Rev. Kay Bevans Dillard, 85, died peacefully on January 5, 2023, in her daughter’s home in Noblesville, IN after a long battle with cancer. 

Kay was born July 18, 1937, in Vancouver, WA.  She graduated from Prairie City High School (Oregon), Oregon State University, and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.

Kay served as Pastor for Hebron (IL) UMC, Polo First (IL) UMC, Rochelle (IL) UMC, and Maple Park (IL) UMC, and as District Superintendent of the Southern District of the Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church.

Retired to Maryville, TN in 2004, Kay continued her love of needle art and she was always ready to take on a new project.   A pioneer for women in ministry, Kay was always creative, funny, supportive, wise and a little disruptive.  She brought many along with her on her countless life adventures. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orval Bevans and Nell (Beachell) Bevans; her son, Tod O. Dillard; husbands, David Dillard and Phillip Bartos; and her brother, John Bevans.

Kay is survived by her two daughters, Elizabeth Grimes, her husband Mark, and their four children - Kiyoshi, Kaya, Isaac, Jesse - of Phenix City, AL; and Amy Pohlman, her husband Jesse, and their seven children – Odin, Evan, Aidan, Nell, Avery, Asher, Adley - of Noblesville, IN.

Kay is also survived by her chosen family, sister, Judy Hilton of Maryville, TN; daughter, Kirsi Jansa-Reynolds of Pittsburgh, PA; daughter, Ines Vinson of Oklahoma City, OK; and granddaughter, Scarlett Bartos of Knoxville, TN.

Celebration of Life event in honor of Kay Dillard will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 2 pm at Green Meadow United Methodist Church, 1633 Louisville Road, Alcoa, TN 37701.

In honor of Kay Dillard and in lieu of flowers, please consider paying it forward with a donation to the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR (www.umcmission.org/umcor/) or your local United Methodist Church.

Kay shared her fierce love for life, wisdom and spiritual guidance relentlessly.  We hope you’ll do the same.