Kay Courtnage

On Sunday December 6th, 2015, Annie Katherine ""Kay"" Hennen Courtnage passed away peacefully of natural causes at Highline Place in Littleton, Colorado. Kay was 92 years old. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Horan & McConaty of Centennial, Colorado. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband of 51 years, Chris F. Courtnage in the Geraldine, Montana cemetery and alongside her twin brother Marvin Kendrick Hennen, who died at age 2, at the Swisher Cemetery in Lake Dallas, Texas. Kay was born August 11, 1923 at the homestead of her maternal grandparents in Lake Dallas, Texas. She was the only daughter of Nancy (Whitmore) and Marvin Hennen. Her family moved to Sherman, Texas in 1927. Kay graduated from Sherman High School in 1941. Following graduation from North Texas State Teachers College (University of North Texas) in Denton, Texas she moved to Dayton, Ohio as Assistant Director for the Camp Fire Girls. The Camp Fire Girls transferred Kay to Great Falls, Montana where she became the Great Falls Campfire Girls director. She married Chris F. Courtnage on April 11, 1947 at the First United Methodist Church Great Falls. They had three sons. Chris and Kay moved to Sweetgrass, Montana in 1950 to take a ranching position. In 1954 Kay and Chris settled in Fort Benton, Montana where Chris operated a drayage business and worked various other jobs. Kay was active in the Fort Benton United Methodist Church and the church's United Methodist Women organization. Kay also was a cub scout leader and active in the local PTA. She was the Director of the Chouteau County Free Library from 1962 to 1969. In 1969 Kay went back to North Texas State University and earned a Master's Degree in Library Science. Following graduation Kay returned to Montana as the Great Falls Library's reference librarian. During her career she was a member of Montana Library Association, Pacific Northwest Library Association, and the American Library Association. Kay was a member of the First United Methodist Church Great Falls and active in the United Methodist Women. The UMW recognized her as the Mother of the Year in 1981. She was also active in the Order of the Eastern Star and Soroptimist International, holding leadership positions in both organizations. Kay enjoyed traveling, especially to see friends and relatives in her native Texas. Many of her favorite memories included family holiday get-togethers, attending family reunions and keeping up with long-time friends. Since Chris was an avid ham radio operator you would often find Chris and Kay meeting with ""ham"" friends and attending ham radio events throughout Montana. Later in life Kay looked forward to senior center dinners and attending Soroptimist and Eastern Star events with friends. Kay was preceded in death by her husband Chris on December 13th 1998, three infant brothers, and one adult brother. Kay is survived by her brother Joe Hennen of Fort Worth, Texas; her sons, Lyle (Peggy), Billings, Montana, Marvin, Phoenix, Arizona, and Kent, (Leslie) Littleton, Colorado; grandchildren Kristina Courtnage Bowman, Lynnwood, Washington, Katherine Courtnage Clay, Tucker, Georgia, Patrick Courtnage, Juneau, Alaska, Beau Courtnage, Tucson, Arizona, Alex Courtnage, California, Cassie Courtnage, Denver, Colorado, Amy Marie Courtnage Kotal, Lone Tree, Colorado; and great grandchildren, Mikayla and Brayden Bowman, Somaya Clay, June and Brogan Courtnage. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church Great Falls transportation fund or charity of your choice. A family memorial service will take place in Denton, Texas this winter and a memorial service in Great Falls May 2016. Please share memories of Kay and condolences with the family by signing the guestbook below.