Anzel Kay Kotval, 87, of Benton, passed peacefully from this life into the arms of our Lord after an extended illness on February 21, 2026. Kay was born the eldest child and only daughter of the late Arthur Gordon Rice and Ruth Warren Rice on a family farm near Akin, IL on September 24, 1938. Her maternal grandmother, Lionne Conover Warren, assisted with the delivery.
During high school in Malden, Missouri, Kay was dual enrolled in high school and the local college, which was quite a feat for a 17-year-old woman at the time, earning her Associate of Arts degree two weeks before her high school diploma in 1956. She met the love of her life soon after and was wed to John D. Kotval, Jr of Bridgeview, IL, on May 2, 1958; they were married for 41 years. They spent their honeymoon traveling on the historic Route 66 from Chicago to California.
Two children, both living, were born, a son, Donald Lee Kotval in 1959 and a daughter, Paul Jean Kotval in 1962. The family resided in Hickory Hills, IL, New Lenox, IL and Bourbonnais, IL with many cherished family memories, including summer vacations to Daytona Beach and attending Chicago Cubs baseball games.
Kay retired as Assistant Controller of Olivet Nazarene College in 1986 and retired with John to Benton to be near her parents. Those years until his passing in 1999 were filled with extensive traveling including many Caribbean Cruises with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Helen Roberts, frequent trips to Callaway Gardens, and visits to Walt Disney World with grandchildren. Kay was an avid genealogist leaving behind volumes of her work and her autobiography.
Kay is survived by her brother, Kevin Warren Rice of Bourbonnais, IL, son and daughter-in law, Donald and Charity Kotval of Columbia, TN, and daughter, Paula Kotval of Benton. Kay is also survived by three grandchildren, John D. Kotval, III (wife Lauren) of Marietta, GA, Courtney Metschuleit of Seattle, WA, and David Hamilton Kotval (wife Jenny) of Columbia, MO, and great-granddaughter, Raelyn Nelson of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Gordon Richard Rice, and her granddaughter, Stephanie D. Learned.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Friday March 6th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
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