Sylvia Kulovitz Fugate transitioned peacefully January 16, 2023, at 11:11 am at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, MO. Sylvia suffered a stroke early morning on January 15th after a beautiful weekend with her daughter Kimberly. She effortlessly took her last breath, listening to a memory from her long-time friend about a trip they took to Vegas.“We arrived in Las Vegas, went to Fremont street, and put $5.00 each into the biggest slot machine we had ever seen. We won $5000.00, split the haul three ways, and had the best time ever.” ~Connie Eichler. All three of her daughters were standing by her side laughing, knowing how much their Mom loved her girl trips to Las Vegas.
Sylvia met and married her husband, Frank Fugate, after two weeks. Frank was serving active duty in the United States Navy. They resided in Cypress, California, where they had their first daughter Cynthia. After numerous attempts to add to her family unsuccessfully, Frank and Sylvia adopted her second daughter Kimberly. Then again, after several times to grow their family along came tiny Christina.
After numerous years in California, Frank transferred to Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada. The connection to the Dept of Water and Power community was powerful and strong. You could find the Fugate Family at Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada, water skiing, camping, and off-roading in the desert. Faithfully every Wednesday, you could find Frank and Sylvia at Boulder Bowling Alley playing in their weekly league and dropping off the kids at the bowling alley daycare. The Fugate kids ran that daycare like they owned it. After Sylvia came home from one of her girls' night out to Las Vegas, she went to her then eight-year-old daughter and told Kimberly she went to a fortune teller, and the lady told her (Sylvia) that she (Kim) was going to take care of her when she was old...
In 1979 regretfully, Frank’s job sent him to Fort Peck, Montana, for a year and then to Truman Dam in Warsaw, Missouri. Her Family was never the same after that arduous move across the country. That was the hardest for the West Coast Fugate Family to fit into small-town consternation. The Fugate family attended St. Ann’s Church until they didn’t. Sylvia's faith in God was strong but not in “the Church.”
Sylvia finally broke into the community after numerous years and successfully ran the Jubilee Days Parade for several years with her husband, Frank. Sylvia loved every exhausting second of it. You may remember seeing her on her golf cart, driving it like she was in the desert off-roading.
Sylvia enjoyed watching her family grow with her Grandchildren, and she picked up every stray animal she found and took care of animals left at her house. If you ran into her, she would talk your ear off at Wal-Mart.
Sylvia had the constant desire to belong and take care of others. Sylvia’s gift was her quick wit. Some joked she would have made a good lawyer. She spoke her mind whether you wanted to hear it or not. She tells you three or four times to make sure you heard her. She enjoyed playing BINGO, and you may have seen her at the Knights of Columbus with two ink daubers, five bingo sheets, and holding a cigarette, all having an in-depth conversation with Barbara Robertson. That was the prime time Kimberly and Rhonda would run in and ask for money and run out quickly, not to smell like smoke.
She was cared for by her three daughters when they noticed her quick wit was diminishing, and things seemed off. Her wish was never to be put into a nursing home, and all three girls made sure that would not happen as difficult as it was for all of them. Kimberly moved back from Florida and fulfilled her wishes and the “fortune tellers prediction” to be in her home in her final days taking care of her. Kimberly was her primary caregiver, along with Christina, Andrew Meyer and Krissi Risner enjoyed sitting with her and shared their love of reading. Kimberly’s close friend Michael Davenport was there to keep Sylvia supplied with cheeseburgers and hot fudge sundaes from Sonic. It took a village, but she was in her home, bossy as ever, and tried to run the show until the end! Her nickname was loving “Gangster Granny.”
She was a fighter and left on her terms with grace, class, and dignity. Her mind was set on going quickly to be with her husband, Frank Fugate, who proceeded her in April 2007. Weeks before her passing, she said she had beautiful conversations with her Dad, William Kulovitz, who preceded her in 1982. She was looking forward to seeing her Mom, Lucy Kulovitz, who passed away in 1977. She would say daily she was ready when the Lord was ready. I know she would be pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of love, well wishes, and prayers from the community she desperately wanted to be accepted and a part of. Her wish was for kindness and for everyone to get along. You never know when your loved ones and friends will go. Stop the drama, hate, and gossip.
Sylvia leaves behind her family;
Daughter, Cynthia Willis (John Franklin Willis III (preceded in death) Granddaughter: Stephanie White, Great grandkids; Frankie Woodward, Sean Baumli, Grandson: William Eugene Willis (Shannon Wiser), Great Grandkids: Nora Willis, Nova Willis, Savannah Wiser Willis, Grandson: Anthony Pitts-Fugate (Nicole Cleeton), Great grandkids: Ellie Pitts-Fugate, Arrabella Cleeton, Greysley Cleeton, Remmington Pitts-Fugate, Grandkids: Kimberly LeeAnn Wainright (Ronald Wainwright) Great grandkids: Kimmie Anita LeAnn Wainwright, Ronnea Mary-Lee Wainwright, Cristian Damon Lee Willis, Alisa Marie LeAnn Mashaney.
Daughter, Kimberly Fugate Hausmann (Michael Davenport) Grandkids: Gavin Hausmann, Garrett Hausmann, Gauge Hausmann.
Daughter, Christina McIntyre, Grandkids: Travis Boone, Christopher McIntyre, Great grandkids:,Amyra Cason, TJ Boone
Brother: Stephen H Atkinson (Proceeded in death) Sister: Linda Howard.
A Celebration of Life for Sylvia Fugate will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday evening January 20, 2023 at the Reser Funeral Home 101 W.Main Street in Warsaw, Missouri.
Visitation will begin one hour prior at 6:00 P.M.
