Obituary for Kay N. Koonce
Kay N. Koonce was born June 5, 1943, at Sabinal, Uvalde County, Texas, and passed away peacefully on the morning of July 29, 2020, at Ridgecrest Retirement and Healthcare, Waco, McLennan County, Texas. She was the first of four children born to Lonnie L. Norris and Julia (Wofford) Norris. During her youth, Kay resided in Texas, California, Arizona, and Oklahoma, where she was a precocious school student and a budding musician. She studied violin, clarinet, piano, and voice.
She graduated from high school in Altus, Oklahoma, in 1961 and from the University of North Texas at Denton in 1966, earning a B.A. in French with a minor in Music, and later, a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington and subsequently taught high school English for several years. She enjoyed serving as a choir member and soloist at the First United Methodist Church, Ft. Worth; in various choirs at the University of North Texas, Denton; in the Washington Civic Chorus, Washington, D.C.; for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and for Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, Waco. She looked forward each year to singing Handel’s “Messiah” with various choirs. Her voice ranged from contralto to mezzo soprano, and as soloist she sang ‘He Shall Feed His Flock” and “He Was Despised.” She also served as a temple worker at the Washington D.C. temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kensington, MD.
She married David Michael Koonce June 3, 1966, at the First United Methodist Church, Ft. Worth, TX. Surviving are their four children, Alan Koonce, Denver, CO, and daughter, Melissa Rose Koonce, and son Matthew Koonce; Sarah Koonce and husband Ali Niakosari, M.D., and daughter Nora Niakosari, Newton, MA; Rachel Koonce Blackett and husband David Blackett, D.M.D., and daughter Meagan Bodily, Elma, WA; and Kevin Koonce, Draper, UT. Kay’s surviving siblings are sisters Sue Campbell, Albuquerque, NM, and her children, Sherry Campbell Green (Marshall) and son Sam, Gilbert, AZ, and Brett Campbell, Albuquerque, NM; Lisa Whittington, Shreveport, LA, and son Scott Whittington, Ft. Worth, TX; and brother, Lee Norris (Donna), Burkburnett, TX, and sons Chris Norris (Tamara) and daughters, Carlie and Kinslee, Golden, CO, and Jeff Norris, Morrison, CO; plus numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Kay expressed appreciation for Sally Koonce, Vienna, VA, who mothered her children when Kay moved to Texas to be with her family for medical reasons.
Kay loved to meet new people and appreciated all the efforts, kindness, and talents of her family, friends, and caregivers. She particularly enjoyed reading scriptures and devotionals daily and participating in church activities whenever possible. She also enjoyed genealogy research, scrapbooking, quilting, and outings with friends, and she loved to share her photo albums with visiting family and friends.
Interment will be in a family cemetery--the Keith #3 Cemetery, Cookville, Titus County, TX. A family memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family wishes to thank the administrative, nursing, and hospice staff members of Ridgecrest Retirement and Healthcare and Amedisys Hospice for their loving care and also the many extended family members, friends, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who have cared for Kay over the years, with special thanks to Vieonne Morley, Ruth Foster, Leona Gustafson, Linda Webb and their families for their devotion and many acts of kindness. Thanks to Oakcrest Funeral Home and staff for their kindness and assistance.
Please do not send flowers. If you wish to honor Kay, you may mention her name in a donation to the charity of your choice or in a donation to the following global emergency relief fund: Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Avenue, Provo, UT 84604.
She graduated from high school in Altus, Oklahoma, in 1961 and from the University of North Texas at Denton in 1966, earning a B.A. in French with a minor in Music, and later, a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington and subsequently taught high school English for several years. She enjoyed serving as a choir member and soloist at the First United Methodist Church, Ft. Worth; in various choirs at the University of North Texas, Denton; in the Washington Civic Chorus, Washington, D.C.; for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and for Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, Waco. She looked forward each year to singing Handel’s “Messiah” with various choirs. Her voice ranged from contralto to mezzo soprano, and as soloist she sang ‘He Shall Feed His Flock” and “He Was Despised.” She also served as a temple worker at the Washington D.C. temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kensington, MD.
She married David Michael Koonce June 3, 1966, at the First United Methodist Church, Ft. Worth, TX. Surviving are their four children, Alan Koonce, Denver, CO, and daughter, Melissa Rose Koonce, and son Matthew Koonce; Sarah Koonce and husband Ali Niakosari, M.D., and daughter Nora Niakosari, Newton, MA; Rachel Koonce Blackett and husband David Blackett, D.M.D., and daughter Meagan Bodily, Elma, WA; and Kevin Koonce, Draper, UT. Kay’s surviving siblings are sisters Sue Campbell, Albuquerque, NM, and her children, Sherry Campbell Green (Marshall) and son Sam, Gilbert, AZ, and Brett Campbell, Albuquerque, NM; Lisa Whittington, Shreveport, LA, and son Scott Whittington, Ft. Worth, TX; and brother, Lee Norris (Donna), Burkburnett, TX, and sons Chris Norris (Tamara) and daughters, Carlie and Kinslee, Golden, CO, and Jeff Norris, Morrison, CO; plus numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Kay expressed appreciation for Sally Koonce, Vienna, VA, who mothered her children when Kay moved to Texas to be with her family for medical reasons.
Kay loved to meet new people and appreciated all the efforts, kindness, and talents of her family, friends, and caregivers. She particularly enjoyed reading scriptures and devotionals daily and participating in church activities whenever possible. She also enjoyed genealogy research, scrapbooking, quilting, and outings with friends, and she loved to share her photo albums with visiting family and friends.
Interment will be in a family cemetery--the Keith #3 Cemetery, Cookville, Titus County, TX. A family memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family wishes to thank the administrative, nursing, and hospice staff members of Ridgecrest Retirement and Healthcare and Amedisys Hospice for their loving care and also the many extended family members, friends, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who have cared for Kay over the years, with special thanks to Vieonne Morley, Ruth Foster, Leona Gustafson, Linda Webb and their families for their devotion and many acts of kindness. Thanks to Oakcrest Funeral Home and staff for their kindness and assistance.
Please do not send flowers. If you wish to honor Kay, you may mention her name in a donation to the charity of your choice or in a donation to the following global emergency relief fund: Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Avenue, Provo, UT 84604.