Kaylee Jade Gerstner

December 17, 2020

On May 19, 2005 Kaylee Jade Gerstner was gifted to this world in Burlington, Colorado, at Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital.  Her Great Great Grandad Joe Klement held her and said with a tear in his eye that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  Kaylee would prove her Grandad right, being the most beautiful person, inside and out, over her 15 and a half years with us.  Although her parents Jamie and Chelsea had been nervous and reluctant to announce the coming of their first child, the beauty and hope Kaylee naturally exuded from that very first day put them at ease.  A quality Kaylee would maintain and share with hundreds throughout her life.
Kaylee went to work immediately bringing families together.  Every gathering seemed to be hinged on whether or not Kaylee was going to be there, and when she was the event often transformed into a celebration of Kaylee.  She was not only the first child of Jamie and Chelsea, she was the first of many things.  The first Grandchild to both Barry and Carolyn Gerstner, as well as Ted and Trina Smelker.  Kaylee was the first Great Grandchild of Ed and Carlyne Gerstner, Jim and Sandy Weber, and Junior and Joyce Wamsley. She was also the first Great Great Grandchild of Joe and Marian Klement.  She was adored by her Great Grandmother Dolores Bussen, whom was laid to rest the same year and was surely one of the first to embrace her in heaven.  
Numerous friends and family took care of Kaylee as her young parents were navigating new career paths.  Every person that cared for Kaylee felt an instant deep connection to her. While some children were reluctant to see a new caretaker, Kaylee embraced it.  Kaylee wanted to share her gift of love with anyone and everyone.  It was a tireless gift that grew into a desire to explore everything this world had to offer, and she always wanted someone to share it with.  Never was this characteristic proved more true than the time she was nearly expelled from a daycare at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs for never allowing the other children to sleep at nap time.  Kaylee knew there were far too many things to see, and too many connections to make to waste time sleeping through.
At the age of 5 she moved with her parents to Houston, Texas.  While spending only a year there, the tour ended with Kaylee receiving her most important job.  A job she welcomed and would prove over the following years to be a testament to her overwhelming love and grace – the job of being a big sister to Brooklyn Rae.  A better example for Brooklyn to have over the next 9 years simply could not exist.
Shortly after the birth of her sister, the family moved back to where Kaylee would call home for the rest her life, Cheyenne Wells.  The family lived in the country for the first 3 years, an experience Kaylee relished.  She loved the open space, the room to run and be free.  It was there that she began to develop her quiet confidence that everyone would come to associate with Kaylee, a confidence that would help her spread her gift even more in the coming years.   Her love of the farm began there as well.  She was eager to be a part of any operation with her Dad, or either one of her Papa’s. The word no never came out of her mouth; if there was something new to experience, she simply couldn’t wait to get started.  Kaylee would later operate a combine for the first time at age 14, and was a full time driver at 15 helping out with the entire 2020 wheat harvest.  It was one of the proudest moments her Dad had of her on the farm.
The Family bought a home within the town of Cheyenne Wells in 2016, although 11 year old Kaylee’s love for the farm would continue to grow, she was excited to live in town.  That is where the action was and Kaylee wanted to be in the middle of everything.  Her love of sports began there, although it was likely more the love of the comradery and sense of family that she enjoyed most about it.  Some of Kaylee’s happiest moments in this life were spent with one team or another – often the same group of friends.  The bus rides to and from competitions Kaylee was a sure source for entertainment and laughter.  After a heartbreaking loss she would be the first to take the edge off the disappointment.  After a win her confidence and bravado would accel to such heights one would think she won the competition all by herself.  It was all or nothing with Kaylee, and usually it was all. It didn’t matter how much smaller she was, how sick she was, or how much something else was on her mind, when the whistle blew she was ready to do anything for her teammates – they were her family at that moment.  Her only downfall was a persistent mentioning of the word “sorry” on the field of competition.  When told to never apologize on the court by her basketball coach, her Father, she would invariable reply “ok I’m sorry”.  She just cared too much for people to let competition get in the way of compassion.
Not unlike the 3 year old Kaylee who was nearly expelled from daycare, the 15 year old Kaylee would choose excitement and human connections over sleep. A decision that resulted in a single car rollover accident the morning of November 23, 2020.  The crash caused severe head trauma but no other major injuries.  Heroic efforts were put forward by the local EMT’s, fireman, and medical staff to stabilize Kaylee and give her a fighting chance with a helicopter ride to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO. It seemed as if the entire world was holding their breath in hopes that Kaylee’s light would return to it’s same bright glow.  A glow the world seemed to need more now than ever.  Although there was initial optimism, the injury proved far too severe. 
On December 2nd, after 10 days of fighting in the ICU, Kaylee left her earthly body to move on and share her gift with the heavens. Her Mother and Father by her side.  The Doctors wept, the nurses wept.  Doctors and nurses don’t weep in the ICU, but they were connected to Kaylee now.  Even in an unconscious state, Kaylee had used her gift to touch those people and give them that sense of love and hope. She worked until her last second to share her gift.  
Kaylee never felt the need to be anyone other than herself, and in doing so allowed everyone around her to let down their guard and just be themselves as well.  Her goofy gullible self would laugh along with everyone one else at the many funny things she did or said.  She never took life too seriously, and a smile was always seconds away when Kaylee was in the room.    
It’s hard to make sense of Kaylee’s departure in a dark world that needed her light now more than ever.  As a tribute to Kaylee, may we all do more of the things that personified her, so as to restore the light that has been taken.  Love more, Laugh more, judge less, smile when there doesn’t seem to be a need, say yes more and no less, and truly believe in the goodness of family and humanity.
Kaylee is preceded in death by her Aunt Audi Hill.  Kaylee has left behind her parents Jamie and Chelsea Gerstner, and sister Brooklyn; grandparents, Ted and Trina Smelker, Barry and Carolyn Gerstner; great grandparents, Jim and Sandy Weber, Ed and Carlyne Gerstner; Uncle, Michael Gerstner and family, Kevin Gerstner; Aunt, Kylie Stoecklein and family, Cassie Smelker and family, Sadie Smelker. 
Kaylee’s life was celebrated on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the Cheyenne Wells School.  Friends and family gathered in multiple remote locations where the service was live streamed.  Final committal services were held at the Arapahoe Cemetery.  Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guestbook at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com.  Visitation and funeral services were entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells.