Kay Ann (Hoeting) Parks, 64, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022, in
Wakeeney, Kansas. Kay was born April 3, 1958, in Colby, Kansas, to
Delmer Lee and Evelyn Marie (Super) Hoeting. She grew up on the family
farm south of Penokee and attended Penokee Grade School and graduated
from Morland High School in 1976. During her school years, Kay was
active in 4-H, FFA, and sports. She was a member of the Morland Tigers
state volleyball team and always did well on her entries at the county
fair. She won Grand Champion at the Kansas State Fair one year with her
yeast bread recipe.
Kay attended Colby Community College where she was a member of the
volleyball team that played at Nationals in Baltimore, Maryland. She
married Mike Parks in 1977. They later divorced. Their son, Aaron Denton
Parks, was born in 1977 and daughter Amy Renee Parks arrived in 1980.
Kay was a devoted mother who attended all her children’s school,
sporting, and 4-H events. She continued this even after her kids were
grown by attending events Amy coached.
Kay began working at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital in 1984 where
she served as Materials Manager for 38 years. Never one to sit still,
Kay always had a second job. Over the years, she could be found working
at Camerons, Tropps, Prairie Junction, Reds, and Sub Station. She joined
the Graham County Fair Board in 1994 and served as the
secretary/treasurer for 28 years. Kay was recently honored as the Grand
Marshal for the 2022 Graham County Fair Parade. She devoted thousands
of hours to the planning, promotion, and running of the fair. She loved
to see the community come together to compete and enjoy each other. Kay
also served on the Kansas Fairs and Festivals Board for 13 years. During
that time, she served as secretary/treasurer, vice-president, and
president of the state association. She enjoyed her time on the board
and said it felt like one big family working together.
Kay was independent and self-sufficient. She had a heart of gold
and an ornery streak in equal measure. She enjoyed watching and playing
sports and spent several summers playing on a women’s softball team. She
loved the outdoors and went fishing as often as she could. She was an
avid gardener who was known far and wide for her specialization in
irises. Kay was also a gifted baker. She was well-known for her
generosity among the recipients who enjoyed her homemade donuts, rolls,
noodles, cinnamon twists, cookies, and annual sweets platter. She had a
special connection with each of her nieces and nephews who have fond
memories of her bringing special treats and afternoons spent sledding,
horseback riding, and cooking. The most special place in her heart,
however, was reserved for her grandchildren. She loved spending time
with them and watching their activities and events.
Those gone before her to welcome her to heaven include her father
Delmer Hoeting, brother Bill Hoeting, and grandson Taegan Stewart. Those
left to cherish and honor her memory include her mother Evelyn Hoeting,
Hill City; her children, Aaron and Abby Parks, Olathe, and Amy and
Kerry Stewart, Hill City; her grandsons: Kolby, Kiptyn, and Kasyn
Stewart; her granddaughter Berkley Parks; her siblings: Glenda Peltier,
Reno, Nevada, Ben and Jeanette Hoeting, Rexford, and Marvin and Heather
Hoeting, Manhattan; her nieces and nephews; and more friends than anyone
could count.
Kay fought bravely to the very end, proving that cancer cannot
invade the soul, suppress memories, kill friendships, destroy peace,
conquer the spirit, shatter hope, cripple love, corrode faith, silence
courage, or steal eternal life. Her legacy lives on through the
organizations she served, the lives she touched, and the family she
loved.
Click HERE for service details.