Kaye was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 5, 1942 to William “Bill” and Jayne (Young) Schnurr. She lived in Bridgeport until about the age of four when she moved with her parents to Alliance. It was there that she grew up and graduated from Alliance High School in 1960. She played in the concert band and orchestra, was lead majorette in the marching band, and sang in the senior and madrigal choirs. Kaye participated in many activities including her class plays, was a court queen, and received numerous awards for her achievements in high school and 4H. In the summers she was a lifeguard at the Alliance Pool and was a water safety instructor. In 1961 she was Miss Box Butte County/Fair Queen.
Kaye attended the University of Nebraska from 1960 to 1964, receiving a degree in Elementary Education with emphasis in Special Education and Speech Therapy. While at the University of Nebraska she was a Royalty Beauty Queen, Miss Army, and a member of Angel Flight and Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Subsequent to graduation, she taught in Palo Alto, California and Omaha, Nebraska. She also spent time during summers in the Washington, D.C. and Cape Cod, Massachusetts areas.
Kaye married Edward “Ted” Hempel January 29, 1967 in Alliance, Nebraska. They lived in Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina before returning to Alliance in 1975. She taught in the Alliance School System, for the Educational Service Unit, and in rural schools. She also was a Speech Pathologist, and took advanced classes in the educational field. Interaction with and helping children was one of her passions. Kaye was active in the community including involvement in the early establishment and organization of KAB. She was a member of Chapter AH PEO and a very devout Episcopalian, serving on both the church altar guild and church vestry. Kaye was beautiful both physically and spiritually, a fiercely independent individual, extremely loyal to her principles, and a devoted wife and mother.
She is survived by her husband, Ted of Alliance; sons, Daniel (Sue), and David of Lincoln; sisters, Karen Thorell of Denver and Kathy (Don) Graham of Scottsbluff; sister-in-law and close friend Julianne (Steve) Pacetti of Lakewood Colorado, and a niece and numerous nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 2 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Alliance with Father Coke McClure officiating. Interment will be at the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm Tuesday, December 1. The family will receive friends there from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Memorials can be given to Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Alliance or the donor’s choice.
Online condolences can be left at www.batesgould.com. Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.