Karolyn Degraffenreid (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Karolyn (Murray) Degraffenreid departed this life early Saturday morning, April 8, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family after a valiant fight against breast cancer. Karolyn was born on September 3, 1951, to Delbert and Eva (Dewitt) Murray in Springfield, MO. She attended Bolivar schools where she graduated in 1969.
In 1969, she married Kenny Degraffenreid, and to this union were born her pride and joys – her 7 children – all starting with the letter “K” of course. You could find Karolyn at every school party, assembly, concert, and sporting event that her kids were involved in. In later years, that involvement carried into the lives of her 16 grandchildren, to whom she was lovingly known as Nana.
Karolyn was a worker all of her life. She spent years working on the family farm, worked at Polk County Bank, gave several years working in nursing facilities, and opened her home to watch hundreds of children. She was a mom and nana to everyone she met and made sure anyone who crossed her path felt loved. Even as her sickness progressed, she worried about everyone else being taken care of, and wanted to be sure her loved ones were happy.
She was an avid baker and the very best cook. No one made cookies and breakfast casseroles like Miss Karolyn, and she passed her love for being in the kitchen on to her kids and grandkids. Karolyn loved the St. Louis Cardinals, and one of her last outings was to a game. But, of course, her favorite teams were those her kids and grandkids were part of.
She loved to be outside camping and mowing her grass, even when it wasn’t ready to cut. She sewed and crocheted many beautiful gifts that hundreds of families around Bolivar still have. Her love language was to give to others, and with every talent she had, that’s what she did.
Karolyn was a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar, MO. But she would attend anywhere her family wanted to go. There was nothing more important to her than spending time with her family, and she lived that every day.
Karolyn is survived by her 7 children: Kendra (Bill) Cusick of Kansas City, MO; Krista (Scott) Sherman of Dardenne Prairie, MO; Kasey (Dan) Bourk of Prairie Village, KS; Korey (Kayla) of Bolivar, MO; Kody (Lindsey) of Bolivar, MO; Kandace (Robert) Tosh of Bolivar, MO; and Kaleigh (Lyle) Dietrich of Bolivar, MO. She is also survived by 15 grandkids: Finn Cusick, Hannah Grace Sherman, Lane Taylor, Maddison and Drake Durham, Gunner Degraffenreid, Kaden, Kanyon, and Laynie Degraffenreid, Shelbea, Raelea, Brylea, and Riggin Tosh, Hendrix, and Cyrus Dietrich, and one great-grandchild, Madden. She is also survived by her brother Ken (Tanafra) Murray, and a sister, Kathy Drake.
She also had numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, a brother-in-law, Larry Drake, and a dear lifelong friend, Dorothy Isdell.
Karolyn will be missed by everyone who knew her. To know her was to love her, and she made an impact on each person she met. There is peace in knowing she is no longer in pain and resting in the arms of Jesus. We know we will see her again someday, and she will be waiting with open arms to welcome us to her new home, just like she always welcomed everyone to her earthly home. No doubt she will be waiting with her baked goods, burnt Chex mix, and breakfast casserole, and watching Cardinals baseball until we get there, enjoying being outside every moment of every day. Karolyn loved with every ounce of her being, and that will live on in the generations behind.
Funeral services for Karolyn will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar. A visitation will be held on Tuesday Night, April 11, 2023, at the funeral home from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Miracle Network, or to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
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