She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She had been a resident of Sulphur since 1960. She was a proud graduate of Oklahoma State University where she graduated in 1959 with a degree in Elementary Education. She was an active member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. Kaye enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom rearing her children and leading Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scouts. After her children finished high school, she began her career working for the Calcasieu Parish Public Library for 21 years at the Maplewood Branch, where she was the Branch Manager for 16 of those years. She reflected often that she loved visiting with the patrons for all of those years and greatly enjoyed watching the children of the area grow up.
Kaye was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 58 years. She enjoyed volunteering her time serving as an Elder and Sunday School teacher for both youth and adult classes. She was also active in the Women of the Church group and compiled the scrapbook for over a decade helping preserve many memories. Kaye enjoyed playing bridge, sewing, and was an avid reader. She loved attending activities for her seven grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, James "Jim" Thorne of Sulphur; her son, Greg Thorne and wife, Theresa of Sulphur; two daughters, Pam Davis and husband, Rick of Moss Bluff, and Julie Misse of Carlyss; seven grandchildren, Amanda Thorne, Austin Thorne, Ashley Thorne, Aaron Davis, Stephanie Davis, Hunter Misse, and Heather Misse; one great-grandchild, Catherine Thorne; one brother, Dr. Larson Keso and wife, Mildred of Edmond, Oklahoma and their two children, Blair Keso and Mary Larson Keso; nieces, Maureen Anderson and Teresa Leach. She is preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Anderson of Colorado.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 30, in Westminster Presbyterian Church. Pastors Erich and Leslie Mansell will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation is from 3-7 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home and from 1 p.m. until the time of service Sunday in the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
