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Kathleen

Kathleen “Kay” Stanley

d. November 23, 2014

Margaret Kathleen “Kay” Stanley passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014 surrounded by her loving family.  Kay was born to John and Margaurite McGinn on February 15, 1917 just west of Sedgwick, Kansas at the family farm house.  Growing up Kay learned to be frugal, which is something that served her well for her entire life.  During the depression her family was able to trade ration coupons and they never were without something they needed as a result of prudent planning. She attended two years at Marymount College in Salina where she studied dietetics, and art.  She loved painting, drawing in pencil, Indian ink, and acrylics.  In this class she drew three dogs in pencil, which are still help in the family today. Her dietetics education resulted in her children learning to love all the “yucky” stuff like broccoli, cauliflower and a wide array of other vegetables.  Kay attended the Professional Business College, in Wichita, Kansas, after the two years at Marymount. After her father suffered from a stroke, she moved back home to help care for both of her parents.  Kay made the acquaintance of Lynn Stanley while he worked for Nice Greenhouse in Wichita .He was later hired as a farmhand for Maurice McGinn in Sedgwick.  Lynn and Kay began dating soon after he arrived in Sedgwick. During WWII Lynn went to serve in the Army as a General’s Radio Man. During this time, with much love and devotion, he and Kay would write letters to one another continuing their relationship until he was back home. They married on July 6, 1947 in Halstead, Kansas.  Lynn owned and operated the creamery in Sedgwick, and he then became a rural mail carrier.  During this time Kay managed a household, helped care for her mother, and dealt with the loss of their first child James Stanley who was stillborn.  For years, the couple lived in a house on Main Street in Sedgwick across from the Methodist Church. They later moved in to a home that they built where they spent the better part of their lives.  Kay continued to care for her family and her home. She taught her daughter Rita to sew at only 4 years old, starting her out on making handkerchiefs for her father.  “Pinching pennies until they screamed twice” is a phrase her daughter says when remembering how many times Kay was able to makeover her clothes many times over extending their life for years!  Kay was always there to greet the children when they arrived home from school, sometimes with fresh baked warm bread that she learned to make as a girl on the farm.  She was very curious about how things worked and experimented making many things. One of her experiments was when she made peanut butter cups. They were not as perfect as the store bought variety, but they were delicious!  Not much could compare to her roasts that she would prepare in the pressure cooker, a family favorite.  The companionship of animals was a constant in the Stanley household, in the later years “Max” was that companion, a dog that kept both Lynn and Kay active and busy.  The children are almost certain that he got more ice cream than they ever did! Kay was a woman full of love and devotion for her family and it showed. Her best friends in the world were sisters Florence, Betty, Lois and Irene.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, James Stanley; sisters, Florence Stites, Lois Miller, and Irene McGinn; brother, Sam McGinn.  She is survived by sons, Jerry and wife Stella Stanley, Phillip Stanley and partner Virdell Shay; daughter, Rita and husband Danny Grindstaff; sister, Betty Hanna; 5 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild.  Visitation will be held on Friday November 28, 2014 from 5-9pm at Petersen Funeral Home, family will greet friends from 6-8 pm.  Rosary Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. immediately followed by Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday November 29th, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Halstead, Kansas.  Memorials may be made out to Good Shepherd Hospice, 439 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67203.

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