Kay McCann, 93, of Libby
Kay McCann, 93, passed away April 1, 2014, at the Libby Care Center.
She was born April 25, 1920, in Dunn Center, N.D., one of nine surviving children. Her father farmed North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba.
Her father, Alex, also raised cattle, and Kay was a real cowgirl out of necessity.
Kay and her brothers broke horses for Native Americans. She once impressed a car of tourists when her spooked horse jumped over a road in front of them.
Kay left school after the eighth grade and worked as a housekeeper and later as a waitress. She received her GED and took several college classes while her children were still in school.
In 1939, at 19 years, she took the train from Minnesota to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where she married Mike McCann.
Mike and Kay lived in north Idaho and briefly in north California.
In 1944, they moved to Troy, then Warland, Rexford and Libby. They had six children, Joan, Michael, Pat (deceased), Marie (deceased), Bill and Alexis.
Kay enjoyed picking berries and baking and had one day a week dedicated to baking bread, pies and cookies while her children were growing up.
Mike and Kay enjoyed their summer home in Hot Springs. They picked potatoes in the Plains area and donated them to the local food pantry and to anyone who wanted potatoes.
Kay loved to dance and could dance on rollerskates and ice skates. She enjoyed the company of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Kay taught religious education classes for the Catholic church for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, son Pat and daughter Marie.
Survivors include her children: Joan Barnes (Larry), Michael (Marsha), William (Jeani) and Alexis Baker (Samuel); a sister, Irene Trinka; 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby.
Arrangements are by Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory in Libby.