Katherine Frances “Kay” Yancey was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on November 27,1936 to parents Katherine Elizabeth Milster Yancey and Richard Franklin Yancey. After feeling the ongoing presence of loving family and visitors, who prayed for her comfort as did many dear friends, Kay peacefully passed into Christian eternal life to meet her Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on September 28, 2026. Kay’s grateful family will always be thankful to the caring Christians and caregivers who prayed for Kay’s peace and comfort. God heard and answered our prayers.
As a working wife and incredibly devoted mother to her three children, Kay successfully completed her bachelor’s degree, master’s Degree, Educational Administration Certification, and all but dissertation on her Doctorate, when she decided to retire from education, in the best interest of her own health. Her education career took her throughout Texas from Garland to Highland Park, to Lake Jackson, Paris, and to Wasilla. Alaska where she was the first woman assistant principal they had ever hired.
Kay attended East Texas State University, now East Texas A&M University, graduating with highest honors on each degree. She was inducted into Alpha Chi National College Honor Society which recognizes and promotes academic excellence, and “a spirit of service and leadership to nurture those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good.” This perfectly described her: the teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal that many former students claimed as long as 40 years later, that she was the best teacher they ever had.
Kay later obtained a real estate license, and personally remodeled and sold many homes. She enjoyed gardening and her homes were a showplace inside and out. She sang beautifully and her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews credit her with teaching them Christmas carols, her favorite being “O’ Holy Night”. She could still “carry a tune” well into her eighth decade of life. Even in her senior years, Kay always made herself available to friends and family who were facing health challenges or just needed a helping hand, sometimes staying overnight in hospitals to assist them. For these reasons and countless more, Kay will be dearly missed by those she loved and those who loved her.
Survivors include Kay’s three children and their spouses: Gay Zoeller Moss (Rick Moss), Sandra Zoeller Perry (James Perry), William Zoeller (Sherri Zoeller). Six Grandchildren: Kristen Moss Bray (John Bray), Katelyn Anderson Reeves (Seth Reeves), USAF Senior Airman Preston Perry, Randy Zoeller, Marinda Griffin, and Landon Griffin (Raquel Griffin), and seven great-grandchildren. Niece: Beth Watson McHugh, Great-Niece: Amanda McHugh Pope, and one great-great-niece.
