Kay Louise Lotridge, age 80, passed away June 22, 2026. She was born February 3, 1946 in St. Joseph, Missouri and adopted by Helen Katherine Hefner Skinner and Roscoe Eugene Skinner. She was raised in Topeka, Kansas and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1964. She married David E. "Eddie" Lotridge in 1967, and together they had five children and adopted one granddaughter, raising them in St. Mary's, Kansas. They divorced in 1992.

In 1994, Kay discovered with joy that she had eight siblings in Waverly, Iowa from her birth mother's side. Her siblings immediately claimed her as one of their own and lovingly called her Sister Big. While she did not get to meet her birth parents, Helen Marie Wilson and Donald Wayne Anderson, she was always thankful to have these new siblings in her life and finally get answers to questions she had always had.

Kay worked for Hallmark Cards for many years before pursuing education to become a drug and alcohol counselor. She was a long-time friend to Bill W. and had a real passion and calling to help both men and women find sobriety. She worked in multiple cities for various agencies throughout Kansas before retiring in 2008 as Director of Substance Abuse Services at the Topeka Correctional Facility. Never one to sit still, she went on to become involved with the Walnut Hills Housing Authority in St. Mary's and happily did everything she could to upgrade the units and support the residents. It is impossible to say just how many people she helped through the years, but she loved watching people overcome their addictions and receiving the services they needed most.

Kay also formed several support groups through the years after losing son Michael in an auto accident and again after losing her daughter Kayanne to complications from cancer. She wanted others to know they weren't alone in their grief, and it's the knowledge she shared from those journeys that will help her family now.

Kay faced every obstacle head-on and always came out with kindness, compassion, empathy, and a positive attitude.

If you asked people what struck them first about Kay, they would say her beautiful smile followed by her playful and dorky sense of humor. When not trying to save the world, she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, bluegrass music, seafood, her cats, and looking at God's glory in nature. Nothing topped time spent with her grandchildren and she was so happy when her great-great granddaughter was born this year. Kay also held onto every card given to her through the years by the people she loved and every thank you from people she helped. She was full of gratitude for the little things in life that added up to a life worth living despite surviving the unimaginable pain no parent should ever face.

Kay is survived by her children Susan A. (J. Blaine) Morgan, Daniel E. Lotridge, David J. Lotridge, and Sarah N. Lotridge. She is also survived by grandchildren Jacquelyn M. (Jace) Beightel, Michael D. Morgan, Jay B. Morgan, Jessie D. Wood, Adan M. Lotridge, Landon E. Lotridge, Reagan B. Phillips, Jordan P. (Kevin) Hawkins; great-grandchildren Crystavia Neal, Tamaureon Lotridge, Dejanique Neal, Anissa Everitt, Jack "Alex" Blanch, and Flynn Blanch; great-great granddaughter Evangeline Kay Chavez; siblings Ray (Connie) Skinner, Kathy (Jim) Hinders, Steve (Roberta) Hicks, Mary (Meryle) Muller, LuAnn Hicks, and Julie (Jim) Bublitz, plus many long-time friends whom she loved like siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Michael Eugene Lotridge on August 22, 1987, her daughter Kayanne Elaine Lotridge on July 22, 2011, and siblings Dennis Hicks, Terry Hicks, and Marilyn Hahn.

A service celebrating her life will be led by Kay's sister-in-law Connie Skinner and held at Piper Funeral Home in St. Mary's, Kansas on Monday, August 3rd at 1:00pm. Cremation took place at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri and her ashes will be interred at Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Mary's, Kansas. The family requests that you do a random act of kindness, hug someone who needs it, give your smile to someone who has lost theirs, and pray for everyone suffering through addiction and grief.