Patricia deKay Obituary

Patricia Ann deKay, of Ignacio, Colorado, died peacefully at home on March 2, 2024. Pat was born on October 13, 1931 in Alton, Illinois, and lived there during her childhood. In her college years at St. Louis University, she met her future husband, Raymond deKay. They were married on December 30, 1953.

They lived a short time in the St Louis/Alton area area where their two first sons were born. From there they moved to Alaska just before statehood and Ray started his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA). Their next 5 children were born there. A brief stint in Minnesota brought one more child and from there they moved to Ignacio in 1966 where Ray was the superintendent of the BIA at the Southern Ute Tribe and their last three children were born.

Pat was ever present in the Ignacio community. She loved being a faithful member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church and the Carmelitas. She could frequently be seen at tribal events and her children's many athletic and academic events. That carried on into the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well.

As her children matured, she used her physical therapy degree and could be seen organizing the Multiple Sclerosis Swim Group(for nearly 50 years), worked at the Durango Sports Club, Mercy Hospital and Home Health. In the nineties she followed a path that she and Ray had hoped to complete together and joined the US Peace Corps and worked and worked in rehabilitation and with seniors in Costa Rica. Upon returning home she continued with Home Health and ran the Eldercise program at the Ignacio Senior Center.

Pat was a mother to all, her eleven children and any friend or neighbor that they might bring home. There was always room for one more(or several) at the dinner table.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray, her eldest son, Dennis, and her sister, Mary. She is survived by her children, Mike(Alice) deKay, Joe(Karen) deKay, Dede Matthews, Amy(Brent) Crook, Matt(Jeanette) deKay, Kevin(Tiffany) deKay, Kathy(Jim) Pannell, Trish(Fran) McManus, Raymond(Williamette) deKay and Chris(Alison) deKay as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be held at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio at 5:00 PM Sunday evening and the service will be there on Monday morning at 10:00 AM with a reception to follow at Andary Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Patricia deKay to the Religious of the Cenacle Sisters(the Catholic order that her sister Mary belonged to), or the Four Corners Foundation(an organization that her son helped create to help the less fortunate in the area).