Dorothy Jean Kay

It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude for a life well-lived that we announce the peaceful passing of Dorothy Jean Kay, on April 20, 2026, just shy of her 86th birthday. Dorothy slipped away quietly at home in the loving embrace of her family after a courageous seven-year battle with dementia. Though her memory may have waned, the imprint she left on those who loved her remains vivid and enduring. Born on April 29, 1940, in the quaint town of Raton, New Mexico, Dorothy was the cherished daughter of Nellie Carlini and Charles McPeek. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, her brothers Charles and David McPeek, and her treasured grandsons Jeremy Joel Chesser and K.W. Savage. Dorothy is now reunited with those she loved and missed dearly. Dorothy’s life was a testament to love and resilience. On September 11, 1959, she married Billy Thomas Kay, embarking on a journey that would span 66 remarkable years. Together, they built a family filled with laughter, love, and countless cherished memories. Dorothy’s legacy continues through her surviving family: her devoted husband Billy; her four children, Debra Lynn Deichmann (and spouse Jon Deichmann), Sandra Jean Watson, Stephanie Ann Kay, and John Jay Kay; her grandchildren Amanda Palmer, Aleksander Chesser, Heather Heraty, Brittany Geraty, Jamie Geraty, Laura Davis Yancheff, Nicole Davis, Perrie Kyle and Dillon Savage; and her great-grandchildren Dallas and Blake Connally, Emerson and Lyla Chesser, Brooklyn Dennis, Kaydance, Kirah and Kenzie Kyle, Eddie, Ben and Sammy Heraty, Cooper and Maddie Yancheff, along with her three precious great-great-grandsons Rowdy Connally, Kasey, and Wesley Connally. Dorothy also leaves behind her lifelong best friend, Irene Valdez-Henderson. Dorothy spent nearly three decades in the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska, from 1968 until 1996. Her love for the outdoors was infectious, as she relished fishing, camping, hiking, berry picking, and making jelly. Friends and family always asked for her delicious rose hip jelly, “Frog Eye” salad, chicken enchilada casserole, and Gallo Cream Sherry cake. And all of her grandchildren loved her unique potato soup. She was a woman of immense patience, kindness, and an extraordinary sense of humor, traits she maintained even as dementia slowly took hold. Her beautiful smile could light up a room. A service to honor Dorothy's life will be held on May 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 240 Rio Grande Ave, Raton, NM 87740. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Dorothy’s memory to the Dementia Society of America at dementiasociety.org or the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at alzheimersresearchfoundation.com. The family wants to thank Raetina, Rita, Robin, Denise, Delores, Pastor Jill Caitlin, Jonathan and Shawna for the compassion and care provided during Dorothy's struggle with dementia. Special thanks to cousins, Julie Osborn and Alandra Floyd for always being there for Dorothy and her entire family. Dorothy Jean Kay will be remembered as a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a doting grandmother, and a steadfast friend. Her legacy of love and laughter will continue to inspire all who were fortunate to know her. In the words of her family, she was a remarkable woman who lived a beautiful life, and her memory will forever be a blessing to us all.