Klaylea Kay Zwiebel

Klaylea Kay Zwiebel of Concord, New Hampshire, passed on peacefully on March 9, 2025, of illness. She was 72 years old. Klaylea was born July 13, 1952 in Midland, Texas. Her family moved to Houston when she was young, and that is where she grew up with her parents and five siblings, and where she spent most of her life.

Klaylea graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Ready for a change, she moved to Annapolis, Maryland, for her first job out of school. After working there, having fun adventures with friends, traveling, and working in England for a short time, she eventually returned to Houston. She had a successful career as a structural engineer, designing offshore platforms for the oil and gas business. She later received her teaching certificate and spent five years teaching elementary school, to have more time with her daughter. Her love of animals led her to volunteer as a zoo docent for a year at the Houston Zoo. She had many pets in her life, and was especially devoted to her beloved dog, Tila, her loyal companion for twelve years.

In 1987, Klaylea became a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Houston, where she found a loving community and solid foundation for her faith. St. Mark's was always a very important part of her life, and she kept up her connection there even after moving away.

Klaylea cherished her family and friends. Even when living far away from them, she kept up correspondence and always held them close to her heart. Her daughter, Rachel, was the light of her life. She and Rachel were inspirations to each other. They enjoyed traveling together, laughing together, and having friendly Scrabble competitions. She loved being a mother and considered Rachel the best thing that ever happened to her.

In 2016 Klaylea moved to Concord, New Hampshire. The move was a good one for her, as she found herself with fresh opportunities and a new community. She began attending Wesley United Methodist Church, where she felt very welcomed. She adored spending time with her "Nest" group from the church. As an avid reader and learner, Klaylea loved going to the Concord Library and attended a book club. She also volunteered as a tutor to refugees from Africa, helping them learn to read in English. She loved attending shows and musical concerts at Capitol Center for the Arts. Klaylea appreciated nature and the changing seasons in New Hampshire, and went on many wonderful hikes with friends on local trails and in the mountains.

Klaylea always had an adventurous spirit and a love of travel. She visited many places in North and South America, Europe, and Africa throughout her life. She even drove a car across the Sahara Desert in the 1970s! In 2000, Klaylea attended a family reunion in France, where she got to meet many distant European relatives. One of her favorite trips was a winter vacation in Austria with her daughter in 2011. They had a wonderful time exploring art museums, seeing the Lipizzaner stallions, and drinking gluhwein in the festive Christmas markets. Klaylea went back to Texas in April 2024 to see the solar eclipse in totality with some of her family. It was an unforgettable experience that she talked about with gratitude at the end of her life.

Klaylea will be remembered for her optimism, integrity, fun spirit, clever mind, and kind heart. May her memory be a joyful blessing to us all!

Klaylea was preceded in death by her parents George H. Zwiebel, Jr. and Maxine Enwall Zwiebel, her sister Sherry Sue Zwiebel Marton, and her nephew Bobby Ray Ainsworth. She is survived by her daughter Rachel Zwiebel, her siblings Georgia Sowers (Bob), Ronda Thompson, George H. Zwiebel III, and Marlea Zwiebel, her stepmother Marsha Zwiebel, and other relatives.

Klaylea was very blessed to have the support, care, and love of her family, friends, neighbors, and the wonderful professionals at Concord Hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Granite VNA, and Bayada Hospice at the end of her life.

A service to celebrate Klaylea's life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton St., Concord, NH on Saturday, March 22nd at 11:00 a.m. A second service, in Houston, will be scheduled for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 600 Pecore St., Houston, TX 77009, or Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton St., Concord, NH 03301.