Kay Landis Curry

Agnes Kay Landis Curry passed away on October 22, 2015, at her residence, surrounded by family, following a lengthy illness. Her services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 27, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waco, Texas, with the Reverend Chuck Treadwell officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday October 26, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Kay Landis Curry was born on February 6, 1946, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Garth Landis and Agnes Kelly Landis, both of whom predeceased her. Kay's ancestors were among the original founders of the City of St. Joseph, and she was always proud of the role the Landis family played in Old St. Joe. Kay spent her childhood in St. Joseph, Missouri, graduating from Central High School, where she met her high-school sweetheart and eventual husband, Jim Curry. In addition to her numerous academic honors and achievements, Kay was an accomplished tennis player: City of St. Joseph Ladies Singles Champion at age 13 and a member of the Central High School men's varsity tennis team while in high school. Kay spent many hours teaching tennis to young children, something she continued to do with her own grandchildren until shortly before her death. Kay graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in education and a major in English. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at Missouri. Following graduation, Kay married Jim Curry in St. Joseph, Missouri, and they moved to Panama City, Florida, where he was stationed in the U.S. Navy. She taught school in Panama City until his discharge from the service. Kay and Jim moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he earned his doctorate. While in Lawrence, Kay earned a Master's degree in educational psychology and certification as a counselor at the University of Kansas while also teaching tennis for the city of Lawrence and caring for her new son, Douglas. Kay moved with her husband and son to Waco, Texas, in 1974 so that Jim could become a professor of political science at Baylor University. Kay worked for Region XII Service Center and earned another Master's degree and diagnostician certification at Baylor University. Kay gave birth to a daughter, Mary, in 1976. Kay soon developed a strong interest in real estate and pursued that career until her death. She earned her broker's license in 1978 and established Kay Curry Realtors. Over the next 36 years, Kay sold hundreds of properties and helped perhaps thousands of buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Friends and acquaintances often called Kay to ask about a particular property on the market, because they knew that she would have all the details. It was a job that allowed her to interact with people as only Kay could, and she loved it Kay was active in her community and church as well. She was a Meals-On-Wheels volunteer for several years and volunteered with Waco Senior Ministries. Kay continued her involvement with the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, serving as treasurer of the alumni organization. Her love of tennis in Waco made her an active member of the Waco Tennis Association. She was a longtime member of the Episcopal Church and active in women's activities. Without doubt, Kay's greatest joy was found in her family. Kay loved to involve herself in her children's school activities, volunteering her time and talents on numerous occasions. She served as a room mother and assisted in school functions whenever she could. She never missed a program, a play, or a sporting event in which her children were involved. She and Jim spent hours coaching, watching and playing sports with their children. In recent years, they traveled great distances to watch their grandchildren's sports as well. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Garth and Agnes Kelly Landis; her uncle, John C. Landis III; her aunt, Georgia Lee Pollock; her brother-in-law, Ron Carter; and her nephew, Christopher Carter. Kay is survived by her husband, James Allan Curry, of Woodway, Texas; her son, Dr. Douglas James Curry and wife, Heather, of Ladue, Missouri; her daughter, Dr. Mary Curry Dickerson and husband, Dr. Ryan Dickerson, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; five grandchildren, Cameron Curry, Kendall Curry, David Dickerson, Luke Dickerson and Mary Claire Dickerson; she is also survived by her sisters, Mary Pat Carter of Roswell, Georgia, and Ann Grove of St. Joseph, Missouri; brother-in-law, William Curry and wife, Judy, of Savannah, Missouri; sister-in-law Joyce Finlay and husband, Doug, of Naples, Florida; and several nieces and nephews, Craig Carter, Anne Carter, Brett Curry, Craig Curry ( Kate), Dan Curry, Kelly Verbeck, Rob Verbeck and Mary Verbeck,. Her pallbearers are Bill Curry, Brett Curry, Dan Curry, Cameron Curry, Ken Krause, and Neil Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers are Don Edwards, David Dickerson, Luke Dickerson, Craig Curry and David Taylor. Kay was loved deeply by her family. We know that she is in the Presence of her Lord and Savior whom she sincerely worshiped and faithfully served all the days of her life. Hers was a life well lived, because she made life better for so many others. The family suggests memorials be sent to Meals on Wheels or St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.