Kay Powers Mantor
1936-2023
Surrounded by beloved family, Kay Powers Mantor entered into God’s presence on February 5, 2023 in Edmond, OK. She was born on May 13, 1936 in Corpus Christi, TX to Willye and Jack Powers. She graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1954 and from the University of Texas in 1958, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.
She married Philip David Mantor in 1958, and they were blessed with three children, Philip Cameron Mantor, Meredith Powers Mantor Cook and David Blackshear Mantor. David was in the oil industry and they spent years in Houston, TX, Tripoli, Libya, Weston, CT, Edmond, OK, and Denver, CO.
After returning to Corpus Christi in 1982, Kay spent many years active in the Order of de Pineda, Las Donas de la Corte, the La Retama Club, and Cotillion III, working alongside many dear friends. She was a member of The Church of the Good Shepherd where she faithfully served on the Altar Guild for 30 years, as well as volunteering at The Good Shepherd’s Corner. She and her beloved mother-in-law, Betsy Mantor, organized the Community Bible Study in 1984.
She adored her children and grandchildren and held each one with deep affection. She loved to write stories about each one for birthdays, Christmas, graduations and weddings. She enjoyed portraying ‘quirky’ characters and dressing up in outrageous costumes, and was known to her family as a genuine ham and best elf Santa ever had. She was a rabid Longhorn fan whose favorite fall Saturdays were filled with Longhorn football and whose favorite possession was her pair of Longhorn boots. Above all else she will be remembered as the sweetest of sweet, who loved her family and others well.
She treasured her faith in Christ as the greatest gift she ever received for her hope was always in the Lord. “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
It is with that hope, expectation and joy, that her spirit peacefully entered into eternal life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willye and Jack Powers, and her mother and father-in-law, Betsy and Phil Mantor. She is survived by her children Cameron and Betsy Mantor, Meredith and Rodney Cook and David and Allison Mantor as well as her grandchildren Lauren and Ray Burbank, Andrew and Olivia Cook, Will and Margaret Mantor, Ben Mantor and Matt Mantor and her great grandsons Luke and Ben Burbank and a great granddaughter, due in June. She is also survived by her beloved little brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Grace Powers along with a host of adored nieces and nephews. A service will be held on Tuesday, March 7 at 2pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church of the Good Shepherd or another church or charity of choice.
A Memorial service and Celebration of her Life will be held Tuesday, March 7 at 2:00 pm at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi, Texas.
I am forever grateful to have been given the privilege to experience a small place in time with Mrs. Mantor. May she always wear her Longhorn boots. She will always be known to me as Duchess.
Dear, dear Kay, indeed the Sweetest of the Sweet…..my precious roommate for 2 years in our Austin Zeta Tau Alpha house, my invaluable Matron of Honor who consented to cross Texas via train from her Corpus to my far west Pecos, who was “awaiting” her wings the last time we spoke. I cannot think of my world without Kaysie, and being unable to ring her from afar, drop in on her when in need…… and sharing one of her beloved Cokes. I still envision Corpus debutante presentations with foreheads touching the floor, because it was “puleeze, tradition….”