June 21, 1938 – November 24, 2023
In the early morning hours on Friday, November 24, 2023, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, Kay L. Tangreen, passed away at home with his wife, Judy, and son, Dennis, by his side with Kathy and Kevin arriving shortly after.
Kay was born June 21, 1938 in Moab, the sixth of seven children born to Andrew Clarence “Doc” Tangreen and Ruby Ray. Grandpa had a pretty hard upbringing and it greatly shaped his character and work ethic. Kay worked hard all his life. Whatever needed done, he found a way and got it done. He was responsible and protective of the people he loved. We fondly remember him often saying, “I’d rather have it than want it.”
Kay married his sweetheart in June 1956 and they soon started their family. Kathy came first in January 1957, Dennis soon after in December 1958, and Kevin rounded out the bunch in November 1960. The young family didn’t have much, but Kay & Judy made sure that their children were provided for. They had frequent, countless adventures in the desert around Moab, often hunting for car parts, sometimes even venturing out into the Bean Fields to see what they could find.
Kay was a Master of Many Trades. His welding and fabrication talents impressed many around the Moab valley. He was a self-made engineer. He was a journeyman carpenter for a time, and he and Judy owned and operated a welding & machine shop and later a trucking business. He never had any formal education, he just innately knew how things are supposed to work. It was second nature. Grandpa was an artist and his medium was steel. Grandpa’s true passion, however, was hotrods. He loved nothing more than a fast, powerful, beautiful car! And he knew them inside and out, upside and down. He loved to take an old car and rebuild it from the rust up! I would even venture to say that hotrods were his religion. Kay was never more content than when he had a project in the shop!
At least until the great grandkids started showing up. The Greats opened up a whole new world of possibility and adventure for Kay. If Zella and Brianna were Grandpa’s Girls, then Ayden was his little buddy. He enthusiastically embraced babysitting. He was very adept at putting on those tiny little rubber clothes and tiny little rubber shoes on the girls’ tiny little Polly Pockets! And he loved to save newly chromed bolts and other parts so Ayden could “help” him put them on the ’34. He found such great joy and so much pride in the Greats! All of us, but those three really got the absolute best of grandpa!
Kay & Judy shared more than 67 years together and the void left with Kay’s passing is felt deeply. They have seen and done so much during their life together. Two young kids fell in love and started a family, they made due and took risks, they built a beautiful life together, they had great friends that they shared many adventures with, they had matching Honda motorcycles, the car club, Wednesday afternoon cards, racing, car shows and road trips. It isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. I admire and have the utmost respect for the example of commitment and dedication they have given to us, through all of the ups and downs that happen in 67+ years. And my, how the world has changed in that time!
Kay was preceded in death by his parents, Doc & Ruby; siblings Dixie, Andrew, Lenore, Doug and Wade, granddaughter Kayleen Tangreen, great granddaughter, Zella Ceniceros, and favorite dog, Pansy. Kay is survived by his wife, Judy; children Kathy Knight (Robert), Dennis Tangreen (Libby) and Kevin Tangreen (Kim); puppy, Cassie; sister Eva Lou Wright; grandchildren Kevin Dale Tangreen (Liz), Lisa Ceniceros (Matt), Jesse Tangreen (Stephanie), Todd Tangreen (Sara), Megan Knight (Jon Cook), Amber Honour (Josh), Rachel Tangreen and Randy Tangreen; great grandchildren Brianna Tangreen (Michael Tran), Jonah and Krista Tangreen, Ayden Ceniceros, Olivia and Stella Honour, Alex, Jesse, Xoe and Connor Tangreen; many, many in-laws and many more nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at the LDS Stake Center on Locust Lane with live streaming on Spanish Valley Mortuary Facebook page, with interment of ashes at Grand Valley Cemetery, followed by a luncheon back at the Stake Center. Family will be driving grandpa’s hotrods in the procession and his friends, acquaintances and community who wish to attend are encouraged to bring out their classic cars, trucks, and hotrods.
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
