Kay (Hinton) Connery, 73, of North Platte, NE passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at her home surrounded by her loving family following an extended illness.

Kay was born on August 17, 1949 in Valentine, NE the daughter of Howard and Catherine (Doty) Hinton. Kay attended grades K-5 at District 46, a rural school that had also been attended by her Dad and Uncle. She graduated from Cody-Kilgore High School in 1967. She attended Parks Business College in Denver, CO. She was a firm believer in higher education and attended classes and graduated from Mid Plains Community College in North Platte. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Cody.

The ranch she grew up on was an important factor in her life. She was actively involved in ranch life from an early age. She helped her Dad on the ranch and learned all aspects of ranching while young. She loved her horses and was a darned good horsewoman. She broke some horses to ride, withstanding only minor injuries during the process. Kay thrived on being around the cows and calves. The sound of a cow mooing softly to her newborn calf, the wind blowing through the pine boughs, and the leaves of a cottonwood tree rustling would make Kay smile. She especially loved the Niobrara River and had a photo of it hanging on the living room wall. She was an outdoors loving woman, enjoying the rain, the birds and all of nature's beauty and wonder.

Kay had anticipated living her entire life on the ranch, but that did not happen. Although the ranch was sold, it was always in her heart. Not a day passed that she didn't think of the ranch and mourned no longer living on the ranch she loved.

Kay married Gary Connery on July 1, 1967 in Cody, NE, and together they had one daughter, Amy.

After moving to North Platte in 1979 Kay worked in the Lincoln County District Court System, worked for a law firm and for the State of NE. In these places of employment Kay made many lifelong friends.

Kay was a prankster and loved nothing better than causing an outburst of laughter at work, usually caused by something she had done or said. Kay's friends will remember her fondly for her famous $50 bets (some of which she won at the expense of her friends), her favorite winter drink, "hot chocolate and schnapps" and the anticipation by her friends that she would jump out and scare some unsuspecting soul. Sometimes the jumping out and scaring people backfired as at times those people who got scared were not the intended targets. Much laughter always ensued no matter if the targets were known or unknown to Kay. Bosses soon learned that although Kay had a fun-loving attitude, she was a hard worker and took great pride in her work.

Kay's family was the most important thing in her life and her greatest source of pride. Her daughter, Amy was her pride and joy. Kay was so proud that Amy was the first in her family to earn a bachelor's degree. Keeping in true prankster fashion for Kay, when Amy married Matt Harmon, Matt soon became the butt of numerous pranks and jokes. He soon learned that he was the "favorite son-in-law", however, he sometimes heard that he could lose that ranking if he didn't toe the line. He, of course, didn't toe the line. Ask him about the yearly joke Kay made him endure about the "sick bulls at the rodeo".

Kay's granddaughter, Ella, brought so much pride and joy to the family. Kay loved Ella and Ella loved her. They had a lot of adventures together (some fun adventures and some not so fun weather-related adventures). Ella loved spending time with Kay and enjoyed cooking, baking, cake decorating, Easter egg dying, sewing, and playing play-doh. Ella was very talented in many aspects and Kay would brag to anyone and everyone about Ella.

Keeping true to her ranch roots, Kay loved all animals and had a plethora of pets during her life. In her lifetime, she owned horses, cows, cats, dogs, and was a part owner of a goat! Kay also loved the Cornhuskers, win or lose.

Kay was predeceased by her parents Howard and Catherine Hinton, grandmother Lena Hinton, sister Mary Jo Hinton, niece Mary Kay Robertson, in-laws Mac and Lois Connery, and other family members.

Those who survive Kay are husband Gary Connery, daughter Amy (Matt) Harmon, granddaughter Ella Harmon, niece Cathy Campbell, nephews Justin Cowden and Mathew Gere, and cousin Karen Gere.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte with Father Lou Nollette officiating. Cake and coffee reception will follow the service in the Carpenter Memorial Chapel reception room. Memorial book signing will be from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 ^rd at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which has been entrusted with the arrangements. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. MT on Monday, May 8 ^th at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Cody, NE.  A meal will follow the graveside at the Husker Hub in Cody.

Memorials in lieu of flowers, may be made to PAWS-itive Partners Humane Society.