Kathleen (Davis) Lykins, 90, of Albany, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Kathleen's story began March 24, 1935 on a farm in Evona, south of Albany, MO. She was the youngest daughter of Russell and Mae (Whitton) Davis. Her brothers were Harold and Wendell and her sister was Dorothy. She attended Whitton country school before transferring to Albany High School, where she was the class secretary on the student council, a cheerleader, and participated in school plays and sang in the glee club.

Kathleen met Max Lykins in high school. During their courtship they enjoyed going to movies and square dances at the Armory. Max graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, leaving Kathleen to finish her studies. During his Christmas leave in 1952, he came home to Albany and proposed to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen, who was a senior. Soon after her graduation they were married on August 8, 1953 at Albany First Presbyterian Church. The couple then packed up and moved to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Max was stationed, and they lived in a tiny trailer. Kathleen enjoyed frequent trips to the beach with her new-found friends–other Navy wives. After four years of active duty he and Kathleen moved back to Missouri.

Kathleen was a stay at home mom when her children were young (which she called her dream job) but also worked at Old American Insurance Company in Albany and then later for the ASCS office.  Kathleen and Max purchased the Albany Western Auto store, where they managed the bustling business on the square. After closing the store several years later, she began working for Lippincott Insurance, which is where she worked until she retired.

As their three kids got older and the couple gained more freedom, Kathleen and Max enjoyed numerous cross country road trips with lifelong friends. Kathleen loved to cook and garden (both veggies and flowers), and spend time with her family. She was often found in the kitchen making her grandkids' favorite cookies or canning green beans or preparing a huge breakfast of biscuits and gravy. She loved her home on South Street that she and Max built from the ground up in the 1950s, and said her favorite thing to do was sit on the deck and admire her beautiful view, the field growing crops, and watching the birds feeding their babies. She was also an avid reader. Kathleen and Max played in a monthly pinochle card group that they immensely enjoyed.

She was an active member of Albany First Presbyterian Church and talked about her faith often. Praying was how she solved problems.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, Max, her, parents, Russell and Mae Davis, her son, Christopher Davis Lykins, and granddaughter Serenity Hope West.

She leaves behind daughter Julie Spohrer (John) and granddaughter Emily; son Eric Lykins (Sally), grandson Chris and granddaughter Haley; daughter Tracy Dulle (Brian) and granddaughters, Sierra, Savannah, Karen & Kristina; and great granddaughter Harper.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, May 20th at Roberson-Polley Chapel in Albany with burial in Grandview Cemetery, Albany. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the chapel.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Albany First Presbyterian Church or Mount Zion Church in care of Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402. Online condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com