Keota Kay Philpot, age 85, died on May 1, 2022, at Oak Pointe of Carthage after prolonged illness. Kay was born November 10, 1936, in Ottumwa Iowa, to Margaret (Bonnifield) and Dwight Bannister. She grew up second of 4 girls and enjoyed her childhood in Ottumwa, Decorah, and Ames Iowa. Her sisters remained lifelong friends. She had a childhood love of horses that she maintained throughout life. She graduated from Gilbert Consolidated School in 1954. She attended Iowa State University and graduated with B.S. in Education in 1958. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. At Iowa State, she met Gary Holm Philpot and enjoyed 53 years of marriage before being widowed in 2012. Kay and Gary started a family and later moved to southwest Missouri in 1966. She taught English and Physical Education in the Carthage school district until staying home to enjoy raising her 4 children full time. Kay and Gary started Sherwood Forest Homes in 1971. She was a community supporter and avid Webb City High School sports fan especially for her children and grandchildren. Kay never met a stranger and enjoyed playing bridge and made lifelong friends. She enjoyed travel with friends and family. She would do anything for her children. She was known to strike up a conversation and share stories of her family and enjoy communication about current news events. Keota Kay was preceded in death by her sister Jeanne Painter, husband Gary Philpot, and granddaughter, Riley Philpot. Survivors include her sister Margot Eness, of Ames, Iowa; her sister Willa Kulhavy, of Plano, Texas; son Craig Philpot, of Webb City and his wife, Carrie and their children Chase, Caitlyn, and Chesnie; daughter Tanya Stewart, of Houston, Texas and her husband, Steven and their children Jake and Kylie; son Tony Philpot, of Webb City and his wife, Christy and their children Sydney, Ashley, and Hally; son Kirk Philpot, of Greenville, N.C. and his wife, Kelly and their children Jon Paul, Ella, and Ashlyn. Kay has three great-grand child, Braiden, Harper and Lincoln Stewart of Houston, Texas. Services will be held at Ozark Memorial Park in Joplin, Missouri on May 14, 2022, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Riley’s Army, an organization Kay felt strongly about which helps children and their families dealing with pediatric cancer. Riley’s Army P.O. Box 720 Winterville NC 28590 or donate online at RileysArmy.com