David Kight Obituary

David Michael Kight

Oct 20, 1969 - Jun 18, 2025

David Michael Kight passed away on June 18, 2025, in Overland Park, Kan., at age 55. He was born on October 20, 1969, with his twin brother James at Cape Fear Hospital in Fayetteville, NC, to Patricia and Jerry Kight. He is survived by his loving spouse, Karen; his daughter, Lauren; brother, James Kight and partner Lauren Nelson; sister, Thomasa Lovelace; parents, Jerry and Patricia Kight; mother-in-law, Carolyn McVey; sister-in-law, Susan Watts (Dan); aunts, Marie Thompson, Lois McCollum and Sue McKinney; and several cousins; and nieces.

He grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, and enjoyed multiple sports, including basketball, baseball, and football. He attended Salem Baptist School from first grade until his graduation in 1988. He attended UNC Charlotte and decided on Political Science as his major, graduating in 1992. He then attended law school at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. While in law school, he met his future wife Karen McVey and after graduation in 1996, moved to Kansas to start his new job after being recruited as a Senior Labor Consultant by Management Science Associates of Independence Missouri. After her graduation, Karen moved a year later to be with David. They were married on November 1,1997. In 2004, they welcomed their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth, into their lives.

He loved Karen and Lauren deeply and did everything he could to show them his love. That was obvious to anyone who was close to them.

In 2000, David was hired by and became a shareholder in the law firm Shugart, Thomson and Kilroy of Kansas City, serving as national counsel in employment and related litigation.

In 2006, he joined the law firm Spencer Fane Britt and Browne where he chaired the Labor and Employment Practice Group, eventually becoming a partner in that firm.

In 2014, he joined Garmin International as Associate General Counsel – Employment and Regulatory Affairs. He loved his job passionately and the people at Garmin with whom he worked.

Dave was a loving husband, father, son, and brother. He led a busy, active, and fulfilling life with numerous trips abroad and domestically with his immediate and extended family and friends. He loved his many Jeep off-roading trips with his Dad and his Kansas friends. He was active, along with Karen, in various charities including fostering untold numbers of puppies and dogs from Wayside Waifs in Kansas City.

A celebration of life gathering will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frank Vogler & Sons, 2849 Middlebrook Drive, Clemmons, NC.

The family requests donations in his memory be made to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137, or to St Clements Episcopal Church, 3600 Harper Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012, or to a charity of your choice.

Frank Vogler & Sons

Clemmons, North Carolina