Kathleen Ann Lee

Kathleen Ann Lee, 67, of Paulding, passed away at home Thursday, July 4, 2019.

Kathy was born in Fort Wayne on January 14, 1952, a daughter of the late Florence (Pappenbrock) Karolyi and Philip J. Raab.

She worked in local nursing homes. Kathy loved her family and loved being a hobby artist, painting seaside, bird and countryside scenes.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Randy whom she married May 31, 1969; children, Anna (Allen) Pierce, Bethany (Brad Dodrill) Lee, Randall (Nicky) & Noah; siblings, Daniel Raab, Louis  & Frank Karolyi, 12 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren and 3 on the way.

She is also preceded in death by her stepfather, Louis Karolyi.

Her funeral service is 11 AM on Tuesday, July 9th at Payne Church of the Nazarene.

Viewing is also Tuesday, July 9th from 9 am to 11 am at the church.

She will be laid to rest at Saint Paul Cemetery, Paulding.

Memorials are to Community Health Professionals or Citizens for Humane Action.

Fond memories may be shared at www.dooleyfuneralhome.com

KATHY'S LIFE STORY

Although a quiet and private person, Kathy Lee lived with a lot of love and deep care for the people and things closest to her. Loving was easy for Kathy. From her family and friends to the many animals she adored throughout the years, it would be fair to say it came naturally for her. Through her deep and committed faith, Kathy's life was enriched in countless ways and she considered herself deeply blessed. Although gone from love's embrace the heart of Kathy lives on in the lives of all who knew and loved her.

The 1950s marked a quieter, more stable time in America despite the conflicts of the Korean War. Families spent evenings together watching favorite television programs while Matchbox cars and Pez candy dispensers made their debut. As families moved to the suburbs, the need for consumer goods rose and manufacturing was at an all time high. By 1952, three out of five families owned an automobile while one in three homes had a television set. During this age of growth and innocence, the world was made brighter on January 14, 1952 when Kathleen Ann Lee was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the daughter of Florence (Pappenbrock) Karolyi and Philip J. Raab. Raised by her mother and stepfather Louis Karolyi, Kathy was blessed to have three brothers who she loved dearly: Daniel, Louis and Frank.

As a child, Kathy found solace in nature, and often talked of the days she spent fishing and spending hours upon hours in the woods near the river in Defiance, Ohio. She was a bit of a tomboy and made no qualms about baiting her own fishing hook, and if she were close to you, she might proudly tell you about how she could beat all the boys in a foot race in those years.

It was during her middle school years when Kathy was twelve years old when she met the boy who would always hold her heart, Randy Lee. In fact, they met 55 years ago on July 3. Randy had been invited to the river in Defiance to visit a friend and that friend just happened to be the neighbor to Kathy's family. Randy and his friend spent three days swimming and celebrating the July Fourth holiday with Kathy and her cousin. There was certainly something special then that came to remain for the rest of their lives together and on May 31, 1969 they sealed their deep bond by becoming husband and wife.

The early years were financially tough for the newlyweds but they were also very rich in love, and that made all the difference. After Randy served his term in the Air Force, the two settled down in Paulding, Ohio with their four children, Randall, Anna, Noah, and Bethany who brought Kathy and Randy great joy.

Kathy loved being a mom and spent most of those years working at home as a homemaker. She became a Christian at the age of twenty and from that point forward, her faith was the central element in her life, and the foundation for her role as a homemaker.

Kathy already had a loving heart, but her love and commitment for Jesus Christ further deepened her own love for others and her family. This love manifested as a strong desire to care for and nurture her family using natural healing principles when it came to the daily health of her family. When her children still lived at home, you could often find Kathy in the kitchen cooking a meal or some tasty treat for the family. With her avid and active interest in natural health, you could also find her in the kitchen making a tea for a sick child, pulling together the ingredients to a healing salve, and even making special foods for a sick pet or wild animals that were hurt and needed help.

Kathy was a life long learner and loved to research and learn about her interests. After the kids left home, she had more time to pour over books, magazines and videos to become the family expert in anything related to natural health, faith, the Bible, art, gardening and birds. She didn't just read and learn about these things, she practiced them and engaged herself in them. Her devotional time with God was a daily staple in her life, her art shone of the talent and time she spent learning, and her kids would testify to the fact that she was the one to go to if you developed a strange rash or struggled with a chronic illness.

While Kathy enjoyed learning the principles of natural health and would take herself or her children to the doctor when necessary, one thing she always relied on when it came to the health of her family was prayer. And praying wasn't just for help during times of sickness, praying was a way of life. While her faith in Jesus was central to her life, prayer was the key in maintaining and growing that faith. She prayed daily and taught her husband and kids to pray. She prayed for healing in times of sickness, strength in times of weakness, wisdom in times of confusion, joy and contentment in times of sorrow, peace in times of contention, and for hope when she thought all might be lost. And these are the lessons she most wanted us to know.

Kathleen Ann Lee, 67, of Paulding, passed away at her home on Thursday, July 4, 2019.

Kathy will be sadly missed by her husband, Randy; her children, Randall (Nicky) Lee, Anna (Allen) Pierce, Noah Lee, and Bethany (Brad Dodrill) Lee; her siblings, Daniel Raab, Louis Karolyi and Frank Karolyi; 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service to celebrate Kathy's life will take place on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. 11:00 AM at Payne Church of the Nazarene.

Friends may visit with her family from 9-11 AM at church prior to the service.

Kathy will be laid to rest at Saint Paul Cemetery, Paulding.

Memorials to Community Health Professionals or to Citizens for Humane Action.

Fond memories of Kathy may be shared at www.dooleyfuneralhome.com