Kay (Hinman) Shonk

Winnifred "Kay" Hinman Shonk, 81, of Tyler, Texas, passed away Monday, February 5, 2024, at The Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas.

Kay was born on September 17, 1942, to Ernest "Ernie" and Catherine "Kate" (Stover) Hinman in Parsons.  She grew up and attended school in Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School in 1960.  Following high school, she attended Parsons Junior College, now Labette Community College, for a time.

On February 10, 1962, Kay married her high school sweetheart, Don Shonk.  The couple had three daughters, Debbie, Donna Kay and Amy. Kay was always involved with the girls' school activities and loved serving on the PTA and being home room mom.  She was a homemaker most of her life, working for a time early on as a bookkeeper and later when the girls were grown as a hospital pharmacy technician.  When she was young, she loved crafting and needlepoint.  Loving the outdoors, Kay enjoyed going camping and fishing, watching birds of all kinds and using her gifted green-thumb to grow plants and flowers.  She especially enjoyed watching the deer and cattle around the farmhouse in Texas.  Over the years, she enjoyed her grand-dogs and was the best dog sitter ever known.  For over 40 years, Kay battled health challenges related to lupus.  Her body was broken by the effects of the disease, but to the end, she was stubbornly tough and resistant to letting it dictate her life.  She was a true testament to strength and grace.

Survivors include her husband, Don; daughters, Debbie Shonk and Amy Shonk Everett; bonus son, Kerry Everett; brother-in-law, Gene Volmer; and sister-in-law, Kim Hinman.  Many surviving nieces, nephews and friends will miss her greatly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Donna Kay Shonk; three brothers, "Bud", Bob, and Rick Hinman; and sister, Thressa Volmer

There will be a memorial service at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to The Hospice of East Texas.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.