Kay Ellen Peterson Smith

June 10, 1960 - July 31, 2017

Kay Ellen Peterson Smith, age 57 of Knoxville passed away Monday, July 31, 2017 at Kavanagh House in Des Moines, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation for Kay will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, August 3, 2017 at Winfield Funeral Home in Knoxville. Kay’s family will be present during this time. A funeral service for Kay will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, August 4, 2017 at Winfield Funeral Home. Burial will immediately follow the service at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, Iowa. Kay was born on June 10, 1960 in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Jerry and Jean (Langham) Peterson. She later moved with her family to Knoxville where she attended school and graduated in the Class of 1979. Kay was known in the community as the girl that was always smiling, she enjoyed visiting with people that she had met and meeting new people. Kay worked for several years cleaning at many local eateries. The last five years Kay worked at McDonald’s in Knoxville. She enjoyed the hours she spent with her friends and was always appreciative of the kindness the staff at McDonald’s showed her. Kay had a great love for animals that could be seen by all. She loved her pets like family. She was very diligent about walking her beloved dog, Sammy and caring for him. Left to cherish Kay’s memory is her mother, Jean Peterson of Knoxville; brother, Dale (Dianne) Peterson of Minnesota and their children DaKota, DaMara; and Jeremy of Newton; daughter, Melissa (Nate) Bierman and their children, Gabriel and Evelyn. Kay is also survived by many cousins and friends. Kay is preceded in death by her father, Jerry Peterson; grandparents, Harris and Edna Peterson and Herman and Amelia Langham. Memorials in Kay’s memory may be left to the Knoxville Humane Society.