Kay Ann Manskey Curtis

Kay Ann (Manskey) Curtis born September 26, 1961, passed away peacefully the morning of March 20, 2018, from pneumonia. She was 56 years old.

Kay lived a fulfilling life in her younger days with her adored children, loved friends, and treasured family.  She was born and raised her whole life in Spokane, WA. She grew up among three sisters and two brothers, playing old-time games like kick-the-can, Red-Rover, and building pine needle houses in the backyard. She was a happy and loved child, full of adventure. At a very young age she was attached to animals, she loved the family cat, Tommy. She also loved rocks of any shape and color. She kept a box of rocks under her bed for years and was always teased about that. She loved playing dress up and walking up and down the block in fishnet stockings with the neighborhood girls.

When Kay was in junior high, she attended the youth group at the church where the family had attended for many years. She gave her life to Jesus during this time. The bus driver said he took her home one night and prayed with her to receive Christ.

Kay graduated in 1979 from Cheney High School, where she dreamed of modeling and eventually owned her own agency locally.  Kay loved music of the 80’s… Journey, Guns n’ Roses, Motley Crew, and Heart. She married her high school sweetheart, Mark Huber, and after a couple years they separated. She then met and married Marty Curtis, a talented musician, who shared her love of music. Together, they had a daughter, Amber Nichole Curtis, and then later a second child, Nicholas Ryan Curtis was born. Her passion for fashion, hair and makeup, led her to enroll in cosmetology school at Spokane Community College, in 1990. During the year of 1990 when Nick was 20 months and Amber was nearly 6, Kay at 29 years old was in a tragic accident.  Marty and his fiancé raised both children after Kay’s accident as she was unable to continue caring for them. The accident changed her life from a full and active life to a life in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic. She lived in the same nursing home for 27 years. Kay was much loved at the nursing home. They took good care of her and learned from her unique and sensitive disabilities so that others would have good care also. The nursing staff thanked the family for allowing them to care for her for so many years in the same home. They became her extended family.

Kay loved the sunshine, the water, and the beach before her accident.  She took many trips to the ocean and also to Wenatchee to see her mom Donnalee, and step-father Charlie.  She was able to take a much cherished driving trip with her mom and all three sisters to the coast and Reno, in the summer of the same year of her accident. Her sisters remember her for her beauty, her sweet tooth, her love for yard-sales, and her love for goo-goo cluster ice-cream, topped with hot fudge.  Her brothers were so proud of her and protective of Kay as she became noticed by other young men in her youth. She often would date and not tell them so her date wasn't given the once over by the brothers.

Kay’s oldest sister, Marcie, became her legal guardian after their father died. She took amazing care of Kay over the years. With the family and Marcie’s love and dedication, Kay was able to attend all family gatherings, holiday functions, trips to the mall, the local fair, shopping trips, and maintain a quality of life that might not have otherwise been possible.

Kay was loved dearly by her family including many nephews… Pete Kopplin (Becky), David Knowles, Joey Manskey, Tucker Manskey, Devin Manskey (Wendy), Chase Orndorff, Danny Lerner, Walker Williamson, and Nieces…. Stephanie Lentz (Justin), Kindle Baerg (Jason), Heidi Thomas (Shane), Becky Schafer (Jared), Danielle Bearden (Wayne), Caitlin Manskey, Cheyenne Orndorff, Amanda Kelley.

Kay was preceded in death by her beloved father Pete Manskey, stepfather Charlie Rutherford, brother Steven Williamson, and nephew Joey Manskey.  She is survived by her children, Amber (Curtis) Sparks, and Nick Curtis, her grandson Talyn Sparks, her mother Donnalee Rutherford, stepmother Sheila Manskey, siblings Mark Manskey, Marcie (Manskey) Kopplin (Herman), Keith Manskey, Julie (Manskey) Knowles (Rick), Cathy Williamson (Brian), and Maureen (Manskey) Orndorff (Gene), as well as the numerous nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday,  April 22, 2018 at 1p.m. at First Free Methodist Church, 1725 W Courtland, Spokane, WA.

Flower deliveries will be accepted that day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church.

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