Kathleen "Kay" Darko-Dean

Kathleen Kay Darko-Dean, 86, of Great Falls, passed away August 31, 2013 of natural causes.A funeral liturgy will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:00 am with inurnment following at Mount Olivet Cemetery.Kay was born to Clifford and Inez Mae (Cook) Kelly on January 30, 1927 in Elma, Iowa. She was raised and educated in Iowa and moved to Belt, MT after graduating from high school.In November of 1947 she married her first husband Edward C. Darko in Great Falls, and raised a family with him, he died in 1991. In 1997 Kay married Richard Dean and he died in 2012.She worked as a licensed practical nurse in the heart unit (CCU) at the Deaconess Hospital until she retired in 1986 after 21 years. After retirement she worked for two years at the Deaconess Skilled Nursing Home and also took care of people in the home hospice care program.Kay was an avid reader and loved traveling and playing cards. She was a long time member of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Catholic Daughters, Cascade County Prison Ministry and an honorary member of Winnebago International Travelers WIT.She is survived by her son Douglas (Vicky) Darko of Great Falls; a daughter Beverly (Dee) Lichty of Jacksonville, FL; four grandchildren Erin (Brett) Wombold, Sean (Becky) Darko, Leanna Darko and Tara Lichty, two step grandchildren Brett and Daniel Lichty, seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by both of her husbands, parents, sons Craig Darko, Kelly Darko, great granddaughter Daytona Darko, brothers Jack Kelly, Ronald Kelly, Noel Kelly, and a sister Beverly Kelly.Memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice of Montana, 1101-26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405 or Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 201-44th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405