Caryl Ann Francis-Niedens, 56, died Dec. 9 at The Village in Mission, Prairie Village, Kan., after a thoroughly courageous and inspiring year-long fight with a rare form of cancer.
Born Aug. 28, 1968, in Hays, Kan., she was the daughter of Robert Francis and Carla (VonFeldt) Detherage. She spent the first few years of her life in Ellis County, Kan., then moved to Ellinwood, Kan., before moving to Great Bend, Kan. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1986, Barton County Community College in 1988 and the University of Kansas in 1993 with a B.A. in interior design.
Caryl began her career in interior design/architecture and facilities management with Schooley Inc. in Independence, Mo. She later worked with Faciliteam, Inc., and served as lead designer for the executive suite in a tenure with Sprint Corp. Later, she led various development projects at Church of the Resurrection in Overland Park, Kan.
A Certified Facility Manager, Caryl also led corporate relocations for Applebee’s Restaurants, the Kansas City office of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Kansas City headquarters of the General Accounting Office and many high-level private sector clients. A longtime member of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), she also assisted the interior redesign of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo.
Caryl’s career resume, however, does little to define her best qualities: She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. She was devoted, honest, loving, feisty, loyal, beautiful and dedicated to good causes. She was a unique and kind individual. No one can replace her. All should replicate her example.
Caryl’s survivors include her husband, Lyle; her sons, Conley and Pierce; and her sister, Lisa Francis. Her father, mother, stepfather, Coyle Detherage; and sister, Lori, preceded her in death.
A celebration of Caryl’s life will take place 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, at Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Blvd., Leawood, Kan., 66224. Please join us to share memories and remember her bright smile, engaging laugh and warm heart.
Those wishing to send memorials in Caryl’s honor can direct them to research in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation or The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 14, 2024
