Connie Rae Carlson

Connie Rae (Nudson) Carlson, of Gaylord, KS, passed away on January 31, 2024, at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, at the age of 79. She was born on April 4, 1944, to Virgil Y. and Mildred M. (Noland) Nudson in Manhattan, KS. She was married to Keith L. Carlson on February 14, 1965, in Sedalia, KS. They were blessed with two sons: Cory and Coley.

Connie grew up in the Keats, Riley area of Riley County, KS and graduated from Riley County High School in 1962. She started out working alongside her mother at Farm Bureau in Manhattan, and then for a while she was a welder at Gilmore-Tatge in Clay Center where she welded flight for augers. She was a school bus driver for students from Kindergarten to Seniors for 10 years, a UPS driver in Manhattan, Ft. Riley, and Junction City, a custodian and greenhouse operator at KSU and at the same time an animal caretaker used for the purpose of teaching students. She and Keith were members at one time of the Wagon Wheel Whirlers Square Dancers and Buckbrush Riders Saddle Club.

Connie grew up with horses and owned a number of them. Connie and Keith almost always had horses, cows and milk cows, pigs, and chickens. She was a great gardener and did a lot of canning. She enjoyed exploring mountains, deserts, and where Indians lived, prospecting, and oil and acrylic painting. She excelled in all ways and endeavors from wife, mother, homemaker, partner, friend, and getting us all through hard times.

Connie is survived by her husband, Keith of Gaylord; sons, Cory Dale (Cathy) Carlson of Stockton, KS and Coley Joe (Carol) Carlson of Kiowa, CO; sister, Debra Lynn Nudson; 5 grandchildren, Warren Tyler (Melissa) Carlson, Colesie Lea Carlson, Orin (Tracy) Carlson, Dylan (Eleanor) Carlson, and Cheyene Carlson; and 3 great-grandchildren, Wade, Riley and Logan Carlson.

Preceding Connie in death are her parents.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1PM at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS. Casual wear may be worn.