Lela Faye Kinsey

“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25).

Yes, she had no fear of the future, for she knew when her time on this earth ended, she would be united with her loved ones. She could not fathom the depth of joy and laughter upon seeing Christ her Savior. She knew it would be a great day of rejoicing!

Lela Faye Kinsey, 92, died at home in Smithville, TX on January 18, 2023. She was the 12th child of 15 children. She was born in Moody, TX on December 23, 1930, to Harrison and Lillie Ann Underwood.

She grew up in Houston, Tx where her parents owned a chicken farm. One of her least favorite things to do was clean out the 500-laying hen chicken coup which became a chore whenever she got into trouble. After her older sisters married, she became the daughter who had to rise at 4:00 am every day to cook breakfast for her seven older brothers. She was twelve years old at the time.

Faye considered herself a tomboy and played center-field softball throughout her years in school, yet her girly side loved working with hair, make-up, and nails. In her day, beauty classes were offered during school and the hours were put toward a certificate in cosmetology. After graduation, she finished her hours at a beauty school in Houston, where she was then handpicked by Sally to come and work in Sally’s Beauty Salon. It never surprised us to see the color of her hair change from chestnut brown to blonde or red. Her favorite phrase after primping in the mirror was, “What you see is what you get.”

She loved singing. She and her sister sang while the brothers played various instruments. They traveled across Texas to sing at tent revivals and other events. She remembers getting back late on the train and having to get up early the next day for school. She also loved to write. She once entered an essay writing competition involving all the schools in Houston and won! After marriage she became a stay-at-home mom and found joy in sewing, making homemade bread and pies, playing games, and working on her genealogy.

Faye met Vernon Elisha Kinsey in December 1951 and married three months later on February 28, 1952. Together they had twelve children and raised eleven. They celebrated 53 years of marriage before Vernon passed in 2006.

She is preceded in death by her parents, all 14 siblings, her husband Vernon, her son Michael, her daughter Tammy Kay, grandsons Thomas Kinsey and Anthony Kinsey, and great-granddaughter Abigail Alley.

She is survived by her children David (wife Gail), Jimmy (wife Karen), Wayne, Gary (wife Jackie), Becky, Rusty, Sandy (husband David Matlock) Tina (husband David Samples), Pam (husband David Wong), Ronnie (wife Amber), Kenneth (wife Debra).

She is also survived by grandkids Laura Kinsey, Marcus Kinsey (Fiancé Nikki), Jared Bosley, James Kinsey, Marissa Kinsey, Kristy Kinsey, Gary Kinsey II (partner Kait), Robert Kinsey (wife Kasey), Daniel Kinsey (partner Analiese), Rachael Kinsey, James Matlock (wife Mandy), John Mark Matlock, Sarah Caraway (husband Jacob Caraway), Jaren Samples, Zach Samples (wife Makenzie), Stephen Wong (wife Crystal), Elizabeth Menke (husband Aaron), Andrew Wong, Timothy Kinsey (wife Krystal), Kyle Kinsey (wife Ashley), Brittany Alley-Kinsey (husband Donald Alley), and Christopher Kinsey.  She is also survived by thirty-four great-grandchildren, one more great-grandchild on the way, and one great-great-grandchild with another expected in June.

Faye was loved by so many family members and friends. We cherish the time we had with her, and she will be greatly missed.