Catherine ‘Kay’ Ellen Smith Flynn Ebert was born in Butte America on October 9, 1918. She was the daughter of Katherine (Kate) Flynn Smith and Steve Smith.
Kay received elementary and secondary education in Butte, graduating from Butte Public High School in 1932. She attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Denver Colorado, graduating in 1939, after which she taught Nursing Arts at St. John’s Hospital in Helena, Montana.
Following Pearl Harbor, she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in 1942 with the 29th General Hospital formed of personnel from St. Joseph’s Hospital. During her service she was stationed at Camp Carson, CO, Fort Meade, MD, Noumea, New Caledonia, and Guadal Canal. In 1945, Kay returned home and retired as 1st Lt. ANC. She attended Charity Hospital School of Anesthesia in New Orleans, LA and after passing the National Board Exam, became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Kay married Paul A. Flynn in Denver in November 1951; Paul died unexpectedly the following October. Their daughter Mary Kay was born November 19, 1952. Following Paul’s death, she and Mary Kay moved to Butte, MT to be with her family. She found employment with the V.A. Hospital at Fort Harrison as a Nurse Anesthetist, and eventually made Helena her home. She met Robert Clark Ebert, and they married in 1958. Shortly after, Bob formally adopted Mary Kay; it was a joyous occasion for all. The family moved to Denver, where she was employed at Denver General Hospital as a Nurse Anesthetist. They stayed for four years, and then returned to Helena in 1966 where she was again employed at the V. A. Hospital, Fort Harrison where she stayed until she retired in 1984. Nursing was truly her life, and anesthesia, with its challenges and fulfillments, exemplified her career. During her professional life she was a member in both Colorado and Montana Boards of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
After Bob’s death in 2000, she moved into a condo, living unassisted until 2016, where, after she lived with her granddaughter, Annie until her death. She died peacefully at home on April 2, 2017. Kay was an active member of St. Helena Cathedral Parish, Sacred Heart League, NARFE and volunteered as organist at Sunday Mass at Fort Harrison where the Reverend Humphrey Courtney was the Catholic chaplain and her dear friend. After retirement she had the special privilege and joy of caring for her two granddaughters Mary Elizabeth and Anne Margaret throughout their school years. She also had the great joy of attending their weddings and seeing them grow up; she was extremely proud of them and loved them dearly.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Katherine Flynn Smith, husband Paul Anthony Flynn, husband Robert Clark Ebert, daughter Mary Kay Holbrook, a brother Jack Smith, grandson Michael Anthony Holbrook, and brother and sister-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Ebert. She is survived by her sister-in-law Clara Smith, her son-in-law John Holbrook, her granddaughters Mary Elizabeth Williams (Tyler), Anne Margaret Hooper (Andrew), her nephews Steve Smith (Jeane), Mark Smith, Brad Smith (Marcia), Jeff Ebert (Mary Claire), Mike Ebert (Nika), Mark Ebert, her nieces Mary Ebert and Marcia Ebert of Helena, her nephew Walter Ebert of Helena, John Ebert and Gregory Ebert, nieces Mary Alice Ebert Stamatiou (Nick) of Seattle, W A, and numerous other nieces and nephews and family outside of Montana.
A family receiving friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 9, 2017 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A Funeral Mass for Kay will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2017 at the Cathedral of St. Helena with a reception to follow in the Brondel Center of the Cathedral. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Harrison. Memorials are suggested to the Diocese of Helena, The Clergy Retirement Fund and the Seminarians of the Diocese of Helena, P.O. Box 1729, Helena, MT 59601.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Kay.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday April 9, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Monday April 10, 2017
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the Mass
Monday April 10, 2017
Brondel Center of the Cathedral
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
After the reception
Monday April 10, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Rd.
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday April 9, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Monday April 10, 2017
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the Mass
Monday April 10, 2017
Brondel Center of the Cathedral
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
After the reception
Monday April 10, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Rd.
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
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Jack and Dorothy Havens says
Our deepest condolences to your family.
Jack and Dorothy Havens says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kathleen and Maury Hamill says
Kay was so much more than a patient, she was our friend. We always looked forward to seeing her and keeping up with the girls and their activities. Our thoughts and prayers are with all her family.
Sue Boone says
Sue Boone. Thank you my Dear Friend for your wonderful friendship for so many years. I will miss all the lovely little notes you sent . My thoughts an prayers are with your family as always.
Marilyn Kelly-Clark & Dennis Clark says
Kay and my Mom, Betty Kelly, attended nursing school together. My Mom passed away many years ago, but she and Kay always had remained friends up until that time. Kay was a great lady and a great nurse. Our sympathy and prayers to her family.