Ottawa - Frances Kay (Criss) Clevenger, 78, of Ottawa, Kansas passed away Monday, September 14, 2020 at the Brookside Manor in Overbrook, Kansas. She was born August 8, 1942 in Ottawa, Kansas the daughter of Kenneth Raymond and Dorothy Jane (Evertson) Criss. She graduated from Melvern High School in 1960.

Kay worked in her early years as a hairdresser , then worked as a seamstress at H.D. Lee's in Ottawa, Kansas for over 20 years . ​Later in life, she enjoyed a second career as a secretary for 20 years for the ​Kansas​ State Parole Office in Olathe, Kansas.

Kay was a member of the Local #344 United Garment Workers Union, the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Cutting Horse Association and the Pomona United Methodist Church. She enjoyed the outdoors, most particularly fishing and riding horses. She was known as the "The Cookie Lady" for her much appreciated baking skills.

Kay married George "Gene" Cates on June 10, 1961 in Melvern, Kansas. They later divorced. To this union they shared three children, Ray, Terri and Bryon.

On October 8, 1988 Kay married Donald K. Clevenger in Ottawa, KS. They shared nearly 22 years of marriage before Don passed away on ​February​ 1, 2010.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Dorothy ; a sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Vernon Weimer; and a step-son, Greg Clevenger.

Kay is survived by her three children, Ray Cates (Samra) of Overland Park, Kansas, Ter r i Hook (Rex) of Ottawa, Kansas and Bryon Cates (LaVon) of Pomona, Kansas; two step-children, Val o rie Turpin (Kent) of Lamar, Colorado and Stacy Willha ite (David) of Peculiar , Missouri; one brother, Bob Criss of Melvern, Kansas; one sister, Wilma Crabtree (Steve) of Topeka, Kansas; six grandchildren, Laura Bassi (Juan), Garrett Cates, Ethan Cates, Sarah Geiss (John), Cody Cates (Rebecca) and Jessica Durbin (Andrew); four step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Jayden and Bristol Geiss.

Funeral service will be held 1 0:30am on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at the Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Pomona, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Wednesday at the Feltner Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions for Kay may be made payable to  Prairie Paws in Ottawa or Franklin County 4-H Horse Club, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, Kansas 66451 .