Kay Rose Harris, 85, of Laramie, Wyoming died October 17, 2022.  Kay was born May 2, 1937 in Livingston, Montana to Fred and Mabel Baumgart.  She lived in Livingston and Billings, Montana and later in Cody, Wyoming.  She graduated in 1955 from Cody High School.  Kay moved to Laramie in June of 1972 and went to work for the College of Agriculture at the University of Wyoming and eventually for the Accounts Payable department.  She retired in July of 1999. After retirement, Kay worked as a housekeeper for the priests at the St. Paul’s Newman Center and she volunteered at every opportunity to help the Center thrive. It was a very important part of her life. Her deep faith was strengthened by her connection there and she was able to live her faith through her service to the Newman Center.

Kay’s family was most important to her and she loved them unconditionally. She showered them with love through her cooking and baking. Her children came home to fresh baked bread well into their teens! She was especially noted for her delicious pies– baked with care and generously donated to her granddaughter’s 4H fundraisers and Newman Center holiday bazaars. 

Once her four grandchildren, Jude, McKensie, Ali and Joey were born she reveled in being a grandmother and doing very special things for each of them.  She never missed an end of school year celebration from kindergarten to graduation, even if this meant driving to visit Jude and Ali in Colorado—and she always made sure she baked them their favorite cookies!  She went to all of Jude’s band concerts, Ali’s choir performances, and was in the stands at McKensie and Joey’s horse shows. She quickly transitioned from a longtime fan of UW basketball to a Laramie Senior High girls’ basketball supporter, cheering for Kensie and Joey at every home game.

Visits to Grammy’s house were delightful and were some of her favorite times.  She would put the initials of her grandchildren on their toothbrushes, supply their favorite hairbrushes, and make sure the cupboards were filled with their favorite Cheerios and Cheetos.  They got to use special, tiny spoons reserved just for their use.  She made sure each of them felt unique and cherished and perhaps a little spoiled, as only a loving grandmother could do.  Her children and grandchildren are grown now and they all feel sad that Kay did not have the chance to meet her great grandson, Maker. 

She particularly enjoyed spending time in her home and gardening and shared that appreciation with her grandchildren.  Ali can still remember the exact way she pronounced “dianthus” as she taught them the names of all the flowers in a planter or a neighbor’s yard.

She literally could not sit still from the time she woke until after dinner. Cooking, baking, cleaning, maintaining a meticulous lawn, shoveling snow, moving living room furniture two – three times each year, painting every room in the house many times in 50 years. When she would finally sit on the couch to watch TV, she was likely crocheting an afghan, too.

Kay was a modest, humble, and most generous woman. Her entire extended family learned from her to be kind to others, to say hello to people when passing them, to engage in conversation with wait staff and service people…and to speak to the manager if the service wasn’t great!  She taught them strength, empathy, and the beauty of a simple life, very well lived.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Newman Center or Hospice of Laramie.