In memory of Karon Bye, and her love of the Angel Retreat

The Angel Retreat was established in 2001. Karon Bye had always been an advocate and mentor to children wherever she was. It had been her dream to have a large family, but she hadn't been able. When she became ill in 1997 and moved in with Kelly, it was at a time when Kelly wanted to start a family of her own. To the detriment of both, Kelly was unable to have children. In 2001 they applied to become a foster home. They quickly became heavily involved in the foster care program in their area. They were both workingwithHealth and Welfare to train new foster parents, they were presenters at Foster Care Conferences, and were working closely with birth parents to help them be healthier families. Kelly and Karon, along with one other foster parent started a Christmas Giving Tree program in their area that was so successful,every foster child in the program was getting Christmas like they'd never experienced before.

Within two years, Kelly adopted her first child, a teen, and a year later adopted one of her very first foster daughters just 2 weeks after that daughter's 18th birthday. Because of these two adoptions, Karon not only got to experience being a grandmother, but eventually being a great-grandmother, something she never thought she'd do because of her failing health. Over the next 12 years, Karon and Kelly cared for over 200 children and Kelly adopted 7 more. Karon's dream of a large family was realized through her daughter. When she passed at the young age of 66, she felt she'd had everything she wanted in a family, leaving behind 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

But in the time since her passing, her family has experienced great hardship and has been torn apart. Karon's contribution to the household finances was essential. And though Kelly is doing everything she can to make that up and get back on her feet, mental health and legal troubles have cropped up with her children that could not have been foreseen. Because of Karon's failing health, the only life insurance they'd been able to get was enough to cover the funeral costs. At this time, Kelly's children have been temporarilyseparated from her and she is doing everything she can to bring them home.

The Angel Retreat needs help financially and support spiritually to get through this difficult time. This is not a plea Kelly wanted to have to make, and it has taken her a long time to bring herself to ask. If you are able, please help this family reunite and get back to living happily and productively together. Thank you all you Angels out there who are so giving!