Obituary of Kay Webb

Kay Webb (Catherine T. Webb), aged 86, of Great Falls, MT passed away from congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus Type 2, on Friday, June 14, 2024. She died at home with her loving family members at her side. A celebration of life will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Mausoleum on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow at Black Eagle Community Center. Kay was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 26, 1938, to her loving parents, John Esquerre Turpen and Mary Genevieve Gough Turpen, joining her older sister, Jeanne Marie Turpen. The family moved back to Mobile, AL, in 1945, following her father’s death. As a child she attended St. Joseph’s Academy boarding school in Bay St. Louis, MS, and graduated from the Convent of Mercy High School in Mobile. She attended two semesters at the University of Alabama before marrying Franklin D. Webb in 1958. As Frank was enlisted in the Air Force, they lived on bases in France, Maine, Japan, and finally Malmstrom AFB in 1966. They divorced in 1983. Kay worked in a variety of jobs. She taught English while living in Japan and stocked spices at the Malmstrom AFB Commissary. She began working at the old Columbus Hospital in Great Falls, initially as an admission clerk and then transferred to the Human Resources Department. She served as the Human Resources Manager and then as the Employee Advocate at Benefis Healthcare after the 2 community hospitals merged. She always looked forward to attending the Mixed Nuts dinners to visit with former Columbus Hospital employees. Kay had many hobbies and enjoyed herself tremendously! She won many trophies while bowling, and enjoyed participating in city, state, and national bowling tournaments, as well as the Senior Olympics. She loved traveling to the tournaments, and during one legendary trip with her team, took 3 hours (normally less than 90 minutes) to arrive in Helena, MT from Great Falls. Let’s just say they had a lot of fun on that road trip! Kay took her role as secretary for two bowling leagues, Tuesday 55 Club, and the Golden Seniors very seriously. Not being able to bowl and socialize with her friends during the COVID 19 pandemic was something that she missed terribly. She loved playing golf and had a standing Saturday morning tee time with her Columbus Hospital buddies, which usually ended late into the evening. She adored Roger Federer and was able to watch him play tennis in person at a charity event in Seattle for her 79th birthday. As a child, she enjoyed going to the movies every Saturday with her cousins, Buddy and Bootsie. She continued that tradition with her children. Anyone who heard her infectious laugh or her terrifying scream during the show was in for a real treat! Kay loved to travel! She accompanied her daughters on a 1990 bike trip to Vermont during the height of the beautiful fall colors! Her son Jack escorted her to Mobile for her 50th high school reunion, and they had a feast eating seafood gumbo, her favorite meal. Kay became a 16-year-old teenager again when she visited Graceland in 1990, the home of Elvis Presley. The one-hour tour took her 2 hours as she had to look at everything! Kay loved Tom Jones and saw him in concert in Spokane. Her daughter, Kate and daughter-in-law, Carmen, took her on an Alaskan cruise, which she very much enjoyed. A favorite trip in New Orleans with Pam focused on finding the plantation where Beau and Hope had their honeymoon on the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. She enjoyed traveling the state watching her son Scott play high school basketball. Her children had to help keep her ferocious motherly pride in check during those games! Kay is survived by her children, Pam Webb, Jack Webb, Kate (Carmen Dorsey) Webb, and Scott Webb. Kay cherished her 8 grandchildren, Josh Webb, Jason Webb, Julie (Steve)Southers, Zail Webb, Tiler Lewis, Xander (Jessica) Lewis, Matt (Amy) Webb, and Kaylee (Isaac Pizzi) Webb. She treasured her 16 great-grandchildren, Cara Webb, Kelsior Webb, Kaysia Webb, Mariah Webb, Hadyn Hauge, Catherine Webb, Torryn Webb, Braden (Megan Smolnikar) Webb, Chamron Southers, Ashlynn Southers, Howie Lewis, Kinsley Lewis, Karter Lewis, Sawyer Webb, Owen Webb, Azalea Pizzi. She adored her 3 great-great-grandchildren, Lavender Webb, Levi Martin, and Colt Webb. She is also survived by her cousins, Marilyn O’Connor Moore, Pat Collins and Fred Turpen, and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by her pup, Huckleberry and her dear friend, Virginia Gewald. A very special thank you to Dr. Stacey Kingsland and Angie for their loving care of Mom over the years and to Dr. Mel Margaris for his compassionate and thorough care of Mom during her recent hospital stay. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister; ex-husband; great- granddaughter, Sorayha Southers; and her favorite pup, Jasper. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice.