Margaret Karkut

A Loving And Generous Spirit

Margaret Karkut, 82, formerly of Sandy Hook, died October 10 in Shelburne, Vt., after a lengthy illness. She was born in Columbus, Ga., February 15, 1925, to Wallace Jennings and Lilli Bryant. For more than four decades she was the beloved wife and companion of the late Emil J. Karkut.

Mrs Karkut leaves two daughters and their families, Dianna and Charles Colman and their daughter Susan, and Dorothy and Richard Kuerth and their two sons, Matthew and his wife, Colleen, and Jason.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Wallace and James C. Bryant; and two sisters, Mary E. Collier and Dorothy Sears.

During her lifetime Mrs Karkut had many passions. She and her husband shared a wonderful and exciting life of marriage, career, children, grandchildren, travel, and home improvement. Many a paintbrush was cleaned, a sill sanded, a shrub trimmed, and a rock wall built under the demanding taskmaster, Emil. But they truly loved each other and the homes they created and shared.

Mrs Karkut dearly enjoyed every precious moment spent with her three grandchildren, baths in the sink, Matchbox car shopping, special outfit shopping for her one and only granddaughter, bike races in the driveway, treasure hunting for coins in rock walls, and last, but not least, rock band practice in the basement. There was always a smile, a hug and a twenty-dollar-bill folded neatly in her hand to give each of them as she hugged them goodbye. Her loving and generous spirit will be with us forever.

Mostly her children will remember her as a pretty lady who loved fancy dresses, three-inch heels, and a stunning French twist hairdo. Later her interest would turn to tennis, a sport in which she excelled and brandished an amazingly powerful forehand. She also loved bowling and cherished her friendships with all of the Lazy Daisies and the rest of the gals in the league. Some of her best years were spent in Keene, N.H., where she and her best friend, Muriel Ford, were inseparable.

Halloween was her favorite holiday. She and Mr Karkut would make their own haunted house for all of the neighborhood children and scare the living daylights out of each and every one of them. Her German shepherds Mika, Friesa, and Alpha were her constant companions, and there was nothing more satisfying than sitting down midmorning with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Two of her favorite activities were going to Foxwoods Casino and clothes shopping at Just Looking, and her children are certain she was part owner of both of these establishments.

Mrs Karkut spent her last days at Shelburne Bay Senior Living Center. The family wishes to acknowledge the high caliber of service and attention that she received there over the last two years. In particular, they wish to thank Eija Hurley for the genuine affection and superb care extended to Mrs Karkut both at home and at Shelburne Bay.

Mrs Karkut’s family will honor her memory privately following her burial in Newtown.

In lieu of flowers, cards, or other sentiments, the family requests friends and family to just remember her generosity with an unselfish deed, her kindness with a smile, her beauty with a new item of clothing or jewelry (preferably something on sale), her tenacity on the lanes by bowling a strike, and her gambling spirit with an extra coin in a slot machine, preferably a Double Diamond Deluxe — dollar machine only.

The Newtown Bee        October 12, 2007