Kay Francis Hey Konkel was born on June 17, 1938, to Ed and Helen Hey in Monte Vista, Colorado. She was the sixth of eight children.

Helen and Ed moved the family northwest of Walsh, Colorado, to farm broomcorn when Kay was five years old. They moved into a small house at what is called the Silver Dollar. Kay started first grade at Vilas with Lena Edwards as her teacher. The family moved 17 miles south of Walsh where Kay attended the Richards School which was a one room schoolhouse. Opal Rutherford was her second and third grade school teacher. Kay enjoyed school and found it easy; her favorite subject was spelling and she won several spelling bees. After attending Richards School Kay returned to Vilas School attending through the seventh grade. She graduated from Cassville High School in Missouri at the age of 16. While attending high school in Cassville, Kay would return to Vilas and spend her summers with her sister, Lela Acre. It was during those summer visits that she met Melvin Konkel and they started dating, laying the foundation for their lifelong relationship.

One of Kay's first jobs was a librarian in Cassville, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Working in the library instilled a passion for reading that Kay passed on to her children.

In 1958, Helen and Kay moved back to Baca County and lived in Springfield. Kay worked at the Hill Top Cafe as a waitress. Melvin had been gone on wheat harvest in Texas and upon his return they met again on July 1 and were married 17 days later on July 17, at the courthouse in Springfield. They immediately purchased a travel trailer with no bathroom or running water; with this luxurious lodging in tow they headed north for wheat harvest. Their first stop was Last Chance, Colorado, and ended up in Chugwater, Wyoming. Chugwater was the beginning of two big changes in their lives: Kay began attending Sunday morning meeting with her sister-in-law, Joyce Konkel. Kay professed her faith in the Lord and was later baptized in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Secondly, in August while in Chugwater, Melvin received his draft notice from the United States Army. On September 3, 1958, Melvin was drafted into the army and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. After basic training Kay joined Melvin at Fort Hood. To make ends meet Melvin would hunt rabbits and fish and used their pickup to help others move. Kay was always thrifty with money and in a short time they were able to shop at the commissary one day before pay day to get the best selection in groceries.

Their first child, Shannon Isabel, was born on May 24, 1959, at the army base hospital at Fort Hood, Texas. Shortly after Shannon was born Melvin received his orders that would take him to Korea. In the middle of August, Melvin and Kay moved their little family back to Baca County. While Melvin was in Korea, Kay and Shannon stayed with her mother, Helen, in Pueblo, Colorado.

After returning from Korea and being discharged from the army, Melvin and Kay returned to custom harvesting. Kay cooked meals and kept the books.

On July 14, 1961, Zaylan Bruce was born at the clinic in Springfield, Colorado, joining his sister, Shannon, at home.

Kay and Melvin continued custom harvesting until they moved to Walsh in 1962 where Melvin worked at the Walsh Co-op Elevator and Kay babysat and took in ironing to help the family financially. In 1966, they moved to their current home in Vilas where they started a fertilizer business with Melvin doing sales and Kay keeping the books and manning the office.

Shannon and Zaylan were excited to hear that they were receiving a playmate. Travis Thayne was born in Lamar on July 17, 1969, at Sacred Heart Hospital, completing their family. The three kids have enjoyed many adventures together.

Shannon, Zaylan and Travis brought great joy to Kay who loved being a mother. Kay was able to juggle being a mother and taking care of the books in their many business ventures. Some of these endeavors were: Growers Supply, Baca Grain, Country Lollipops and Prairie Candle and Gift Shop. They were also involved in farming and ranching most of their lives.

Kay was a Potawatomie Indian on her mother's side of the family and was very proud of her Native American Heritage. She enjoyed attending many functions with her sister in Oklahoma and other places.

Her hobbies included: sewing, reading, arrowhead hunting and she had a passion for collecting antiques. Kay and Melvin loved to travel and did so frequently, often on the spur of the moment with an unknown destination. Some of the places she enjoyed were Hawaii and Jamaica. One of her favorite places was the New Mexico area where she enjoyed the southwest Indian culture, made many new friends and was invited to attend gatherings and family celebrations.

Kay was active in her children's school functions, 4-H and spots events. Summers were filled with nieces and nephews visiting. She enjoyed the activities of her children and then her grandchildren. This was continuing on with the pleasure of being a great-grandmother.

Kay and Melvin were honored to be chosen to represent Vilas as the 2011 Baca County Parade Marshalls.

Kay was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who tried to set a positive example to all around her. She would say she could out work people half her age. Her unwavering faith in the Lord gave her strength to the very end where she passed quietly in her home in Vilas surrounded by her family.

Kay is survived by her husband of 56 years, Melvin of Vilas; daughter Shannon Shaw and David Johns of Amarillo, Texas, son Zaylan and Carol Konkel of Vilas, Colorado, and son Travis Konkel of Springfield, Colorado; grandchildren; Jason and Monica Hinds of Alamosa, Colorado, Philip and Tanisha Hinds of Springfield, Landon and Lauren Shaw of Amarillo, Texas, Shane Shaw of Amarillo, Quint Shaw of Brighton, Colorado Kyndal Alvarez of Manitou Springs, Colorado, Chase Konkel of Springfield, Aubrie Konkel and Blake Cole of Walsh, Shyanne Brinkley of Amarillo, Taylor Konkel of Springfield and Jett Konkel of Springfield. Other surviving family members are great-grandchildren, Evie and Mazi Hinds, Nolan and Easton Hinds, Bentley Brinkley and Lane Cole; sisters, Lela Acre, Grace Doyle, Nell Cottrell Cecilia Hey, Penny Gibson and Cherri Hey; sister and brother-in-law Virginia and Rolla Ellsworth, sister-in-law Joyce Konkel and many nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Helen Hey and Eldon and Fay Konkel; brothers, Tom and Pete Hey; brothers-in-law, Chet Doyle, Jim Gibson, Ben Acre, Earl Konkel, Don Lock and Keith Konkel; sisters-in-law, Veta Fay Lock and Enid Konkel; nephews, Terrill Litz, Gerald Cottrell and Eldon Tucker.