark Clifford. While they made many life long friends, Ki was very happy when Cliff took a job with Riverside Lumber, Ki worked there also using her artistic talent drawing the ads and designing displays. She also took painting classes and produced many portraits, landscapes and murals for family, friends and Centenary Methodist Church. She volunteered as a scout leader for both of her children and was very involved in volunteering for her church.Ki will be remembered by many for her vitality, enthusiasm, friendliness and big smile. She used her gifts through her oil paintings of family and landscapes, murals, portraits and flower arrangements at church to brighten the lives of others. She was eager to teach others about her passions: painting and drawing, gardening, flower-arranging, traveling and fishing "at the cabin". She did so with grace, patience and humor. She was a big fan of SEMO basketball, the St. Louis Cardinals and her grandchildren.Survivors include her loving husband of 68 years, Clifford Rudesill of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; son, Mark C. (Charryl) Rudesill of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; daughter, Mary Gail (Brian) Rohr of Naperville, Illinois; brother, Jim Litzelfelner of Tennessee; grandchildren, Daniel (Janet) Rohr and Andrew (Sheela Fulambarker) Rohr, Margaret "Maggie" (Mark) Rohr Rubin and Caira Rudesill; 5 great-grandchildren.Ki gave them, her five great-grandchildren, her family and friends many wonderful memories. She will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered.She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, 1 grandson and 1 great-grandchild.Visitation will be Friday, August 8, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church.Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park and Mausoleum.Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association.

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Mary Kathryn "Ki" Rudesill

August 5, 2014