Kathy was born October 4, 1955 to Eldon and Marilyn (Doyle) Moore of Bartley, NE. She was
the oldest of 4 children born to this union. At the age of 8 her mother passed away
unexpectedly from Epstein-Barr Syndrome, leaving a young family without a mother. The family
lived with Eldon's mother and father. On July 26, 1964 Eldon married Delores Horky, a young
mother who herself had 4 children under the age of 10. Eldon adopted the children and
together raised their family on the farm north of Bartley. Kathy loved farm life. She loved
spending time with her grandparents Bill and Eula Doyle and Earl and Doris Moore. She often
spoke of their adventures as kids and had many stories to share of their mischief. She enjoyed
going for drives to the farmstead and country even present day and recalling the good times
they had. In January she retired and enjoyed a few cattle sales with her Dad just weeks before
her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on April 28, 2021.
As a young girl Kathy was active in choir, pep club and sports. She was active in the Bartley
Christian Church where she was baptized as a teenager. After graduation from Bartley High
School in 1973 Kathy worked as a CNA in Kearney, NE. She later attended McCook
Community College where she received a degree in secretarial science. She married Doug
Newcomb at Bartley Christian Church on August 18, 1973. They welcomed three childrentwins Kari and Kayla and later a son, Kyle. She stayed home raising the "twins" until they were
in school when she started working for Stratton Insurance Agency (now MNB Insurance) where
she worked for the next 32 years until her retirement in January, 2021. She loved visiting with
the farmers and it kept her close to her love of the farm life. On December 31, 2004 she
married Christopher Reid at the United Methodist Church in Stratton. They enjoyed 16 years of
marriage. They enjoyed a trip to Hawaii and planned to travel after her retirement. In 2016
Kathy, Kari and Kayla went to Switzerland to see their foreign exchange student Gisela, who
stayed with them for a year in 1994 and was like another daughter to Kathy. Chris was an avid
supporter of her love of horses and farm life as they enjoyed caring for their farm south of
Stratton. They enjoyed time spent with kids and grandkids at the house watching the kids ride,
play in the dirt, eat Grandma's delicious meals, and swim in the hot tub.
Kathy was very active in the community of Stratton, where she lived her entire adult life. She
was a member of the United Methodist Church, UMW, the church choir, community choirs, Tops
Club, the election board, Lions Club and numerous other school and community events over the
years. She was an amazing cook and host which she learned from her mother Delores over the
years cooking for their family of 9. She was happiest hosting family gatherings whether it be a
Sunday fried chicken meal after church or holidays. She passed this love of cooking and
hosting to all 3 of her children. She was an amazing gardener, growing produce of all kinds and
canning it over the years. She was looking forward to retirement and enjoying leisurely
gardening, attending her grandchildrens activities, and traveling with her husband Chris. We
are at peace knowing she is with her Lord and Savior.
She was preceded in death by her mother Marilyn Moore, infant brother, Mark, and nephew,
Brady Koch. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Chris Reid, her parents
Eldon and Delores Moore, children Kari Vacek and husband Tim of Lincoln and their
children-Patricia, Theodore, Molly, and Luke, Kayla Smalley and husband Scott of McCook and
their children Hailey and Hayden, Kyle Newcomb and his wife Hayley of Stratton, step children
Kirsten Reid and Michael Reid, sister Jeanne Brown and husband Frank, Don Moore and wife
Vonnie, Bill Moore and wife Trisha, Carol Chalupa and husband Bob, Carla Malleck and
husband Brian, Mike Moore and wife Brenda, numerous nieces and nephews as well as many
beloved friends and her special aunt Margaret (Doyle) Messersmith.