Carolyn Lee Clevenger Kuhn

Carolyn Lee Clevenger Kuhn, 88, passed away at home early Tuesday, March 6, 2018. She is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, John F. Kuhn of Emporia, her sons, Herb (Becky), Bruce (Terri), and Andy (Cindy); grandchildren Erin Wayne (Michael), Cody, Nicholas, and R.J. Kuhn, and great grandson, Oscar Brooks Wayne. A memorial service is to be held Saturday, March 17, 2018 at First Christian Church of Emporia at 10:30am, followed by a visitation.

Carolyn Lee Clevenger was born Sunday, November 24, 1929 in El Dorado, KS to Herbert Marion Clevenger and Martha M. Ruthrauff Clevenger. Her younger sister, Mary Katherine "Pollie" Stalcup, predeceased her in 2009 as did her daughter, Kerryn Brooks Simpson (John) in 2007.

Carolyn and John married July 21, 1950 in Great Bend, KS. While raising her family in the 1950s and 1960s, Carolyn achieved education degrees from Hutchinson Junior College, Sterling College, Indiana University, and Emporia State University.

Family and friends were important to Carolyn, and she connected with many people in different ways. She was curious. She was always learning new things, had a steady flow of ideas and would recruit anyone to help execute those ideas. She collected nativities, a sign of her faith; raccoons, a nod to her married name; Hummels, a symbol of her heritage; sunflowers, a celebration of her beloved home state of Kansas, and many other items of sentiment.

Carolyn's passion was supporting others in their learning, but her formal career as an educator spanned 45 years. She taught in the Kansas elementary schools of Bushton, Ellinwood, Hutchinson, Emporia; Emporia State University, and served as a collaborative partner in Creative Playtime Preschool of Emporia. She made many lifelong friends in each of these schools.

Her contributions to the field of education were widely recognized, including

Carolyn was committed to enriching her community (and the world) through service

Memorials may be made in Carolyn's name to Emporia State University teacher's scholarships, or First Christian Church of Emporia, KS.