Sylvia Knost

Sylvia Knost - A charming smile, a generous faith, an adventurous soul. Sylvia Knost lived her life the way she wanted – with love, spirituality, faith, adventure and sass. She lived her life with the love of family and friends, and with the appreciation of countless others she met along the way, charming us with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.“You will all remember her fondly in your own special way,” her daughter, Heather, wrote after her mother passed away.“After a year and two long weeks of dancing with God – He was orchestrating, Mom was trying to lead – haha – our dear, sweet Sylvia, mom, aunt and friend continued on to her next journey. Spectacular would be the word she would say about going to everlasting home.” Born in Carthage, Mo., Sylvia left her mark on the world from April 11, 1935 to September 12, 2015. She lived in places far and wide as an Army wife when she was married to Edward James Kelly. With her children – Heather, Paige, Daina and Steven – she “wanted to make sure she was the mom, but she wanted to do the things her children desired to do. If that meant us saying, ‘Mom, we want to go skydiving,’ she’d say, ‘Well, that sounds wonderful, let’s go!’” She enjoyed a new chapter in her life when she married Gary Knost, a farmer in her hometown. Their life took them on a new set of adventurous and opened Sylvia up to the excitement of farming life. Sylvia learned quickly how to milk cows, ride a tractor and fix just about anything with the “tools” of the trade. Big Sly (her special nickname from family) was a trendsetter without trying to be. She drank iced coffee long before it was popular, and way before every coffee shop in the country sold it as a fancy treat. Her musical interests ranged from AC/DC to Michael Bublé and everything in between. Once, in Washington, D.C., she won a contest for eating oysters on the half shell – a food she loved and a contest she was proud to win. Food was one of her passions. She was a hair stylist, a cosmetologist and a massage therapist. She always wanted to look nice, so whether she rocked a track suit or dress slacks and a handbag, Sly wore it well and always left an impression. Her spirituality and faith developed at an early age. She had a belief in the goodness of the world; she knew that God was always there, she knew that He always had a plan. When she was little, she attended the First Baptist Church of Carthage with her parents, Glenn and Pearl Burnett. Her father was a deacon and elder in the church. As an adult, she was a member of First Methodist Church of Carthage. A devout churchgoer, Sylvia met her future son-in-law, Greg Perez, at a church in Kansas City. She knew him before Heather did; ever since they’ve been together, Sly has held stars in her eyes for her beloved brown-eyed boy Greg. She also had a fondness and love for her son-in-law Gary. My “two G’s”. Sylvia will forever be remembered for her smile and her friendship. Her smile was the “carrier of the message of her faith.” She never knew a stranger, and always had a kind word for people. She was interested in you and interested in your experiences. She tried to take time to get to know a little something about you. “Listening, she knew how to listen with her soul,” said one of her dear longtime friends.“She loved to travel,” said Heather. “She’d been all over the world, but whenever she went on vacation or traveled with us, you would think you opened her up to a new world. She just loved it.” Big Sly will be loved and missed by too many to name. She will live on in the hearts and memories of her children and their loved ones: Heather and Greg Perez, Kansas City, Mo.; Paige Ann and Gary Dean Wilson, Irving, Tex.; Daina Kelly, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Steven Kelly and Kim Barnett, Boulder, Co.; her sister and brother-in-law Glenda and Jerry Coe, Kansas City, Mo.; niece Jacque and husband Kevin Jenkins, Kansas City, Mo. and cousin Bill and Jan Sutter, Carthage, Mo. Loved and supported by too many friends to mention by name. As a member of Friends of Bill, Sylvia was on her way to marking 24 years of sobriety on October 4. To celebrate her achievement, spirituality and faith, please share a smile and a kind word for your friends, family and strangers on her special day. She’ll be so happy. Memorial service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 617 S. Main Street, Carthage, MO 648836. In lieu of flowers the family will take donations to Northcare Hospice House, North Kansas City Hospital. Donation envelopes can be obtained by contacting Heather Perez @ heather.kelly-perez@mcckc.edu. Peace and blessings.

Sylvia Knost

April 11, 1935 - September 12, 2015