Kathryn “Kay” Jane Daniels was born February 19, 1946, at Ottawa in Franklin County, Kansas. She was the daughter of Cecil H. and Beatrice Ila (Loree) Vining. After struggling with cancer for more than four years, Kay lost the battle, passing away at Webco Manor on November 15, 2014.
She grew up on the family farm near Richmond, KS, where she was involved in school activities, a member of Rainbow 4-H Club, and active in Methodist Youth Fellowship. She attended Richmond Grade School and High School through her junior year when the school closed for unification. She graduated from Lane, KS, High School in 1964.
After attending Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, for two years, Kay graduated from Southwest Missouri State (now MSU) with a degree in sociology. On November 26, 1976, Kay was united in marriage with Leon Daniels and they made Marshfield their home. To this union one son was born, Stephen Daniels.
She worked a few years in Family Services for the State of Missouri; then became the Social Service Director at Webco Manor in Marshfield which she held for nearly 30 years, retiring in 2008. In this position she was able to help many persons in a wide variety of ways.
For many years she was chairman of the annual Red Kettle Bell Ringers’ campaign and gave many hours to this and other Salvation Army projects. She and her husband, Leon, were recognized for their many years of dedication to the Salvation Army of Webster County and a tree was planted in their honor at Hidden Waters Nature Park in Marshfield.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2010, she was an active advocate for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks and other groups that help with cancer awareness and offer services. She was the main reason her brother-in-law, Harold Denholm of Tonganozie, KS, bought his “pink tractor” to the Ozark Farm Fest for three years. The pink tractor is in memory of Aileen (Vining) Denholm, Harold’s wife and Kay’s sister, who lost her life to cancer, as did her mother, Ila Vining.
As a member of the Marshfield United Methodist Church, she had served on the Building Committee and Church Council, was a Sunday School teacher, and helped with other church activities. A talented needle crafter, she made beautiful cross-stitched, embroidered, crocheted, and other pieces and gave many as gifts. She was an excellent cook, collected Precious Moments figurines and Fenton glassware. She loved to read and especially loved the dogs the family had through the years.
She and Leon enjoyed traveling in the different recreational vehicles they had. The friendships they had with the Bluegrass musicians and their spouses were very important and meaningful to her.
Surviving in addition to Leon are their son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Heather Daniels of Marshfield and soon-to-be grandson in March, 2015. A brother, Gene Vining of Richmond, KS; brother-in-law, Harold Denholm of Tonganoxie, KS; five nieces and a nephew and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews and numerous cousins whom she was close.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Aileen Denholm and mother-in-law Freda Daniels.
Memorial are suggested to the Webster County Salvation Army or Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks and sent in care of Fraker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.
Visitation is Tuesday, November 18th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Funeral Home and services for Kay are 11:00 on Wednesday, November 19th, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Marshfield with interment at the Marshfield Cemetery following the service.