Kay Ellen McConkey, 83, died August 21, 2021 at her home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. No services will be planned. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She was born January 8, 1938 to Russell D & Iris E (Hughes) McConkey in Liberal, KS. The family moved to Cushing, OK where Kay spent the majority of her school years, graduating from Cushing High School. Following graduation, she attended Oklahoma A&M for a short time before moving to San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV and back to Oklahoma in Stillwater. In 1973, Kay met Joyce Johnson who was to be her life partner for the next 48 years. She was quickly ingrained into the lives of Joyce’s children and family. They moved to Texarkana, AR in 1981 to be nearer to Joyce’s parents, but returned to Stillwater in 1995 to be closer to the children & grandchildren.
Singing was one of the things Kay loved and she discovered women’s 4-part harmony as a Bass in Sweet Adelines International from 1973 to 2006. She and Joyce sang in four different choruses with the majority of that time spent with the OK City Chorus. They also helped to begin a new chorus in Texarkana while living there. She was active in the administrative functions for both the chorus and regional levels as well as a member of many quartets over the years. They traveled all over the country for various competitions as well as London, England in 1978.
The banking industry was her chosen profession and started while in San Diego and continued for the majority of her career. She worked for First National Bank in Stillwater, State First National Bank in Texarkana, AR, where she retired the first time and finally for BancFirst in Stillwater, where she retired for the second time. Kay was the “go-to” banker for many of the customers who often preferred waiting until she was available to assist them with their banking business.
Kay was very fond of dogs of which she had many over the years. Her family used to say her dogs were treated better than people and she would agree. Together, with Joyce’s brother, they built a log home in the country which not only allowed them space for the many dogs, but for cats, horses and goats.
Preceding her were Joyce: her parents: brother Richard McConkey; and grandson Alexander Stewart.
Survivors include her sister Linda McConkey (Stillwater); children (by choice) - Lisa L Reavis & husband Warren (Leavenworth, KS), Morgan “Gene” Steward (Perkins), and Wynn C Johnson (Tulsa, OK); granddaughter, Liane Bastion (Omaha, NE) and her dog Baxter.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Stillwater Humane Society, 601 S. Washington PMB291, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074.
Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.
