Madeline McCardle Kotlas nee Carlock, 37, passed away after sunset on May 26, 2023. She was peaceful, comfortable, and surrounded by her beloved and loving family.

Maddie had a poet's soul and a luminous spirit. She had a unique perspective on life, brimming with empathy for others, indignation for injustice, and desire to bring joy, fun, laughter, and love into the lives of everyone she met. She had a keen appreciation for the sublimities of life and the quirks of her fellow man. A genius at guiding and nurturing children, her brilliant career as a teacher was tragically cut short by illness.

Her love for animals, for literature, for the natural world, and for her family was poignant. She was a doting and loving dog mother (and dog sister) to her beloved Charlie, with whom she is now reunited, and, more recently, to Billy and Freddie. She was a friend to all creatures, great and small. (Her sister recalls, while visiting her in college, complaining of a large moth in her dorm, only for Maddie to exclaim, "Oh, you met Moth!")

Those lucky enough to be loved by Maddie know how fiercely she loved. When she shone her light on you, you've never felt so seen. She loved to give from early on, giving away her crayons to friends in need in the first grade, and later delightedly providing personalized gifts for every guest at her wedding. She was a proud and devoted wife to her soulmate Reid, her husband of less than two years, but partner for nearly fifteen. She was an incredibly loving daughter and sister; the profound strength of those bonds was rare and beautiful. She was wise, gentle, fierce, goofy, witty, generous, thoughtful, and so, SO kind.

Madeline is survived by husband, Reid Kotlas; her parents, Janet Stephenson and John Carlock; her sister, Sydney Carlock; her maternal grandmother, Eleanor Stephenson; her aunts Cathy Stephenson and Elizabeth Carlock; her many cousins and extended family; her in-laws, including her cherished nieces and nephews, Nolan and Teagan Szoke and Owen and Lucy Kotlas; and her faithful dogs Freddie and Billy.

A celebration of her life will be held sometime in the coming months and will be announced here in advance.