Helen "Kay" ORMSBY

1932 - 2017

ORMSBY, Helen (Robinson) "Kay"

Kay Ormsby, a sixty seven year resident of Spokane, passed away on December 11th in the presence of members of her loving family. Kay was born on March 18, 1932 on a farm in Madison, South Dakota to Irving Charles and Vera Sullivan Robinson. After her mother died one day before her tenth birthday, she and her dad moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. At the age of 16 she found herself on her own while her father pursued business interests in Arizona. In order to stay in Sandpoint and support herself, Kay got a job at the local radio station hosting a young adult program. In her time in North Idaho, she developed close and lifelong relationships with the Roth and Garvey families. She graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1950 and moved to Spokane where she attended Holy Names College, graduating in 1954. She worked for two and a half years as a social worker for the State of Washington.
In summer of 1953 between her junior and senior years in college she purchased the house she would live in for the rest of her life.
She and Duncan Ormsby were married on November 26, 1955 and lived in the Logan neighborhood their entire marriage. She is predeceased by her husband Dunc, who passed away in 2005 and a son Patrick, who died in 1997. She is survived by seven sons and their families: Mike (Jeanette), Timm (Kim), Brian (Diane), Joe (Kathy), Kelly (Barb), Kevin (Brenda), Colin (Jon) and a daughter-in-law Janet Voye (Tay). She was also blessed with 18 grandchildren: Allison (Jeff), Tyler (Zoe), Zachary (Michelle), Erin, Miles, Paul, Travis (Liz), Seana (John), Caitlin (Alex), Katie, Mary, Kayla, Christie, Ashley (Jake), Jessica, Patrick, Thomas, and Bailey. She also had seven great-grandchildren.
Kay was a fixture in the neighborhood full of large families as she was raising her own. Her home was also open and welcoming, always smelling of fresh baked goods and home cooked food. With a large family to feed, she had the incredible ability to stretch food a long ways and always make it taste great. She was a friend and confidant to many and truly enjoyed people. Her Catholic faith and love of her family were the cornerstones of her life.
Her Vigil/Rosary will be held on Friday, December 29th at 6:00 pm at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 330 E. Boone, Spokane. Funeral Mass will be celebrated for her on Saturday, December 30th at 11:00 a.m., also at St. Aloysius. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Poor Clares Sisters of Spokane, VOA-Cross Walk, Second Harvest Food Bank or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to: