Rubye "Kay" Edwards Hamby, 81 of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. She was born on February 17, 1943, in Tula, Mississippi, to Q.T. and Rubye Mae (Ard) Edwards. In October 1963, Kay and Charles Leonard Hamby were united in marriage and shared over 60 years together.

Kay was always up for an adventure, she never got tired, and she never slowed down. She worked for the telephone company after graduating high school. Charlie's career at General Motors had them moving from place to place, but she never complained, she took it all in stride. Kay could make anything and was very crafty. She loved being active and played tennis, racquetball, and golf, even achieving a hole in one in a golf tournament one year. Every summer her daughter and mother-in-law, MaryBelle Hamby, took a trip in Papa's RV. Many adventures were had!  Kay and Charlie traveled full time across the southwest in their RV after retirement, including hiking the Grand Canyon together, and staying overnight at the Phantom Ranch.  They loved to visit Tombstone, Arizona and enjoyed the beauty of the Southwest together.  She also enjoyed many happy times at ball games with Charlie and cousins cheering for Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi.  The Alabama gulf coast was her happy place, which they called home for 25 years.  Many happy family vacations with the grandkids were had there.  Known to her grandchildren as Granny, she loved taking trips with them to Disney World, these were her favorite times.  Favorite memories of the grandchildren are times spent with Granny at Grenda Lake, walking the trails and playing at the playground.  She would walk with them to Dollar General from Maw Maw's house, making sure each one had spending money.  Kay loved flowers and landscaping; she always created beautiful spaces, both inside and out.   She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Kay is survived by her husband, Charlie; their daughter, Jennifer Hedges and husband Doug; brother, Gary Edwards and wife Lita; sister, Betty Jean Edwards-Chapuis; grandchildren, Zachary Hamby and wife Paige, Joshua Hedges and wife Veronica, Ashley Hedges, Alina Hill and husband Daylon, Promise Hedges, Lucas Hedges, Eva Hedges; great grandchildren, Owen Hamby, Charles Hamby, Reagan Hamby, Iris Hill; other family and many friends.

Kay is preceded in death by her parents, Q.T. and Rubye Edwards; father & mother-in-law, Charles and MaryBelle Hamby; daughters, Debra Kay Hamby and infant daughter; and brother, Quinton Edwards.

Graveside services will be 11:00AM, Friday, September 27, 2024, at Greene Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MO.