Kay Toillion June 14, 1929 – June 14, 2025

Kay's life was filled with music and her love and passion was to share music with others, to those who just enjoyed listening to those who were students, intent on learning from a gifted teacher.  Her passing is a great loss to her family, friends, students and community, but she is now listening to the glorious music of heaven.

Kathleen (Kay) Forbes Toillion, 96 of Pueblo, Colorado died on June 14, 2025 at the Sharmar Senior Care Facility in Pueblo

Kay was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1929 to Vernon A. Forbes and Josephine Hassler Forbes. Kay grew up in a home of musicians and music teachers.  Her father was a professional trumpet player playing for silent movies and a band director in Lincoln and Scottsbluff, Nebraska and her mother taught cello.  Kay graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1947 playing in the band and orchestra under the direction of her father Vernon.  Kay went on to study music at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln School of Fine Arts graduating in 1951 with a bachelor of music in education degree.  She won the Lincoln Symphony soloist auditions her senior year performing Poemme by Chausson.  She studied under Dr. Emmanual Wishnow.

Kay began her career in teaching in the North Platte Public Schools in 1952 leading to over 70 years of educating students in primarily stringed instruments from North Platte and nearby towns.  She taught private lessons up until the age of 94 years old making lasting friendships with many students and families.  She was a charter member of the Sandhills Symphony Orchestra and served as the concertmaster from 1961 to 2017.  In 1990, The North Platte Chamber of Commerce honored her as a Women of Achievement for her many contributions in the cultural arts.  She volunteered her talents to play for hundreds of high school and community college musicals, community playhouse performances, and other public events.  She and her friends formed the TrebleMakers, a stringed ensemble that hit the road and played music gigs all over the area. Of course they were known for making trouble!

She married Dennis Toillion in North Platte, Nebraska on June 15, 1958.  He tried to impress her early on with playing 'You are my Sunshine' on the harmonica.  Not recognizing what was being played or his musical talent, she married Dennis anyway!  They had two children, Scott (and Patty) Toillion and Denise (and Wayne) Wilson.  Four grandchildren Samuel (and Lucy) Toillion, Luke (and fiancé Dani) Toillion and Whitney (and Mauricio) Gutierrez and Danielle (and Ernie) Sanchez.

Kay was also blessed to see four great grandchildren.  Ausha and Bo Sanchez, Lucinda Gutierrez and last but not least Josephine Toillion, born on March 21,, 2025 in Shanghai, China.  Kay knitted each great grandchild a baby blanket with the blanket bound for China arriving on May 10th.

Kay was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte, playing violin and the bells on a regular basis.  She enjoyed knitting and her weekly knitting club, meeting with friends over a meal, following Nebraska sports, playing the family rummy card game that has been a tradition for five generations and traveling with husband Denny on cruises, and trips through Europe and across the United States.   Kay and Denny celebrated 60 years of marriage together before Denny passed away in 2018.  They were a great pair and complemented each other so well.

Kay is survived by a brother, Vernon J. Forbes of Lincoln, and her children, their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses and the great grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned for July 24, 2025 at 11:00AM at the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte.  Lunch will follow.

Donations in memory of Kay can be made to the Sandhills Symphony Orchestra.

Checks can be sent to:  Sandhills Symphony, P.O. Box 1972, North Platte, NE  69103.

Donations can also be made to the Sandhills Symphony Fund at the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation.  https://midnebraskafoundation.org/ Carpenter Memorial Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.