Kathy Irene (Gifford) Ray

Kathy Irene Gifford was born on September 27, 1952 in Larned, KS to Eugene and Doris Gifford and gained her angel wings on October 28, 2019.  After her mother passed, her father married Phyllis Gifford.  She is survived by Phyllis Gifford as well as her siblings Mary Nolan, Kirk Mische, and Brad Mische.

Kathy is survived by her husband, James Milton Ray, whom she married on December 20, 1969 in Sterling, Kansas.  She passed just short of their 50th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her children Jamie Stallwood, Anne Sims and spouse John Sims, James Ray and spouse Donna Ray, and Jeanne Ray and spouse Kara Ray. Her grandchildren Lacy Barnes and spouse Robert Barnes, Jonathan Sims and spouse Kenzie Sims, Katelyn Stallwood, D'Lisa Stamper, Justin Ray and spouse Madisyn Ray, Kegan Ray, Kali Moore and spouse Brent Moore, Kyla Alexander and spouse Josh Alexander, and Taylor Briscoe and spouse Dillon Briscoe.Her great grandchildren Kylie, Kamryn, Harrison, Levi, Johnie, Noah, Oakley, Rory, Brooks, Harper, Alexis, Dallas, Hayley, and Garrett.

She is preceded in her death by her parents, Eugene and Doris Gifford, her brother Gary Gifford, her son David Ray, and her great granddaughter Maribelle Sims. 

Kathy had a love and passion for life that can't be described.  While she lost her battle to cancer, she never gave up fighting, because she had so much to live for. Of her passions her family became the greatest, especially when it came to spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to watch movies with them, with her all-time favorite involving the Minions, even having a Minion birthday party a few years ago.  She loved to sing, especially when she was jokingly told not to quit her day job.  Even when sick in the hospital, at a time when she couldn't have anything to eat or drink, she was given a sucker to which she responded by singing a rendition of "I'm in Heaven".  Not only did she sing, but she loved to dance as well.  She was a huge fan of Elvis.  One of the most notable things about Kathy was her sense of humor….man how she loved to laugh and make others laugh as well.  Give her a little "Harvey Flinker" and she was even more hilarious and sassy.  Sometimes she was called "Chatty Kathy" and boy could she live up to this name.  Kathy never met a stranger….she would talk for hours to a complete stranger in the grocery store, walking away with a new friend.  She had a love for people and loved her career in nursing.  She was a loving wife, mother, in law, grandmother, sibling, friend…the list goes on.  She touched many lives, likely more than we will ever know. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathy Irene (Gifford) Ray, please visit our floral store.