Ann Kay Hornibrook (1933 – 2025)

Known to all as Kay, she exuded quiet charm and possessed an endearing, radiant smile. She was a

devoted mother and grandmother, a librarian extraordinaire, and a supportive neighbor, Ann Kay

Hornibrook, 91, of Corvallis, Oregon, passed away on May 30, 2025.

Kay was born in Dodge City, Kansas in October 1933 to Octavia and Harry Havercroft, the eighth of nine

children. The family moved to Santa Clara, Oregon when Kay was five years old before settling into their

family home in Eugene. As a teenager, Kay spent many summer hours picking beans and babysitting to

earn extra spending money. Kay played piano and enjoyed time with her friends. She was a girl scout

and participated in her high school’s glee club. Mostly, she relished time with family, particularly time

spent with her young nieces and nephews.

Kay met her future husband, Ron Hornibrook, at church camp. They married March 13, 1951 in Eugene,

Oregon when Kay was seventeen and before Ron departed for Marine Corps boot camp. After Kay

graduated from South Eugene High School she traveled cross country by bus to join Ron in North

Carolina at Camp Lejeune. Ron deployed to Korea and Kay returned to Eugene to the support of her

loving family. David, the first of their three children, was born there in Ron’s absence. The Red Cross

located Ron and delivered the news that he was a father two weeks later.

Kay moved frequently during the early years of Ron’s military service. They towed their 45 foot Pontiac

Chief travel trailer to multiple locations across the United States and into Canada. In 1954, Delbert, their

second son was born in sunny Oakland, California and in 1964, a daughter, Patti was added while the

family was stationed in Hebo, Oregon. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Corvallis, Oregon and

purchased their first home. Ron worked at Camp Adair and Kay was happy to be the stay at home parent.

She loved her children and being an attentive, supportive mother was a job she wholeheartedly embraced.

Kay stayed with her children in Corvallis while Ron finished his military career with posts in Alaska and

Florida. Upon Ron’s return, Kay joined the local work force by taking a job with the school district as a

cook, first at Highland View Middle School (replaced by Linus Pauling) and then at Crescent Valley High

School. The jobs were physically demanding, but she loved being around the children and she worked

with a lovely group of women. About ten years after starting in the kitchens, she began volunteering in

the library at Wilson Elementary School (now Letitia Carson Elementary), and was eventually hired full-

time at Mountain View Elementary as their librarian. Her years as a librarian were rich and fulfilling.

She was always delighted when a young student recognized her in the community, or greeted her warmly

much later as an adult. She touched many with her calm, gentle presence and bright smile.

Though Kay loved her job as a librarian, her favorite role was that as a grandparent. From the first

moments after each birth, she was fully invested in loving and supporting her grandchildren, Kyle, Tyler

and Katelynn. There was nothing more heartwarming for her than holding a baby and admiring their

pudgy little toes. She treasured her time with her grandchildren, especially reading, learning, exploring or

crafting together. She relished moments of awe and wonder with them. She loved being their Gma Kay,

never failing to attend band and choir concerts or school plays. She often cheered from soggy soccer

sidelines or clapped through awards assemblies. She happily extended her Gma duties to her

grandchildren’s friends and was welcomed by many with this offer. She celebrated every milestone

achieved, large or small, and continued her steady support as her grandchildren, and their friends, became

independent, responsible adults.

Throughout her life Kay was a selfless volunteer. She donated numerous gallons of blood to the Red

Cross one pint at a time, lead neighborhood fundraising drives for the March of Dimes and lent hours of

support to the local Girl Scouts. Kay was well known to put others needs first, family, friends, neighbors.

Though she shied away from leadership and spotlights, she was a hard working, solid support for any

cause that she participated with. Kay used her compassion to fuel her efforts to quietly make the world a

better place.

Kay was a skilled seamstress and applied herself to many serviceable and beautiful creations throughout

her life. Sewing play clothes and work clothes, wedding dresses and prom dresses, swim suits and

business suits for her family and neighbors. She enjoyed spending her evenings embroidering, knitting,

crafting or reading biographies, but she also enjoyed a good square dance outing, bowling and

neighborhood potlucks. Kay and Ron belonged to the Good Sam RV Club and the Model A Club,

participating in many travels and events with those groups. They cruised to many exotic locations

together: Antartica, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama, Fuji, Caribbean Islands and a long cruise from South Africa

to the Mediterranean. Kay’s favorite destination was Rarotonga due to the relaxed friendly people, warm

sand and gentle shorelines. She was delighted by the free range chickens and children there, both of

which were loud and happy.

Kay will be remembered for her adherence to the Golden Rule. She believed that everyone should be

treated fairly and that the world would return your fairness. We can hear her say “Watch out for the other

guy and let me know when you are home safely” as we all say that now too. We will miss her

spontaneous and contagious smile, but we couldn’t have asked for a better Mother, Gma, Aunt, Sister,

Neighbor, Friend.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband Ron, her beloved parents Octavia and Harry, and her siblings

Inez, Loretta, Ivan, Melva, Pauline, Bob and Gwen. She is survived by her brother Harry, her sons David

and Delbert, her daughter Patti and their spouses, and her grandchildren Kyle, Tyler and Katelynn.

A Celebration of Life is to be hosted in Kay’s honor on Sunday, June 22 from 1 to 4pm at The Officer’s

Club in Adair. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Kay’s name to the Red

Cross or a choice of charity. Or alternatively, Kay would support donations of children’s books to any

location as a compassionate tribute.

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