SCHENECTADY — Kristin Lee (née Kuehfus) Raymond — a pageant queen in her youth and an adventurous soul all her life — died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. She was 56.

She was born on May 10, 1965 to Richard and Patricia Kuehfus in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from North Collins Central High School in 1983. During her junior year, she participated in the Eden Corn Festival Pageant and ultimately was crowned queen.

“From a young age, Kristin was an adventurous soul, finding interest in art, literature, and spiritual studies,” her family wrote in a tribute. “A footloose wanderer by nature, she lived across New York State and explored a wide variety of employment opportunities — from director of a recreation club in Rochester, to an operating room technician in Albany, and practically everything in between.

“Unfortunately, Kristin also suffered from mental illness and addiction, a disease she struggled with for many years. While she was unable to overcome that battle, she was a fierce and persistent fighter who lived every day of her life as fully as she could.”

She is survived by her parents, Richard and Patricia Kuehfus; by her siblings, Kellie Fox and her husband, Tom, Jill Martin and her husband, Tony, and JoLyn Donlon and her husband, Jeff; by her children, Michael Aloi, Nicole (née Aloi) Mason, Garth “Jonny” Wager, Sky Tarapacki, and Sierra Raymond; and by four grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held for immediate family on Friday, Dec. 10, at New Comer in Colonie.  Friends and family will be able to view this service on Zoom by clicking the funeral home’s website link the day of the service. The private service will begin at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to “To write love on her arms” at www.twloha.com.