Katherine “Kay” Stanwyck was born on Nov. 10, 1932, in Auburn, Calif., to Greely Herrington and Myrtle Holsclaw. She was later joined by her siblings: two sisters, Carol and Ginger, and a brother, Gene. Kay graduated from California State University, Berkeley. In 1954, she married Thomas Stanwyck, and together they had five children: Donald Stanwyck, Karen (Stanwyck) Lagace, Kenneth Stanwyck, Sandra (Stanwyck) James, and Timothy Stanwyck. The couple later divorced.

Kay dedicated the first 12 years of motherhood to being a stay-at-home mom. She always had a deep love for science and shared that passion with her children. When they got a bit older, she embarked on a career as a cytology technologist.

Kay had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening, planting flowers and vegetables at every home she lived in. Kay’s grandchildren held a special place in her heart, and she was a significant influence in their lives. Each grandchild received a hand-knitted Afghan from her upon graduating high school.

Faith was central to Kay’s life. She spent some time as the owner of a Christian bookstore and was a lifelong member of various churches. Kay spent the last 31 years of her life as a devoted member of Faith Baptist Church of Harney County.

Kay passed away on Feb. 24, 2025, in Burns. She is survived by her two sisters; her children, Ken, Karen, Sandra, and Tim (Gracie); as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, and her son, Don.

A service to celebrate Kay’s life will be held on April 7, 2025, at Faith Baptist Church in Hines