Kathy Wilson

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Mrs. Carolyn Kathleen “Kathy” Wilson, 81, of Carthage, Missouri, departed this life on Friday evening, July 21, 2023, in the comfort of her home after months of declining health.

Kathy entered this life on February 14, 1942, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, born to the union of the late Emerson and Kathryn (Jones) Rayney. She resided in Virginia and California before moving to Joplin, Missouri, in 1973. 

On October 17, 1972, she was united in marriage to Lonnie Wilson and together they shared forty-four years before his passing on November 18, 2016. Kathy was an Ordained Gospel Minister with a passion for recovery and jail ministry. She founded Hope House Prison Recovery Ministries as well as the Hope Chest Thrift Store. She was a former Joplin City Councilwoman and an extremely talented artist.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lonnie Wilson; two children, Katrina Barnes and Mark Schaefer; and two brothers, Benny and Greg.

Kathy is survived by her five children, Jason Wilson, Jennifer Golden, Christy Wilson, Tiffany Bettes and Meagen Pulley; numerous grand and great grandchildren; two sisters, Sharyn Germ and Susan Richards; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 27, 2023 in the chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary with Pastors Paul Keel and Daniel Wermuth, II officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. 

Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are James Pulley, Daniel Sprenkle, James Tolson, Dalton Golden, Dayton Golden and Dakota Golden with Jason Wilson, Jason Bettes and Jerry Smallwood serving as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. at the mortuary. Arrangement have been entered to the personal care of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.