Mona Carrell Close, 87, of Oakley, passed away Tuesday, January 30th, 2024, at the Logan County Hospital. She was the only child of Charles and Pauline Downs, born August 5th, 1936, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where they resided until 1943, when their family moved to Burbank, CA.
Mona remained in California until she married Stuart Doyle Close on May 25th, 1959, once married, they moved to Northwest Kansas to custom harvest and start their own farm. Over the next few years, they had four children, Michael, Patricia, Donna, and David. On January 1st, 1962, they, along with Stu’s brother, opened Close Brothers Implement (John Deere). In 1968, due to congenital heart defect Mona required open heart surgery, this is what prompted her parents to move from California and open the Sears store. Mona stayed busy raising her family and working as needed at both Sears and Close Brothers Implement. After leaving Close Brothers Implement, they retired for a few years before opening Carrell’s True Value. During this time, Mona served on the Oakley City Council from 1985-1988, and then became Oakley’s first and only female Mayor, an office she proudly held until 2001. During her time as Mayor she accomplished many things such as bringing in new businesses, building a new swimming pool, developing new parks, 2nd Street curb and guttering and be able to give back to every resident with free electricity for the month of December two years in a row.
Mona was very involved in different groups such as the Red Hat Society, Garden Club, Camilla Club, and many card clubs, as well as an active member of the United Christian Church. She loved interacting with people, offering a friendly smile and a helping hand whenever possible. One of her favorite parts of retirement was vacationing in Arizona for the winter. This, along with other vacations, allowed her to meet so many new people and develop lifelong friendships with people from across the country. Another highlight of retirement was the added time this allowed for quilting. Mona loved quilting and was usually working on two or three at a time. All of her family (and most of her close friends) probably have at least three quilts given to them by Mona, all of them worthy of display. Among her many talents, Mona really enjoyed knitting, making diamond art, painting and, for a time, hanging wallpaper. Shopping was another favorite pastime of Mona’s, rarely passing a store without spending hours inside. She really was a remarkable person and someone to be looked up to by all.
Mona was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Pauline Downs, husband Stu Close, son Michael, infant son David, and her son-in-law Randy Sangster. She is survived by her daughters Patricia Sangster and Donna (Russell) Cox, grandchildren Matthew (Danielle) Bertrand, Samantha (Shaelum) Barnett, Stacy (Troy) Tauber, Steven Cox, Nathan Cox, Christopher Cox, Shari (David) Oren, Suzanne (Jason) Schielke, Staci (Vince) Weigle and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the United Christian Church of Oakley with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the Church.
Memorials: United Christian Church of Oakley may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.
Sign the online guestbook at www.kennedykosterfh.com
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