Obituary of Kay Frances Plaza

Kay Frances Cornwell Plaza

Beloved daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Kay Frances Plaza, age 83, went to be with her Heavenly Father, on the morning of June 27, after a several year battle with dementia and related illnesses. 

She born on December 18, 1935 in Walthill, Nebraska to Kenneth and Bessie (Bahr) Cornwell, the third of four children. At the age of one, her family moved from Nebraska to Parma, Idaho. At the age of seven, her family purchased a home in Ontario, Oregon where she was raised.

Kay graduated from Ontario High School in 1954.  In 1956 she married Joe Plaza at the Rose Room Chapel in Winnemucca, Nevada.  They started a family in Ontario, where at the time, Kay was employed at the Malheur Home Telephone Company and Joe was employed at Western Meat Company.   

Kay was a caring and devoted mother, who with Joe, raised six children; three boys and three girls, plus two grandchildren, all while continuing to work a variety of full-time and part-time jobs including many years at The Vogue Boutique and The Elks Club.

In addition to working and raising children, Kay remained active in the Ontario Basque Club and other social organizations.  Kay She had too many friends to count or to name here, but special thanks to LaVelle, Mary Kay, Arlene and Sallywas well loved and admired by many in the community and developed deep and lasting friendships.  Her many kindnesses to family and friends over the years were returned to her in her later life and this outpouring of love and support for being there and standing by to help Mom out to the end in any way possible; socializing and taking her out to lunches and dinners, taking her get her hair done, bringing over food for the family and helping out at the house when she was no longer able to do some of those things herself.  These friends were so loved and appreciated by Mom, and they areis deeply appreciated by her family.  Kay was an accomplished cook (the best Basque rice around), baker, knitter (afghans were her specialty), and devoted fan of the Ontario Tigers. She was stylish from head to toe, and was always beautifully put together- no matter what she was doing that day.equally loved and admired by the family.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Lavelle were absolute rocks of support and assistance, so beloved and appreciated for all the compassion and assistance they gave our family over the years and still today.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her parents, her sisters Joan and Rita, and grandson Patrick Joseph (PJ).  She is survived by her brother Mark Cornwell (Lavelle) of Ontario, Oregon; children Joe of Fruitland, Idaho, Patrick (Laurie) of Portland, Oregon, Lori of Ontario, Mark (Cindy) of Keizer, Oregon, Lisa and Vickie Plaza of Ontario; grandchildren Ashley Plaza Watts (Jordan), Asia, Sofie, Abbie, Kiley Plaza Meza (Michael), Kody and Emma Plaza, and great grandchildren Harper, Owen, and Oliver.

The family would like to especially thank the following people for their loving and caring devotion to Kay the last few years; the staff at Chris' Comfort Care, Encompass Hospice, and the many friends who visited her.

Kay will be greatly missed by many, but all celebrate her final peace and will fondly remember her boundless energy, generous heart and enduring love. A funeral service will be held in Ontario at Blessed Sacrament Church on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 11:00 AM to be followed by a lunch in the church hall and private burial.

Donations in her memory can be made to TVCC Patrick Plaza Scholarship or the Ontario Basque Club.

Arrangements and Services under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapel.