Kay Blackstone

Frances Kay Blackstone was born February 25, 1936 in Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska to Francis “Farmer” Doyle and Mabel May (McCoy) Doyle. She departed this life on June 26, 2021 at the Heritage Care Center in Red Cloud.

Kay began school at Amboy, Nebraska in 1941. She attended school for six months in Leadville, Colorado while her father worked at that location. Through WWII years she attended school in Red Cloud, Portland, Oregon and Hemingford, Nebraska. Kay attended school in Red Cloud through junior high and her first two years of high school and graduated on May 17, 1953. She was active in high school band, pep club, drama, annual staff, etc. And held numerous offices and honorary positions.

She began work in the Webster County Welfare Office in 1953. On June 19, 1954 she married Charles “Chuck” David Blackstone, her high school sweetheart, and moved to Englewood, Colorado. Kay then worked for an engineering firm in Denver until Chuck entered the United States Army. When Chuck completed his basic training, Kay joined him at his military locations in Alabama, Texas and Kentucky. She worked as a secretary at each of these locations.

Chuck was discharged from service after 18 months and they returned to Colorado where Chuck worked and attended Denver University. In May 1960, they purchased land in Webster County and a house at Amboy. Kay was employed with Sprague & Sprague Law Firm until she and Chuck adopted their infant son, Brock, in 1967. They adopted their infant daughter, Krista, in 1969.

Kay started a land title company and a public accounting company which she owned and operated. Chuck started a microfilm service company. In the fall of 1983, they sold these companies and purchased a mini-mall in Ogallala, Nebraska. They sold the mall in 1987, and moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Upon retirement, they returned to Red Cloud after Kay retired as a paralegal and middle manager in a national headquarters corporate law department.

Kay served in many community organization through the years. She was a member and officer of the Nebraska Centennial Commission and of the Nebraska Bicentennial Commission by gubernatorial appointments. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Order of Eastern Star, Tehama Shrine Auxiliary, LRR Visionaries and a past member of many other organizations. She was a lifelong Democrat and enjoyed worked in politics.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Chuck; her parents; a sister, Mona Gestring; niece, Stephany Steward, and nephews, Chuck Gestring.

Left to remember her are her children, Brock Blackstone, Krista Kay Henderson; granddaughter, Augustina Kay Marie Henderson; five great grandchildren, brother-in-law, Ronald Gestring; other relatives and a host of friends.

Memorial service will be held Thursday, 2:00 pm, July 1, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Red Cloud with the Rev. Bonnie McCord officiating.

Interment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska, 3:00 pm, Friday, July 2, 2021.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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