Mary Catherine “Kay” Kilgariff, 81, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. She was born in Moline Illinois to Hugh B. Cabeen and Mary (Louck) Cabeen and raised in Aledo, Illinois with her half-brother, Richard Cabeen. Kay attended Aledo Elementary School as well as Aledo Senior High.
Kay met and married Roy Goding shortly after High School. This union produced three children, Teresa, Thomas, and Martin Goding. While the children were young, Kay was a stay at home mother. Roy worked for the United Parcel Service. This career sent them to Salina, Kansas. Kay was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and was happy to transfer her membership to the Salina Chapter. When all the children attended school, she started working at ABC Kiddie Shop on Santa Fe. She enjoyed it so much, she bought the business!
After 21 years, Kay and Roy divorced. Kay became interested in real estate. She sold the Kiddie Shop and pursued her career as a realtor. Kay was elected associate realtor of the year many times. She was a member of the Salina Board of Realtors. Kay later met and married Charles Kilgariff. They worked together and owned Century 21. Kay retired from real estate at 75.
Kay liked to travel, visit the casinos, and enjoyed gardening. She enjoyed growing her own tomatoes and her favorite flowers were petunias. Kay loved spending time with her seven grandchildren. She was proud to have 17 great-grandchildren.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Mary; brother, Richard; son, Thomas; and second husband, Charles.
Surviving family members include children, Teresa and husband, Garry Erickson, Martin Goding and wife, Julia; daughter-in-law, Christina Goding; grandchildren, Lisa (Jake Swisher), Katie (Chad Loder), Brandon Goding (Nikki), Megan (Tim Fry), Justin Goding (Chelsey), Cody Goding (Meghan), Tyler Goding (Brianna); great-grandchildren, Sloane, Axel, Copen, Kaylee, Caden, Aveline, Timothy Jr., Abigail, Makenzie, Rylan, Hunter, Carmen, Zoey, Cayvn, BraeLynn, Maci, Sutton; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and many close friends.
Visitation will be 12 - 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Ryan Mortuary. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023 at New Gottland Lutheran Church, McPherson. Inurnment will be in Falun Cemetery.
Memorials to Tammy Walker Cancer Center.