Mary ‘Kay’ Norris Naff, 82 of Ruston, Louisiana passed away on February 19, 2024, at North Louisiana Medical Center.  She is now resting in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, after a long illness.

Kay was born February 5, 1942, in Ruston, to Elgin and Clara V Norris.  She was one of the many Eastland kids who grew up together in the 1940s and 50s. She graduated from Ruston High School as a part of the Class of 1960.  While at Ruston High School she was active in the Sub Deb Club, Band and was a majorette.  She attended Louisiana Tech University.

Kay married her high school sweetheart, Harold Ford Naff, on December 22, 1962, in Ruston, LA at the Norris family home in Ruston.  While Harold was in the US Marine Corps they lived in Lafayette, Louisiana and Corpus Christi, Texas, before returning to Ruston in 1965.  They lived in Bastrop, Louisiana from 1969-1999, before retiring to Ruston in 1999.  Although she and Harold lived in several places throughout their 61 years of marriage, she always called Ruston home and thought it was the “center of the universe.”

They are the parents of three children:  Charles “Tracy” Naff (Laura) of Edmond, Oklahoma, Marcy Naff Thomas (Marty) of Rock Hill, South Carolina and Brett Allen Naff (Cheryl) of Dubach, Louisiana.  Kay was “Nunny” to their nine grandchildren:  Lauren Naff, Harrison Naff (Aurora), Austin Naff, Hannah Naff, Garrett Thomas (Susanna), Hayley Naff, William Thomas, Layton Burnham, Avery Deaver and eight great grandchildren:  Kaley Kennedy, Kinsley Kennedy, Ivy Thomas, Juniper Thomas, Ryker Burnham, Rowdy Burnham, July Burnham, and June Burnham.

Kay was a wonderful homemaker that always loved decorating her home and making it a place where all would feel welcome.  She enjoyed staying at home with her children until her youngest started school.  Kay enjoyed working at Bastrop National Bank, Morehouse Parish Chamber of Commerce, and First Presbyterian Church in Bastrop.  She liked planning summer vacations and traveling with Harold and their children.  She also enjoyed planning and hosting Naff family reunions.  Kay was an active member in the Bayou Ramblers Bicycle Club, Cotton Country Quilting group and enjoyed scrapbooking.   She was an avid container gardener and loved photography, especially taking pictures of her grandchildren.   She was a long-time member at First Baptist Church – Bastrop, participating in numerous Sunday school groups, Youth Group parents, choir, and handbells and at Temple Baptist Church – Ruston, where she grew up and was a GA, and later a member of the McKinney-Love-White Sunday School Class. She enjoyed serving with Harold at the Louisiana Tech Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM).  One of her favorite pastimes was planning reunions for her beloved Ruston High School Class of 1960.

Kay leaves a legacy of caring, compassion, and kindness and devoted her life to having a servant’s heart and being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Kay is preceded in death by her parents Elgin Lewis Norris and Clara V Moore Norris, her sister and brother-in-law Ann & Roy Stedman, and nephew Roy Elgin Stedman.  She is survived by her husband, children and their spouses, her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Betty Naff Beard and husband Fred of Woodworth, Louisiana and sister-in-law Pat Naff of Houston, Texas.  She held her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends close to heart.

Funeral services will be held in the Chapel at Temple Baptist Church at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 23rd in Ruston with Dr. Reggie Bridges and Reverend Dale Oden officiating.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1-2 pm.  Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston immediately following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, 7200 Desiard Street, Monroe, LA 71203 or www.lbch.org

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

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