Kathleen “Kathy” Diane Stice passed away on September 6, 2020, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 64.
She was born on
February 7, 1956, to Franklin and Ruby (Allene) Smith in El Dorado,
Kansas. Kathy was united in marriage to James “Jim” Stice on February
14, 1976. They were blessed with three children: Jared, Jacob, and
Kyleigh.
Kathy grew up in Stockton where she attended Stockton High School
and graduated with the class of 1974. She then attended Colby Community
College for 1 year. Shortly after she and Jim married, Kathy started
managing and running the bait shop at Webster Lake from 1978-1979. When
she had her children she devoted all of her time and attention to them
until they got a little older before she returned to work as a Para at
the school in Stockton from 1999-2003. If Kathy wasn’t working at the
school, preparing delicious meals for her family, or tending to her
children, she was working on the family farm taking care of any need
that came up. The last 17 years she spent working as the District
Manager for the Rooks County Soil Conservation District. Family was her
life – her grandkids always trumped everything and everyone; however,
she also enjoyed bowling on the WWB Bowling Team and testing her luck in
a few hands of poker.
Kathy was an active member in the community, was a part of the VFW
Auxiliary and charter member of the Sigma Phi ESA for 40 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Allene Smith.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband, James “Jim” Stice of the
home; children, Jared (Sonja) Stice, Jacob (LaDonna) Stice, and Kyleigh
Stice all of Stockton; siblings, Bob (Kathy) Smith of Haughton, LA, and
Marcie McClure of El Dorado, KS; and six grandchildren, Jase Stice,
Annabelle Kester, Thomas Kester, Jasmine Kester, Mackenzie Kester, and
Justice Stice.
Kathy was a woman of strong faith, an undeniable work ethic, and
extraordinary love. With a heart and spirit that cared more for others
than herself, she showed us every day that the greatest of these is
love. Although we will miss her greatly, we rejoice that her love has
found its fullness as she joins her Lord in eternal glory.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, September 14, 2020 at
2:00 PM at the Rooks County Fair Grounds in the SNB Pavilion. There will
be no public visitation.
In lieu of flowers memorials have been requested to go to the Rooks
County Free Fair and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral
Home, 723 North First, Stockton, KS 67669.