Obituary of Kris Pedersen

Verdelle "Kris" Muriel Pedersen was born July 2, 1924, in Crystal Lake, Illinois, to Wilfred and Alta Kelsey and passed from this life July 13, 2010, at the age of 86. Preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Ward Kelsey, and her husband of 42 years, Kenneth Walter Pedersen, Kris is survived by her five children and their spouses: Kathe and Harald Irowez (The Woodlands, TX); Kim and Richard Allen Wright (The Colony, TX); Sandra and Winston Mays (Ballwin, MO); Brad and Kim Pedersen (Tulsa); and Melissa "Lisa" and Jim Mitchell (Tulsa); and twelve grandchildren and their spouses: Ryan Winkle and wife, Danielle; Lauren Wright, Stephanie Wright, Meghan Irowez Toone and husband, Dane; Alyson Mays, Tyler Wright, Kyle Pedersen, Zachary Mays, Carley Mitchell, Brock Pedersen , Kelsey Mays and Peter Mitchell. She is also survived by two brothers, Frank Kelsey (Florida) and Don Kelsey (Illinois), and three sisters, Marylyn Baumann (Tulsa), Diana Folleth (Michigan) and Sharon Ausdahl (Alaska). Lee Pedersen Hall (Norman, OK) is her beloved niece and considered to be the 6th Pedersen sibling. Kris grew up the oldest of seven children in the Chicago area, and moved to Tulsa when Ken bought the Winston Motor Inn in 1960. She was first and foremost a wonderful mother and homemaker and hostess to many memorable gatherings of family and friends and special guests at the motel who became lifelong friends over the years. Boating and love of the lake was a big part of family life with the Pedersens, and Kris loved the beach and traveling to warmer places such as Padre Island or Myrtle Beach or Florida or California during the winter months with Ken in their motorhome "KRISKEN", especially in their last years together before Ken passed in 1990. She was very creative and loved crafts and decorating, and loved books and read biographies constantly and loved doing puzzles. She wouldn't miss a NASCAR race in the later years, and loved Jeff Gordon. Known as "Nanny" to her grandchildren, she loved being a part of their activities, from school programs to dance recitals to soccer tournaments, and her greatest pride and legacy is her close and loving family. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2010, at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Grace Hospice Foundation, 6400 S. Lewis, Tulsa, OK 74136, or AMDF (American Macular Degeneration Foundation). Ninde Brookside 918.742.5556 www.ninde.com