Betty Jane Kay

Betty Jane Kay, 67, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2014, at the Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater, KS. Born January 2, 1947, at Ashland, KS, she was the daughter of Raleigh Warren and Esther Irene (Rieff) Maris.

Betty was nearly a lifetime resident of Protection, Ks. She and her husband Neil were high school sweethearts. They began dating when they were sophomores in High School and both graduated from Protection High School in 1965. In the fall of 1965, Betty moved to Wichita to attend Wichita Business College, receiving her associates' degree in Business in 1967. Neil went to Hutchinson, attending Hutch Juco, but that short distance apart did not change their relationship. After graduation, Betty began working at the Wichita Eagle as a secretary. Neil and Betty were united in marriage on April 9, 1967. They both continued to work in Wichita, and on February 24, 1970 their first child, Jeffery Warren, was born. Realizing that they did not want to raise their family in Wichita, they made the decision to move back home. The move to Protection happened in August of 1970 and Neil began working for the City of Protection and then shortly thereafter at the Protection Co-op, the same place that brought Neil and his family to Protection in his high school days. Betty worked various jobs in Protection and did whatever necessary to help provide for their family. They had two more kids after moving to Protection. Kendal Lee was born on April 24, 1973 and daughter Neeley Janell was born on January 17, 1979. Betty was an amazing wife and mother. While Neil continued to work at the Co-op, Betty would care for the family and also do whatever she could to assist financially in providing for their family. She drove a school bus for a number of years, worked in the office of Lane Myers Co., and also later changed jobs to work in the office of Filson Manufacturing. In Betty's whole life, God and her family were always first and foremost. Always!

In late 1991, Neil and Betty were given the opportunity to purchase the Feedmill in Ashland. This was not just any feedmill, this was a business that was shut down with no employees at the time. Neil and Betty discussed this venture and decided to pursue a dream. Wow, did they ever succeed! They opened Ashland Feed & Seed Co. for business on February 1, 1992 with only three employees: Neil, Betty, and their oldest son Jeff. While Jeff lived in Ashland, Neil & Betty continued to live in Protection. Over the last 24 years together, Neil and Betty expanded the family business significantly and today they have 42 employees at their headquarters in Ashland and their branch locations in Coldwater, KS and Fowler, KS. While Betty was the co-owner, she was also the office manager for Ashland Feed & Seed and worked side by side with their daughter Janell for the last 14 years.

After graduation from college in 1995, Kendal too moved to Ashland and began a career at Stockgrowers State Bank. With all three kids eventually living in Ashland, Neil and Betty were blessed with 9 healthy and wonderful grandkids. For many years, Neil and Betty seemed to always win the recognition during grandparent's day at the grade school for the most grandkids present. Betty loved every one of her grandkids so much! They were each the highlight of her life. Betty was always very active and in her spare time she would enjoy golfing, but mostly she just worked. She once recorded a hole-in-one (something that Neil is still trying to accomplish) while on a family vacation in Colorado. This great golf shot was witnessed by Kendal, Karrie, and a couple of grandkids who were very likely chasing geese on the course and not watching the fine display of golf. Betty loved life, she loved the Lord, she loved her family, and she loved her friends.

She was a member of the Protection United Methodist Church; Order of Eastern Star; Protection Golf Course; and Ashland Golf Course.

She is survived by her husband: Neil Kay of Protection, KS; her mother: Irene Maris of Ashland, KS; two sons: Jeff Kay and his wife Rebecca and their kids Quade, Zane, and Blake of Ashland, KS; Kendal Kay and his wife Karrie and their kids Sloan, Reece, Braton, and Kinley of Ashland, KS; one daughter: Janell Smit and her husband Hannes and their kids Levi and Jenna of Ashland, KS; two brothers: Don Maris and his wife Karen of Ashland, KS and Ron Maris and his wife Talma of Coldwater, KS; one sister: Pat Winton and her husband Don of Wichita, KS; nine grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of many friends.

She was preceded in death by her father: Raleigh Warren Maris.

Funeral service is at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Protection, KS, with Rev. Jessie Zimmerman presiding. Burial will follow the funeral service at Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS.

Memorials may be sent to Protection United Methodist Church or Ashland Fitness Center, Inc. in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.