Kay Colette Grogan

To Know Her Was to Know Love

There are people whose lives are measured not only by the years they lived, but by the love they gave, the lives they touched, and the legacy they leave behind. Kay was one of those extraordinary people.

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Kay was the youngest of 3 daughters from Lewis Robert Davis and Alice May Hall. Kay began a new chapter when she married Richard on May 16, 1959. Together, they moved to Colorado to begin their life and grow a family.

Kay had a warmth that made everyone feel welcome, a kindness that knew no boundaries, and a remarkable gift for making people feel seen, remembered, and loved. Whether you were one of her children, a grandchild, a lifelong friend, or someone she had only just met, she made you feel that you mattered—because to her, you truly did.

She remembered the smallest details about people: what made them happy, what interested them, and what was happening in their lives. She delighted in remembering conversations and finding little ways to bring someone joy. If she had two pennies to rub together, she would find a way to give someone something she knew they would love. The gift might be small, but the thought behind it was immeasurable. It was her way of saying, “I know you. I remember you. You matter to me.”

Her love extended far beyond her family. She welcomed people with genuine warmth and left a lasting impression on their hearts. She never sought recognition for her kindness; loving others was simply who she was. The outpouring of love from near and far after her passing is a testament to the countless lives she touched.

The Family She Treasured

Of all the blessings in her life, none brought Kay greater joy than her family.

With her beloved husband, Richard Grogan, she built a family rooted in faith, love, and togetherness. Their eight children began a remarkable legacy that continued to grow through generations.

Richard passed away about 30 years before Kay, but her love and devotion to him never faded. She never removed her wedding band, wearing it faithfully through the decades as a quiet, beautiful symbol of their enduring love.

In the years after Richard’s passing, Kay had the joy of watching the family they began grow beyond anything they could have imagined. Her legacy includes eight children and their spouses, 32 grandchildren and their spouses, 43 great-grandchildren and their spouses, and one great-great-grandchild. Each was a source of tremendous pride and joy to her.

Kay knew the details of everyone’s lives. She proudly shared their accomplishments, celebrated their milestones, and delighted in keeping up with family news. She was their greatest cheerleader, and nothing made her happier than talking about the people she cherished.

With such a large family, she understood that someone might wonder whether their presence mattered or whether anyone would notice if they were absent.

Kay always noticed.

She reminded her family that no matter how many people filled the room, each person mattered. She wanted everyone to come, take part, be together, and know they belonged.

In a family where it might have been easy to feel like one of many, she made each person feel like one in a million.

She often joked that her family was a lot for anyone else to take on. Yet she thrived in it all. The gatherings, celebrations, stories, laughter, and beautiful chaos of so many generations coming together brought her immeasurable happiness.

Family was not simply part of her world. It was her world—her everything.

A Life Rooted in Faith

A devoted Catholic, Kay’s faith was the foundation of her life and guided the way she loved and cared for others. She began each morning with devotions and prayer, finding strength, peace, and purpose in her relationship with the Lord.

Her devotion extended into service to the Church. She served as secretary to Father Darrell Schaffer, who held her in such high regard that he brought her with him as his ministry took him to other parishes. Her service reflected the same generosity and commitment she brought to every part of her life.

Above all, Kay wanted her family to know the Lord, remain close to one another, and love one another through whatever life might bring.

Her faith was not something she simply spoke about. She lived it every day through compassion, generosity, forgiveness, and the unconditional love she gave so freely.

A Legacy That Will Live Forever

The greatest legacy Kay and Richard leave behind is not simply the size of their family, but the love and closeness that bind it together.

They built a foundation of faith, family, loyalty, and unconditional love that has carried through generations. After Richard’s passing, Kay continued to nurture that foundation with unwavering devotion.

Her family will carry her legacy forward in the traditions they preserve, the stories they share, the way they welcome others, and the small acts of kindness that remind them of her:

To notice when someone is missing.

To remember what makes someone smile.

To make room for one more.

To celebrate one another’s blessings.

And above all, to keep faith and family close.

Her family finds comfort in the promise of eternal life and in the belief that she has been reunited in Heaven with her beloved Richard, who has been waiting for her for so many years. Though their life together on earth ended decades ago, the love they began continues through the generations they leave behind.

Kay’s life was a beautiful example of how to love without limits, give without expectation, and make every person feel that they matter. She leaves behind a family who adored her, countless friends whose lives are better for having known her, and a legacy of love that will continue for generations.

When future generations ask what kind of woman she was, the answer will always be beautifully simple:

To know her was to know love.

Please share memories and condolences with Kay’s family by signing the guestbook.