Kay Frances Hopkins

Multiple health issues preceded her death. Those years were punctuated by surgeries, tests, dialysis and medications. In all of this, she was taken excellent care of by her doctors, nurses and medical staff. She was so thankful for all involved in her care. She is at peace now in a perfect body, full of grace and her extraordinary beauty.

By her side the entire time was her beloved Jerry, her husband of almost sixty years, their son Brent and his wife, Christina.

To say Kay’s life has been full would be an understatement.

She was born the youngest of three children to James and Evelyn Geer of Greenville, South Carolina. When she was a young girl, her father moved the family to Norman, as he was stationed and called to serve at the United States South Naval Base.

Born many years after her older brothers, Boyd (she called him “So”), and Jimmy, she always looked up to them both as the sweet little sister.

She was swept off her feet at the age of 15. She married her high school sweetheart, a man five years her senior - Jerry Eugene Hopkins - on February 9, 1961. That day, she gained a sister-in-love and brother-in-love, Jan (husband, Gary) and Denny (wife, Rosie).

When they exchanged their forever vows in a small ceremony, Kay’s father told her she had to come home that night, because she had school the next day! So, she did. Soon after, the newlyweds settled in Norman in a small 900 square foot bungalow.

Their first child - Marc Eugene - was born and the family began to grow. Four years later, they had their second son, James Brent. As their life fortunes increased, they moved to a couple of other homes in Norman, then to their now home. Wherever they were, they lived happily and fully.

Their little family was complete and whole.

While Jerry was working sun-up to sundown at Oklahoma Natural Gas, then later as a United States Postal Mail Carrier providing for the family, Kay would bring it all together back at home while her boys were little.

Meals would always be waiting – hot, delicious and plenty.

Clothes would be cleaned and ironed.

Marc and Brent knew their mom would be waiting for them each day to help make life grand through the joys, hurts and fun of growing up.

She was always there with an encouraging word, a loving hug, an understanding shoulder of strength.

After her boys got a little older, she went to work for John Roberts Ring Company in Norman, OK for ten years. Then she joined the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department in the Donor Ticket Office for twenty-five years, where she retired from in 2003. After that she worked until 2010 for the Collegiate Golf Coaches Association, getting to travel the world with her husband. After that, she was happily enjoying her retired life.

Along the way Kay made the best of friends wherever she went. She met her very best friend, Mary, over fifty years ago. To this day, they were still thick as thieves no matter time and distance.

Her capacity to love others knew no bounds, especially when it came to her family.

Jerry and Kay welcomed seven grandchildren with much love and open arms - Justin (wife Lecia), Jordan (wife Lydia) and Chad (wife Shelby), Holden, Hunter, Elise and Ethan.

Next, they were blessed by six great-grandchildren - Cadence, Grady, Arthur, Prestyn, Aubrey, Riley.

These children were the light and love of Kay’s life. Through the good and hard times, she never lost sight of them, always keeping them within her heart, praying for their successes and happiness.

Christmas and Thanksgiving were always some of Kay’s happiest times, mostly because she could gather and love and pour into her family. She loved to fully decorate her home, had impeccable taste for the finer things, and would always ensure that the happiness and joy of the Holidays covered anyone who walked into their home.

She loved to cook, read magazines, shop, love on their dogs and all animals (Tucker is her current “baby boy”), decorate, and travel. Jerry and Kay bowled in a league (she was quiet successful with this, being in the 200 Club), having weekly dates with other couples to travel the area, winning at bowling and in loving life abundantly. Kay adored anything OU, especially Oklahoma Football. While working for the University, for every National Championship that was earned, she always was gifted a beautiful commemorative charm or National Championship ring by the team, engraved with her initials. She was known around campus by everyone. For all staff, students, and every coach there, as she had a smile and kind word to share. She truly saw and loved all people.

It was no secret her greatest source of pride were her boys and their children and great grandchildren. She was their protector, defender, biggest cheerleader, greatest support, day and night. Even in her later years as her health began to decline, she always held them all in her heart, spoke of them often and wished nothing but all things great and grand in their lives.

To her Friends, she was loyal, present, fun-filled, and would do anything for them. Kids that grew up with her sons from the neighborhood turned into her friends, with lasting relationships that have held true.

To her loving and devoted husband Jerry, she was his rock, his strength, and the absolute love of his life. The way he took care of her through all the things that this life threw at them and blessed them with is the stuff of the greatest love stories ever written. Their love is legendary. It spans over half a century and has absolutely stood the test of time. We should all be so blessed to follow their example.

Everyone that knows Kay knows that they got more back from her than they gave.

Her capacity to love knew no bounds with anyone who was fortunate enough to know her.

That was the story of Kay’s beautiful life.

And she promised each and every one of us she would always be there. And now she is, watching over us, guiding us, loving us. We can’t have another one of her legendary hugs, but we can continue her legacy of love, beauty, and grace by keeping her memory close within our hearts.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents on both sides, father and mother, and both brothers. She is survived by all of the family previously mentioned.