Margie Doty Kysela

Margie Clouston Doty Kysela was born on June 21, 1923 to Roland Ward and Bess Martin Doty in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and left us shortly after her 93rd birthday, on June 29, 2016. The family moved to Kansas City in 1930 where Margie attended Southwest High School and Kansas City Junior College, graduating from the University of Kansas City in 1944 with a B.A. in Psychology. She went to work for IBM when young women were being hired during the war. On July 4th, 1945, she met Frank James Kysela, Jr. who was home on leave. They were married the next year. When Margie was fired because of an IBM policy against employment of married women with employed husbands, she became a homemaker and remained so all her life. Margie and Frank lived in Salina, then Topeka, Kansas and returned to the Kansas City area in 1965. They enjoyed travel, gardening, classical music, and reading, especially history.

Becoming a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art began a great passion of Margie’s later life. She said that studying for docent exams was so exciting she couldn’t sleep at night. Her tastes in art were broad; almost every form she came across she felt was beautiful and most of it had something worth expressing about the human condition. She declared at one point that no child of hers would grow up not appreciating Abstract Expressionism.

Margie had a deep feeling for this country, its history, its beauty, and its government. She had been a Democratic precinct committeewoman and looked forward to voting in this year’s election!

She was a lifelong Episcopalian. She could explain her religious beliefs with common sense and relevance to everyday life.

She loved study and research. She was generous and helpful. She was a good mother.

We will miss her readiness for any little outing or adventure, her friendly smile, her forgiving and easy-going spirit, her independent streak, willingness to listen, and refreshing perspective. Just a week before she passed away, she enjoyed a ride on the new KC trolley and lunch with friends. She listened with total alertness and obvious enjoyment to KC Symphony concerts to the end of her life. She was loved at the Lakeview Village Care Center, where she lived, for her eager participation in activities and outings.

Margie will be missed by daughter Susan Kysela, daughter Carol Kysela with her husband Ed McDonough and son Sam McDonough; and by her brother Roland Doty Jr. and his wife Martha Doty. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Frank Kysela, Jr., and sister Betty Tedrow. She is also survived by nieces Joan Gilson and Betsy Tedrow and their families, and nephews David Doty and family, Richard and Roland Tedrow.

There are no words that can express the gratitude that Susan and Carol feel for the care and friendship given to both of their parents, Margie and Frank, by the staff at the Lakeview Care Center.

A memorial service will be held at Lakeview Village, Heritage, 9100 Park, Lenexa, Kansas on Saturday, August 6th, 2:00 pm. Burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to City Union Mission, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.