Kay Elise McElhaney was born to Ben and Myrtle (Brown) McElhaney on March 15, 1938. She was christened with water from the River Jordan. The family were active members of the First Church of the Nazarene in Norman, Oklahoma. She was joined seven years later by her only sibling Bennie Lee McElhaney. She graduated in the Norman High Class of 1956. Shortly after graduation she rode the bus to Oklahoma City and walked to Central State Beauty College until the next year she became licensed and worked for Coiffure American, a New York Company in Kerr's Department Store Downtown Oklahoma City. During the four years working there she married Al Steenerson. He was a well known Square Dance Caller. They gave lessons and he called for six square dance clubs around the state. For several years they had a cabin at Sand Point on Lake Texoma. In 1960 her husband and Father, Ben built a beauty shop for her around the corner from their home. In 1960 Kay's Beauty Salon was opened. Over many years she built a clientele of wonderful people. The couple raised two sons, Christopher Lee and Eric Ian Steenerson. Kay always wanted to be a mother and loved this period of her life. In 1970, Kay started the hobby that she had for the rest of her life. Working with old photographs and Genealogy. With family support, there were years of visiting Courthouses, Cemeteries, Libraries and long lost cousins in several states. Her work was published and won prizes. The collection is posted on three web sites including Ancestry.com. Kay organized large reunions in Illinois, Arkansas, Texas & Oklahoma, the old fashion way....by mail. She also researched several other peoples' family trees over the years. It was her idea of fun. She studied Psychology at OCCC for two years. In 1982 she became a Tour Bus Escort for M.K.&O Lines.(and later for Jefferson Lines) She took tours all over the US, but quit to care for her husband in his final illness. Never having a daughter first she came closest to one in her long relationship to Anita Boozer. Then in 1990 Shelby Barnes came into her life when she married Chris Steenerson. That was huge blessing. Having no sisters, she was lucky to have Mesha Maloy McElhaney and Mary Perrin Hatley as sister figures. She became a widow in 1990, vowing to never remarry...but she did so in 1993 to Carl Franklin. She gained three step children,Carl Jr.,Tina & Keri. Kay and Carl traveled, were members of a Fox Hunting Group (Ham Radio)and were both avid readers and animal lovers over the years. Pampered pets were their specialty. They enjoyed life together as grandparents to Shawn Falk, Aaron Steenerson, Kayla Steenerson, Rachel Steenerson, Trevor Steenerson, Brandon Steenerson. Rob, David, Cory & Keegan Segura...Chris & Michael Franklin...Gary Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Franklin & Morgan Beard. (And a precious granddaughter Stacey Franklin who died at age 22) Great grandchildren are Chase,Bonnie, Allie, Emma, SiSi, Leah Lou, Randy, Zack & Vivian. Kay was a member of Calvary Nazarene Church in Oklahoma City.
She married Willard Duane Moore on September 14, 2019 at Calvary Church. She loved living on the farm.