Kay was born on January 16, 1938, in San Angelo, to Lonzo Forrest Koon and Clyde Bennet Koon. At the young age of 2½, her father, an SAPD officer, came home for lunch, climbed on top of the windmill next to their swimming pool, lost his footing, and fell onto a garden hoe. After her father’s death, her mother moved from their beautiful home, which her father built on 37th and Short Street, to Santa Rita.
Kay attended San Angelo High School and graduated in the class of 1955. She then went on to obtain her RN from Shannon School of Nursing in 1958. While working at Shannon in the early '70s, she went to Houston and became the first NP in San Angelo. Kay worked from 1954, taking care of her sick aunt, Cleo Gunter, as an aide, to the early '90s at Shannon. She also worked at Planned Parenthood, returning to Shannon on the weekends. In 1985, she opened Family Planning with Dr. Bridges, eventually closing in 2009 to take care of her husband.
Kay married David Franks on December 31, 1956, and together they had two children. They were inseparable, building his business and their dream home, and even racing when they had time. She was a member of Shannon Alumni, Tom Green County Democrats, San Angelo Ski Club, and Community Christian Church.
She will always be remembered for her teaching skills and for treating all patients equally and with compassion.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie and Clyde; step-father, John E. Kahara; husband, David; grandparents, Koon, Bennett, and Kirk; nieces, Tiffani and Janna Lynn; cousins, Kenneth and June Gunter, and Marilyn Bennett.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Gena (Dennis); her sister, Jan Richardson (Perry); cousins, Cathy Crawford of Sonora, CA, Sonny Arrington of Miles, TX; and her pets, Ivy and her cats.
There will be a memorial service at Johnson’s Funeral Home, in the chapel, on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank Concho Hearts Hospice and Russ Frasier, along with Kathy, Margaret, Twyla, and Lucia.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to any local animal rescues.
