Edith "Kay" Billhimer

Edith Kay Brunell (Kay) was born in Olean, New York on February 27, 1936 to Howard Leon and Bertha Shaver (Shollenberger) Brunell. Her father was an oil driller and, upon his death in 1959, her mother taught School Health and Physical Education. Their village had about 12 homes and was in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in southwest New York State.

Kay joined older sister Sally and two sisters Jeanne and Betty Lou plus brother Richard (Dick) from her widowed father’s earlier union. She would later be joined by sister Nancy and brother Howard (Butch).

Kay started first grade when only four years old. The one-room Vosburg (NY) country school was just across the road from their home. The teacher decided she just as well have a class for Kay and her sister (who was two years older) because they were persistent “visitors” who wanted to participate. Five years later, Kay started attending Boliver (NY) Central School, about five miles away. She belonged to the Athletic Club, but organized women’s sports were not available. She did take part in intramural sports. Graduating at sixteen in 1952, she attended Wright Junior College in Chicago, Illinois, where she completed their medical technology program. After training at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, NY she passed her registry as a medical technologist in 1956.

Kay met Hugh Billhimer, whom she called “Bill,” at a YMCA dance when he was finishing at a technical school in Chicago. Though they realized they were opposites in many respects, their friendship grew, mainly by long distance (correspondence) for a time. He was from the mountains of Virginia and she from the hills of New York, but they didn’t let that stand in the way of their budding courtship. One Christmas he visited her family (even though there was a snow storm). The following March, she visited his family. They married November 29, 1957 at the Methodist Church in Allentown, NY.

They first lived in an apartment in Harrisonburg, VA, where Kay worked in a hospital and Hugh finished getting his apprenticeship under the Journeyman’s GI training. He later opened a business, “Hugh’s TV and Radio Service,” and they were joined by daughters Leslie Ann and Helen Louise. After five years he sold the business and went to college, obtaining a degree (in three years’ time) at Buffalo (NY) State Teachers College, and daughter, Amy Lynn, was born. Hugh’s teaching career took the family to West Seneca, NY and Waynesburg, PA before they landed in Charlottesville, VA in 1973. Over those years Kay worked as a medical technologist in various hospitals in New York and Virginia.

Known for their hospitality, Hugh and Kay hosted two exchange students from Germany, Hubertus Rosch and Tri-Cuong Vu. They also warmly welcomed sons-in-law and grandchildren to the family. Following retirement, they served for a year in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) at Gould Farm in Massachusetts. Kay later served another six months in BVS at Hopewell in the Cleveland, OH area. In 1997, they moved to McPherson, KS in order to be closer to family. They enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states as well as several countries in Europe. Historical sites and presidents’ homes were often on the itinerary.

Hugh and Kay enjoyed spending time with their four grandchildren, especially taking them on special trips when they turned 10-years-old and for high school graduation. Hugh and Kay were married for 55 years, until his death in 2013. Throughout the years, Kay especially enjoyed family time - family “jam” sessions around the piano, Rummikub and puzzles, going on trips, and planning and sharing special meals. In Kay’s later years, she was proud to welcome three great grandchildren and to be promoted to “Gram.”

Kay was always extremely active in her church and community. She served in various offices at the Charlottesville (VA) and Monitor (KS) Churches of the Brethren, including as deacon. She did disaster relief work in Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Nebraska, and Virginia, and was a volunteer at McPherson Hospital.
Kay is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings - Jeanne, Dick, and Nancy.

Surviving family include her siblings: Sally (Doug) Fancher and Butch (Jan) Brunell; children: Leslie (Jonathan) Frye, Helen (Hugh Peterson) Billhimer, and Amy (Gregory) Haddock; grandchildren: Jamie (John) Makatche, Cindy Haddock, Tyler (Susannah) Haddock, and Jake Frye; great grandchildren: Ruth and Vera Makatche and Rainn Nascimento; along with many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at The Cedars Event Center on Monday, April 14, 2025 at 2:00 pm, with visitation to follow. The public is invited. A private inurnment service will take place at the Monitor Cemetery at a later time. To view a live stream or re-broadcast of the service, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Brethren Volunteer Service, Brethren Disaster Ministries, Heifer International, Gentiva Hospice, or the organization of the donor’s choice, all in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.