Sandra "Kay" (Qualls) Caldwell, 85, of DeSoto, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025, at Overland Park Regional Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas. A Celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton with visitation from 10-11:00 AM prior to the service. Inurnment will take place in the Greer Cemetery in Leeton, Missouri

Kay was born on August 31, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Carl LeRoy Qualls and Myrtie (Dilliner) Qualls. She graduated from Lee's Summit High School in 1957 and later married the love of her life, George D. Caldwell, on October 11, 1965. They shared many adventures together until his passing in 1985.

Throughout her life, Kay worked in secretarial and administrative roles for several respected institutions, including Unity School of Christianity, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, Avon Products, and B.C. Christopher. In 2003, she moved to a beautifully remodeled cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks in Roach, Missouri, where she enjoyed many years of peaceful lake living near her brother Bob and his wife Shirley. In 2022, she relocated to Hillside Assisted Living in DeSoto, Kansas, to be closer to her niece Karen and her husband Ron.

Kay had a strong Christian faith and loved the Lord.  She loved being outdoors, working in the yard, and was always up for an adventure with her family on the lake, along with Bob, she provided fun fishing, boating, and rafting. She enjoyed yoga, playing cards, outings with friends and she liked to read westerns. Kay had a wonderful sense of humor and was famous among her loved ones for always finding the perfect funny greeting card for every occasion.

She loved to travel and had many adventures with her husband George, often towing their camper "Rosie" with their GMC Jimmy. As the wife of a private pilot, she also shared his enthusiasm for aviation.

Kay is survived by her brothers, William "Bill" C. Qualls of Wellsville, Kansas, and Robert "Bob" E. Qualls of Roach, Missouri; her sister-in-law, Sharon (Dee) Watson of Blue Eye, Missouri; and brothers-in-law Fred Caldwell of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and Wilbur (Jackie) Caldwell of Clinton, Missouri.

She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Karen (Ron) Averill of Lansing, Kansas; Sheri (Mike) Jones of St. Louis, Missouri; Kim (Robby) Thomason of Clinton, Missouri; William "Brent" Qualls of Wellsville, Kansas; Bradley (Britt) Qualls of Lenexa, Kansas; Shane Caldwell of Blue Eye, Missouri; Drew (Christie) Caldwell of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and DeAnn (Jim) Paulson of Gardner, Kansas.

Kay was a great-aunt to Yale (Laura) Averill, Austin Averill, Heather (Sam) Ramer, Tyler (Ryan) Mahoney, Billy Qualls, Blake Qualls, Meg Qualls, Evan Qualls, Jane Qualls, Sarah Jones, Anna Jones, Gavin Caldwell, Caroline Caldwell, Ashley Paulson, David Paulson, Trevor Thomason, and Tyler Thomason.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; her in-laws, Ernest Lee and Edna Mae Caldwell; her sister-in-laws, Shirley Qualls and Joanie Qualls; and her brother-in-law, Lonnie Caldwell.

Kay lived life on her own terms, with a sense of humor and independence that never wavered. She will be deeply missed by those who knew her.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.