Kay Mary Quinton

Kay Mary Quinton, age 80 of Rexburg, Idaho, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Homestead Assisted Living Center in St. Anthony, Idaho.Kay was born April 18, 1937 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Earnest Ray Byrne and Verla Marie Byrne. She started out life in Archer, then the family moved to Hamer in 1941. She attended school in Hamer and graduated from Roberts High School. In May of 1954, she married Raymond Nels Quinton; their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.Kay enjoyed teaching and was a substitute teacher in the West Jefferson School District for over 40 years. She and her husband farmed in the Terreton area, and also worked as a truck driver for Hill Milling Company, and for various farms during potato harvest.   Later the farm was sold, and she continued substitute teaching while they worked on area farms during the summer. Ray & Kay Quinton served as foster parents during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, sheltering dozens of foster children, some for days and others for years.Kay was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors, especially fishing at Birch Creek, and was involved as a 4-H leader and was active in the Mud Lake Fair for many years. In her younger years, she enjoyed horseback riding and played basketball in school. She had experience writing articles for the Post Register, and was noted for her beautiful handwriting, sometimes featured on diplomas from West Jefferson schools.She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Kay (Jesse) Miller, of Andrew, Texas, son, Rick Quinton, of Pocatello, Idaho; sisters; Marie Alma (Rick) Birch of Pocatello, Ruthann (Rich) Stetz of Idaho Falls, Idaho; brothers, Ford Duane Byrne of Rexburg, Idaho, J. Ray Byrne of Idaho Falls, Idaho and 3 grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.Funeral services will be held at Terreton LDS Stake Center Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main Street, Rigby and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in the West Jefferson Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Memorial contributions may be made to The Kay Quinton Memorial Teachers Grant through the West Jefferson Education Foundation.