1948-2026
Carol Jean Kirkpatrick, 78, passed away April 15, 2026 at Canyon Winds Retirement Community in Mesa, AZ.
Carol was born in Great Bend, KS on January 12, 1948, to Lawrence Eldred and Virginia Edna (Stieben) Saling.
She attended Great Bend and Lyons, KS grade schools, Park School Junior High and graduated from McPherson High School in 1966.
Carol worked for Guy's Shop during high school. She was a homemaker and took great pride in providing for her family in this manner. She also worked as a cleaning person for Dr. Pierson's Doctors Office and the Accounting building in McPherson. The family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1970 where she worked as a clerk for State Farm Insurance Company. The family moved back to McPherson in 1975 where she worked for Best Western Hotel and then Farmers Alliance Insurance Company as a processor, from which she retired.
She was a member of the First Ladies of Sunflower Bank, McPherson. Carol enjoyed being out with her friends, working in her yard and spending time with family, especially her grandkids and great-grandkids.
Carol was united in marriage to Larry Scott Kirkpatrick on January 11, 1966. The young couple established their first home together in McPherson. This union was blessed with the birth of two children, Mike and Michelle.
She is survived by son, Mike (Machell) of Mesa, AZ; daughter, Michelle (Mike) Schumacher, of Wichita, KS; brother, George (Shaleeta) Saling, of Geneseo, KS; grandchildren, Heather Glasford and Justin Kirkpatrick and great-grandchildren, Mackenzye Glasford, Maddison Glasford, Ryker Kirkpatrick and Kimber Kirkpatrick.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Virginia Saling; her husband, Scott Kirkpatrick; her brothers, Keith Saling and Earl Saling; and her sisters, Dorothy "Dot" Lauderdale and Mary Kindlesparger.
Graveside Service will be 10:00 a.m., May 16, 2026 at McPherson Cemetery.
Family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Association or Women and Children Combating Cancer in care of Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Funeral Home, 222 W. Euclid St, McPherson, KS 67460.
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