Kathryn Ann Lockett Kiech

Former longtime Alaska resident Kathryn Ann (Kay) Lockett Kiech, 83, died Sept. 24, 2009, in Little Rock, Ark. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, followed by a graveside service at Jonesboro Memorial Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are: Sara Jung Bouchard, Kathleen Laird Caldwell, Lyle Caldwell, Sarah Caldwell, Toni Heringer Falls, Al Heringer, Richard Jung, Jimmy Jung, Kiech Jung, Burgess Laird and Dr. Lyle Laird. The celebrant will be the Rev. Jesse Perkins. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Emerson Funeral Home, 1629 E. Nettleton, Jonesboro, AR 72401. To sign an online registry go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com. Born May 27, 1926, in Ada, Okla., to Ruth E. and Jesse J. Lockett, she attended the University of New Mexico, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. In 1945 she married Maurice C. Kiech of Jonesboro, Ark. Following the war, she and her husband returned to Jonesboro, where they started their family of five sons. She was a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed her friends and family, and always provided a warm, welcoming and gracious home. She and Maurice attended St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Jonesboro for many years. Kay had a deep interest in architecture, the decorative arts, and literature. She collected artwork of local artists wherever she lived and traveled, and was a lifelong supporter of the public library system and of public education. Kay and her husband moved to Anchorage in 1973 following the devastating tornados in Jonesboro. They both enjoyed the outdoors, and they loved the wilderness. Travel was a great love of theirs; they treasured their trips to the West, especially to the National Parks. Following Maurice's death in 1989, Kay Kiech continued her travels and for several years had homes in Hardy, Ark., Jonesboro, Ark., and Anchorage. She is survived by her four sons, Earl Kiech, Michael Kiech, Peter Kiech and Veon Kiech; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice Kiech; her sister; and her eldest son, David Kiech. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, 315 W. Oak Ave, Jonesboro, AR 72401, or to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 531 W. College, Jonesboro, AR 72401.