Kay Neumayr

Gwendolyn Kay (Willis) Neumayr, 81, Attica, passed away surrounded by her family at her home on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at 6:20 a.m. from pulmonary fibrosis, a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. 

Kay, as she was known to family and friends, was born Aug. 27, 1943, in Danville, Illinois. She was the daughter of the late William Dudley 

Willis and Emily Elizabeth (Wellmaker) Willis Stonebraker. She attended Attica schools, graduating with the class of 1961, and graduated from Indiana Business College in 1962. On June 11, 1966, Kay and Jerald “Jerry” Anton Neumayr were married at St. Patrick Catholic Church in South Bend, Indiana, and celebrated their 58th anniversary in 2024.

Kay was a life-long horse person and loved raising the baby Quarter Horses. She would say her therapist had four hooves, a mane and tail and she spent many hours riding horseback. She loved teaching her sons and then grandchildren how to handle horses and to rise and successfully compete in horse shows, along with the value of patience and kindness. 

Her greatest joy was helping her grandchildren learn to bake and cook and learn Native American culture in week-long summer classes. She loved camping and hiking with the grandchildren at Turkey Run State Park. 

Kay got her first boxer dog in 1964 and was quite a fan of their intelligence, sense of humor and eternal puppyhood. Over the following 60 years, she and Jerry tried to always have at least one boxer. Taking in numerous cats and dogs, she and Jerry were also pushovers for strays.

As a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Attica, she was lector for over 30 years and a member of the choir, singing alto, for over 25 years. Kay also was a member of the St. Francis Ladies Guild, participating in funeral dinners and the annual noodle-making.

She was a former member of the Fountain County 4-H Council and former co-leader of the Fountain County 4-H Horse and Pony club. She was a founding member of the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture and served on the board of directors for 21 years, 17 as board chairman. She was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and also a member of many organizations supporting the right to life, conservative issues of the American Republic, the U.S. Constitution especially the Second Amendment, education, history and Native American culture. Her favorite books to read were historical documentaries.

Kay leaves behind her husband Jerald “Jerry” Neumayr; two sons, Chris (Shelley) Neumayr of Lafayette and Tony (Jennifer) Neumayr, Cincinnati; five grandchildren, Trinity Neumayr, Sydney Neumayr, Kaylie Neumayr and Allie Neumayr, all of Lafayette, and Josef Neumayr of Cincinnati; a sister, Constance LaLena of Centro Guanajuato, Mexico; boxers Rocky and Ziva; two horses; and seven barn cats. 

Kay was preceded in death by her youngest son, Joshua Neumayr; her parents, William Willis and Emily Willis Stonebraker; and her stepfather, William Stonebraker.

Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m., with rosary services recited at 4:30 p.m. A funeral Mass for Kay will be held at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Friday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. David Rasner officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Attica. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the American life League, P.O. Box 6170, Falmouth, VA 2203, or the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture, P.O. Box 1063, Portland, IN 47371.

Condolences may be expressed at mausfuneralhome.com.