Catherine Ann "Kay" Roberts

Catherine Ann "Kay" Roberts, 81, of Grinnell, IA, and formerly of Los Alamos, NM, passed away on October 18, 2025, at Windsor Manor in Grinnell, IA.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 29, at 10:30am at Grinnell United Methodist Church with a luncheon to follow. A more casual Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 30, in Grinnell.
Kay was born on September 21, 1944, to John Henry and Catherine "Kitty" (Quillin) Russell in Kingsport, Tennessee. From the age of 1, she grew up in the atomic city of Los Alamos, NM, the oldest of 4 siblings. Always creative, Kay found ways to get into "good trouble" - like when she and a friend painted happy faces on each water hydrant for their senior prank. She graduated from LAHS in 1962. Kay went on to earn her teaching degree from New Mexico State University in 1966, with endorsements in Math, English, and Social Studies.
She met the love of her life, a beloved Social Studies teacher, Paul Jackson Roberts, while teaching at Gadsden High School in Anthony, NM. They were married on December 28, 1966.
To this union Kay and Paul were blessed with four children, Paul Jackson "Jack" Roberts, Jr., Catherine "Kitty" Pearl, Bobbye Jean, and John Eugene. After 11 years of marriage Paul died of cancer in January 1978, leaving behind his wife and four young children, ages 8 to 6 weeks old.
Kay approached being a single mom the same way she approached all of life, with spunk and vigor. Never one to feel sorry for herself, she worked hard while trusting God to provide the next meal. She had a fire and strength others admired, and when faced with the choice to laugh or cry, she chose laughter.
Kay taught for over 20 years in Las Cruces, Roswell and El Paso, with her longest tenure at Los Alamos Middle School. Kay used humor and her huge heart to gain the respect of even the most difficult students. Students of Mrs. Roberts knew she believed in them. She went on to earn her Masters in Education from College of Santa Fe with a focus on At-Risk Youth.
Kay retired from teaching in 1996, just before her youngest started college, and moved to Austin, TX, to begin a new adventure. As someone who spent her entire life serving and ministering to others, it was fitting that in May 1999, Kay graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and became ordained clergy in the PC-USA church. She went on to pastor congregations in Louisiana, Ohio, and New Mexico.
Kay will also be remembered for her musical talents. Her musical journey started young. She took piano lessons at age 5 and taught herself how to play guitar. She grew a thriving ministry where she sang for churches and Women's Aglow retreats throughout the southwest. She was a prolific music writer who produced and recorded numerous tapes, CD's, and even co-wrote a middle school musical, "You're Gonna Like It Here."
Her talents didn't end on the stage or in the recording studio. She was also a gifted athlete, playing every sport growing up, including downhill skiing. During college she skied in the Alps while her Uncle Lt. Col. Frank Miller was stationed in Germany. Throughout her life she enjoyed hiking, especially near her home in the beautiful Jemez Mountains and at Bandelier National Monument. Kay was always an avid traveler and took her children on annual road trips each summer vacation. During her seminary years, she visited the Holy Land and Africa.
Kay never met a stranger. She valued diversity and saw beauty in everything - and everyone. A natural gift giver, she found great joy in spoiling her kids and grandkids (even when her special gifts required an explanation). Kay was so good at loving people, especially the unconventional. She had a way of making everyone feel important and loved - her family, students in class, parishioners at church, the stranger on the sidewalk - she saw and valued everyone. She was a woman of great faith who believed in God's love for all. Kay found every opportunity to be generous. Her day was often interrupted as she handed handfuls of stickers to an expectant child, errands lengthened as she paused to deliver lunch to a hungry homeless man. Her generosity didn't end with stickers or a value meal, more than once she gifted her car to the single mom across town or the person in need.
Kay brought life, laughter, and hope to all she knew. She doggedly defended the powerless and protected the outcast with the same vigor she clung to her faith.
At her clergy retirement her brother Bob spoke up, "My sister is a modern day Mother Theresa with attitude." To which spirited Kay replied, "Hell yeah!"
She is survived by her children Jack (Bridget) Roberts of Colorado Springs, CO, Kitty (Edward) Browne of Austin, TX, Bobbye (Eric) Schubert of Grinnell, IA, and John (Anna) Roberts of Honolulu, HI; her grandchildren Elizabeth, Sahra-Marie, Sophia, and Amalia Roberts; Malachi and Catherine Browne; Catherine, Anna, Athen, Paul, and James Schubert; and Kate and Charlie Roberts; her siblings Robert "Bob" (Robin) Russell, Craig (Erin) Russell, and Elizabeth "Libby" (the late Greg Paris) Russell; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Jackson Roberts, and her parents, John and Kitty Russell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following: Grinnell United Methodist Church, the Catherine A Roberts Endowed Scholarship at Austin Theological Presbyterian Seminary, or your local food pantry. All memorial gifts can be mailed to Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
We will miss her love, her laughter, and her sass.
In honor of Kay, help the cast-aside feel chosen: buy a homeless person lunch, visit someone who is lonely, or do something to care for a quirky middle school student. Kay lived a life of serving, helping, and being there for others. May we all do the same.