Class of 1956

Kay May Rima O'Connor,

She was a 5'2" tower of strength. Karen May (Kay) Rima was born on July 1, 1938, near Farragut, IA, the second child of Glen and Ruth (Lightfoot) Rima. At the early age of eight, Kay lost her mother to a heart attack and shortly thereafter, her father realized that raising three young kids was beyond his ability. Their Aunt Lois (Lightfoot) and Uncle Roy Anderzhon opened their hearts and raised the three kids as their own on a farm north of Farragut.

Kay graduated from Farragut High School with the class of 1956 and continued her education at NWMS in Maryville, MO. On February 27, 1960, she married an Imogene Irishman, Thomas Michael O'Connor, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah, IA. They began their life together in a farmhouse north of Imogene and in December of 1960 she gave birth to Anthony Paul (Tony). In 1961 she lost a premature baby girl and two months later on February 27, 1962, her beloved Tommy was killed in a car collision. It was their second wedding anniversary.

Her faith gave her the strength to carry on and In 1964 Kay and Tony moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. She eventually remarried, became a stepmom to Debbie and Mike Smith and in 1969 gave birth to Andrew (Andy) Smith. Kay later returned to college, got her degree in accounting, and worked for several years at Timberline Pipe Co. in Pueblo. Her next move took her to Carson City, NV, where she put her accounting skills to work at International Printing, a company owned by her sister Glenda and husband Bill Duckworth.

In the mid-1990's Kay moved home to Farragut. Her Iowa careers included a short stint at the Shenandoah Walmart and then back to the office environment of Mac Malloy Motors. Upon retirement, she enjoyed reading her many books and cheering on the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Cardinals. Her face was familiar in many area Bridge clubs, she was a retired member of St. Patrick Catholic Church Altar Society, and was proud to call herself a "Happy Hooker" (Prayer Shawl knitting group.)

She was preceded in death by her parents, her Uncle Roy and Aunt Lois, husband Tom O'Connor, daughter Julie Ann, and son, Andy. Left to cherish her memory are her son Tony, stepchildren Debbie and Mike, six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, brother Jerry, sister Glenda, several in-laws, nieces, nephews and an abundance of friends.

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