Kay Frances Dierkes age 80, of Quincy, died on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 3:37 p.m. in Good Samaritan Home. Kay was born July 22, 1935 in Quincy, a daughter of Chester and Viola (Henze) Muegge. She married Alfred G. Dierkes on November 10, 1956 in Quincy’s St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and he survives.

Kay had worked at the former Physicians & Surgeons Clinic in Quincy as an X-ray technician. First and foremost, she was a stay-at-home-Mom, and was proud of being able to do that. She was a graduate of Unity High School, she attended Western Illinois University and was a 1964 graduate of Quincy College. She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church.

She had been an active member of the Musselman Audubon Society. As a passionate supporter of the U.S. Constitution, Kay was also a member of the Tea Party. She had a love of nature that she cultivated through gardening, growing her own wildflowers and searching the woods for flowers to add to her collection. Kay handcrafted decorative items made of natural elements and she made greeting cards for all occasions that she shared with her family and friends.

Kay was a collector and seller of antiques and collectables, a hobby that became her antique store known as the Blue Violet. She and her husband Al shared a love of traveling and together had visited 50 states and 19 countries.

In addition to her husband, survivors also include her children, Dena M. Dierkes-Knipe and her husband Tim of Quincy; Alec Dierkes and his wife Kathy of Chatham, IL; four grandchildren, Kayla, Austin and Adam Dierkes and Jaden Knipe. One brother, Ray Muegge and his wife Beulah of Ursa; a brother-in-law, James Dierkes of Foster City, CA and a sister-in-law, Mary Cary of Quincy. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Luella Cameron and her husband Paul; also, a brother-in-law John R. Dierkes.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anthony Catholic Church by the Rev. Thomas Hagstrom. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to the Unit 4 Foundation, St. Anthony Church or to Good Samaritan Home. Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.