Kay Elkins Matney

Brenda Kay Elkins Matney

January 25, 1942 – November 28, 2024

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Brenda Kay Elkins Matney, aged 82, of Punta Gorda, Florida, who passed away peacefully on November 28, 2024 surrounded by the love of her daughters, devoted partner, and the compassionate care of the staff at Life Care Center of Punta Gorda. In her final days, she found comfort in the presence of her sister, Fonnie, and in the heartfelt goodbyes shared with family, to include the father of her children, Hank Kennedy Matney, and her grandchildren, Meredith, Emily, and Chelsea, as they were able to say their farewells via phone.

Kay was born on January 25, 1942, in Red Jacket, West Virginia, to the late P.G. and Evelyn Pauline Whitt Elkins. She is survived by her devoted partner, Gerald T. “Jerry” Jessee of Punta Gorda, Florida; her daughters, Lelia Kay Matney of Bristol, Tennessee, and Celeste Ann Matney of Richmond, Virginia; three cherished grandchildren, Meredith Mitchell (and Chris), Emily Tipton (and Justin), and Chelsea Watson; five great-grandchildren, Aly, Julian, Sonny, Susan, and Harvey; her beloved sister, Fonnie Owens (and Don); and numerous cousins and friends. She is also survived by her special nephew, D.G. Owens, and niece, Miranda Owens, whose close bond with Kay brought her much joy. Kay was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Mary Susan Matney DuPre, who passed away in 2010.

A lifelong member of Matewan Methodist Church, Kay was deeply committed to her faith and active in the community. She was well known for her musical talents as a pianist and singer, performing in the Battle Hymn of the Republic recital at Matewan Baptist Church, providing dinner music for the Matewan Woman’s Club at Matewan Methodist Church, and playing piano and singing for The Eastern Star on Matewan’s local AM radio station.

Kay was crowned Miss Magnolia Fair in 1958. After graduation, she initially planned a career in the medical field and was accepted into Saint Mary’s in Huntington, West Virginia. However, she chose to marry and moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her then-husband, who was serving in the Air Force, and began raising their family. Kay was known for her meticulous attention to cleanliness and hygiene, keeping both the house and her children in pristine condition. She loved being a homemaker and had a talent for interior decorating.

In the 1960s, she worked as a dental assistant in West Virginia, and from the mid-1960s to 1978, she worked as a bookkeeper at Patterson Coal Company in Virginia, where she also led the charge in selling rights in the early 1980s.

A true sports enthusiast, Kay played golf, tennis, croquet, badminton, bowling and ping pong, earning awards in bowling and golf championships. She was also a majorette and fire baton performer, winning first place at the Rotary Follies talent show at Magnolia High School.

Kay had a lifelong love of music, often seen dancing, singing, or playing the piano at home. The last musical event she attended was the Purdue Varsity Glee Club concert at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Florida, in 2018.

Kay also had a special love for children. She ran the Bantam League for children’s bowling in Buchanan County, Virginia, and was always there for her kids, driving them to sports events and extracurricular activities and attending every one. She sewed many uniforms and costumes for her children’s activities, including tennis, dance, pageant dresses, and more. Holidays and birthdays were always made special, and the family celebrated reunions for many years.

A gifted cook, Kay prioritized healthy meals for her children and was known for her natural knack for health and wellness. She was the go-to source for any health advice, and her medical knowledge was relied upon by her family for in-house concerns.

Kay had a deep love for plants and flowers, and she took great pride in nurturing them, resulting in some of the healthiest and most vibrant plants around. While it’s difficult to pick a favorite, anything red was always close to her heart. Her green thumb allowed all her plants to thrive under her care.

She had a deep love for animals and took exceptional care of her pets over the years, which included dogs, cats, a horse, a donkey, goats, and birds.

Kay was a woman of great patience and a pure heart, always radiating warmth with her bright, infectious smile. Full of spunk and energy, she was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. We were truly blessed by God to have had such an amazing woman and mother in our lives.

Kay’s family and friends remember her as a kind, generous, loyal, dependable, and wise woman, whose quiet strength and sense of humor will be deeply missed. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and her legacy of love, kindness, and caregiving will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA. The funeral service will be held at 7:00 pm with Pastor Mike Smith officiating. The burial will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 11:00 am at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Justin Tipton, Chris Mitchell, Kenny Nicewonder, Donald G. Owens, Donald G. (D.G.) Owens II, Curtis Elswick, Josh Leonard, and Kenny Robinson. Honorary pallbearers will be Steven Lovins and Jeff Whitt.

The family of Brenda Kay Elkins Matney is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory - Forest Hills Chapel, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.