Catherine Kay Harken

Catherine ‘Kay’ Harken (Nanny), of Beaver City, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the age of 83.  She was born on March 26, 1939 to Steve and Helen Stalder, in Nodaway, Iowa.  She was the youngest of their children.

She grew up on a farm west of Corning, Iowa and attended school in both Nodaway and Corning.  After getting married to James Steele, they moved to Colorado where she started raising her family.  She was a stay-at-home mom and later worked various jobs.  She later remarried in the mid-eighties to Gary Harken. 

Kay was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  She loved to collect decorative roosters and chickens, as one could not help but notice when you drove by her house.  She loved working in her flowerbeds, feeding the birds and squirrels, and bottle-feeding stray kittens.  She always enjoyed watching DIY shows, game shows, and her Denver Broncos.  When you came to visit, she would always feed you and made the best egg salad, butterscotch cookies, and of course her famous mac and cheese. 

She enjoyed crafting where she excelled at making dolls, and loved going to doll shows with her best friends (Bonnie and Louise).  She also enjoyed thrifting, antiquing, and going to auctions.  Kay loved her animals, enjoyed cooking, and most importantly, spending time with her family. 

Kay is survived by her husband, Gary; sister, Jean Victor; daughter, Jeanette (Terry) Counce; sons, Jim Steele, Jeff (Niki) Steele, Jerry (Doreen) Steele; seven grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your local animal shelter.

There will be no viewing or visitation as cremation was chosen. Services will be at a later date.