She was born in Alliance, Nebraska, on March 16, 1945, to Woodrow “Bus” and Helen Woolsey, the third of four children.

It was in Bridgeport, NE, where Mary Kay was raised and attended school.

She married John Cantrell in September of 1982, and from that union they had a son, John “Johnny’’ Cantrell.

Throughout her life Mary Kay lived and worked in numerous places across Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. She settled in Chappell, NE, and had a home there until 2018, when she moved to assisted living at Sidney, NE.

In 2019 Mary Kay moved into Monument Rehabilitation and Care Center in Scottsbluff.

Mary Kay was a member of the Catholic church.

Her hobbies included knitting, and digital coloring. She also enjoyed animals and had various cats for pets.

Mary Kay loved to laugh and have fun. She was a friend. She was family. She was loved.

Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Bus and Helen Woolsey; son Johnny Cantrell; brother Gerald “Jerry” Woolsey; sister Shirley Klatt, and brother- in-law John Klatt.

Mary Kay is survived by her brother, Robert “Bob” (Terri) Woolsey, Oberlin, KS; her sister-in-law, Alice Woolsey, Sidney, NE; three nieces: Susan (Greg) Allmaras, Jeri Kay Shilling, and Denise (Gary) Troester; six nephews: Mike (Becky) Klatt,
Greg (Ashley) Klatt, Brian (Mindy) Klatt, Tanner (Kaori) Woolsey, Tucker (Tonya) Woolsey, and Tyler (Rebecca) Woolsey; as well as many cousins, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

A family graveside service with interment was held on March 11, 2024, at the Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport, NE.