Kathy Rae Dunaway

Kathy Rae (McElroy) Dunaway died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Jan 22, 2025 in Yorktown, Virginia at the age of 70.
Kathy is survived by husband Gary Howard Dunaway; children, Wendy Alena Daughtrey of Yorktown and Krystall Emily Dunaway of Virginia Beach; grandchildren Haleigh Rae Daughtrey and Brandon Lee Daughtrey of Yorktown; one brother – Robert McElroy of Geneva, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her parents, David Raymond McElroy and Kathern Ellen (Beeson) Richardson, sister Sharon Kay Butler, and brother David Milton McElroy.
Kathy was born on Jan 28, 1954 In Shelbyville, Illinois to David and Kathern McElroy. She graduated from Cowden-Herrick (Illinois) High School in 1972, and attended college classes at Central Texas College, the University of Maryland European Division and Thomas Nelson Community College.
She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Gary Dunaway, at Cowden, Illinois in 1972, shortly after he enlisted in the Air Force. Her work history included Transcar GMBH at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany; American Red Cross at Clark Air Base, Philippines and Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; Transportation Specialist at Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy before culminating her career as Contracting Officer at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Hampton, VA. She retired from a 27 year Civil Service career in 2015.
The couple welcomed daughters Wendy in 1975 at Wichita, Kansas and Krystall in 1979 at Wiesbaden, Germany. The family enjoyed many great experiences as they traveled the world with tours in Germany, Philippines, and Italy before settling in Virginia in 1991. Both girls graduated from Tabb High School – Wendy in 1993 and Krystall in 1997.
Family was always the center of Kathy's life. Her grandchildren, Haleigh and Brandon, were very precious to her. She loved to spoil them and never missed one of their lacrosse, field hockey, or soccer games. She delighted in taking them shopping and celebrating their scholastic and athletic achievements.
Kathy was a member of St Luke's United Methodist Church in Yorktown, and the Comte deGrasse Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR.) She joined Gary in many of his SAR events and ceremonies.
Kathy loved hunting for bargains at flea markets, yard sales, and estate sales and was a longtime volunteer at the Poquoson Thrift Shop. She collected Dooney & Bourke purses and Longaberger baskets. She was also a fine softball pitcher in her youth, and had the trophies to prove it. After retirement Kathy and Gary traveled extensively, but her favorite places were always the Outer Banks and Skyline Drive.
Kathy was a very kind, generous, and thoughtful person. Everyone who knew her loved her. To quote from the musical Hamilton – "best of wives, best of women."
A celebration of Kathy's life is scheduled for 1100 on Saturday, February 15th at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Yorktown. The service will be followed by a reception at the church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Kathy's life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Riverside Foundation https://www.riversideonline.com/en/foundation. The family would especially like to thank Kathy's surgeon Dr. William Irvin, Oncologists Dr. Mashour Yousef and FNP Jessica Cockrill, Infusion Nurse Keeyana Ford, and the Riverside Hospice Team for their dedication and wonderful care during Kathy's illness.