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Portrait of Ellen Kay Ganley
Our Mom, Kay Ganley

Ellen Kay Ganley

October 5, 1943 – September 15, 2024
Lived 80 years
Louis B Hazelton Memorial Cemetery · Buckeye, Arizona
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
Life story

Kay was born to Lieut. Andrew Kent 'Bid' Geer of St. John's, Arizona, and Beatrice Ellen 'Bea' Donohue of Gallup, New Mexico. in Lubbock, Texas, October 5, 1943.

As a small child, Kay's father was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, California and soon afterward she and her parents were moved to post-war Europe. The small family lived in both Italy and Austria while in Europe. Eventually, Kay's father was stationed in Kobe, Japan and the family relocated to Occupied Japan for several years. In Kobe, her mother gave birth to Kay's beloved little sister, Pamela Kim, during the Korean War. Their final station was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Kay graduated from Fayetteville High School.

She enrolled in college at Arizona State College (currently NAU) and there she met her husband-to-be, Mike Ganley. They married on December 29, 1962 and honeymooned in Nogales, Mexico.

After graduating college Mike & Kay lived in several places around the country including, Phoenix Arizona, Wallingford Connecticut, Waynesboro Virginia, Sachse Texas, and Brighton Colorado. Their final big move was from Brighton back to Mike's hometown of Buckeye to raise their growing gaggle of children.

Kay and Mike had seven children: Mark, Paul, Chrissy, Shannon, Sean, Sparlin, and Erin. (Mark and Chrissy preceded both in death.) They also had 18 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

She was a real estate appraiser alongside Mike at their business WestMarCo Appraisals. Before that, she assisted her mother-in-law, Mary Ganley, in the flower shop at the Ganley Family Funeral Home in Buckeye.

Kay was a devout Christian, a published author, a superb cook and baker, a talented crocheter, a creative florist and successful gardener, a small business owner, a licensed real estate appraiser, a devoted, loving wife, and an overall excellent mom.

5/5 Stars: Would Recommend As A Mom

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The world Ellen knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1943
Born October 5
1945
Ellen was 2 when the war in Europe ended on V-E Day
1959
Ellen was 16 when Barbie made her debut
1967
Ellen was 24 when the first Super Bowl was played
1974
Ellen was 31 when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency
1982
Ellen was 39 when Michael Jackson released "Thriller"
1995
Ellen was 52 when "Toy Story" became the first fully computer-animated film
2004
Ellen was 61 when Facebook was launched
2016
Ellen was 73 when Pokemon Go sent millions outdoors hunting creatures
2022
Ellen was 79 when ChatGPT was released to the public
2024
Passed away September 15, age 80
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Louis B Hazelton Memorial Cemetery
Buckeye, Arizona
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