Mary Rudesill

Mary Kathryn "Ki" Rudesill, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

She was born Aug. 11, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, to Edward and Mary Lorene Litzelfelner. After her first few years living on a farm at Neelys Landing in north Cape Girardeau County, her family moved to Cape Girardeau where she grew up surrounded by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Ki was a big sister to three brothers, Jack, Bob and Jim. She graduated from Central High School as president of the Art Club and art editor of the yearbook in 1939. She continued studying art at Southeast Missouri State University, and worked at Bartel's on Broadway doing the artwork for ads and creating window displays.

During World War II Ki met her future husband, Cliff, who was a flight instructor at Harris Field south of Cape Girardeau. 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 longtime member.

During the first 20 years together they lived in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Indiana. They raised Mary Gail and Mark Clifford. While they made many lifelong friends, Ki was very happy when Cliff took a job with Riverside Lumber. Ki worked there also using her artistic talent drawing ads and designing displays.

She also took painting classes and produced many portraits, landscapes and murals for family, friends and Centenary 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 Southeast basketball, the St. Louis Cardinals and her grandchildren.

Survivors include her loving husband of 68 years, Clifford Rudesill of Cape Girardeau; a son, Mark C. (Charryl) Rudesill of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Mary Gail (Brian) Rohr of Naperville, Illinois; a brother, Jim Litzelfelner of Tennessee; four grandchildren, Daniel (Janet) Rohr, Andrew (Sheela Fulambarker) Rohr, Margaret "Maggie" (Mark) Rohr Rubin and Caira Rudesill; and five great-grandchildren.

Ki gave her five great-grandchildren, family and friends many wonderful memories. She will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, a grandson and a great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Centenary Church. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.