Kathy Kay Disney

Kathy was born in Bartlesville, OK, on October 25, 1958, as Brenda Marie Hall. In 1963 she was adopted by Hal and Jean Long of Garber, OK, where she began a new life as Kathy Kay Long.

She grew up as a member of the Garber Methodist Church, attended Garber grade and high school. She enjoyed participating in athletics, chorus, and pageants, excelling as a twirler and drummer in “That Garber Band.” After graduating in 1976, Kathy attended OSU for a semester before deciding to transfer to the “University of Life” for her education.

In the fall of 1986, Kathy was reunited with her high school sweetheart Billy Disney. They were married September 25, 1988, in the Garber Methodist Church. Adding to her joy was her son Dylan Ray born August 24, 1990. When Dylan was in high school, Kathy looked for a new challenge. She took a job in a busy doctor’s office where she discovered the first of her two passions, NURSING! Kathy had a fear of needles, but she did not let that stand in her way. She later took a job at Northern OK College of Enid as an assistant to the nursing program. Her position was to consult and enroll students while helping the faculty. It wasn’t long before she was mothering each student, dispensing advice, giving encouragement, and if needed be giving a student a strong-talking-to, whatever it took to bring out their best work!

Passion two was found by accident. In 2000 the Garber Dinner Theater was in a bind and needed an actress. It was a small role, and she agreed to “do it just this once to help out!” She was immediately hooked and was performing in spring and fall productions, which lead to directing future casts as well. Kathy retired from acting in 2020 to help her mom with health issues; however, she continued to help select the play, sell ads, help with sets, work nights of the plays, joyfully doing whatever was needed.

April 30, 2021, Dylan and wife Lynnette gave Kathy her greatest gift, the birth of Leo Raymond Disney, affectionally called “Short Pants.” She loved being Grammy, taking Leo to the park, cooking him sausage biscuits and chocolate chip cookies, and most of all thrift shopping for outfits for him. Leo filled her days with the joy of family.

On the morning of February 17, 2026, Kathy awoke ready to do her part in planning the upcoming spring play and her 50th high school reunion next fall: however, a breathing issue arose causing a trip to the ER with her passing away the following day February 18, 2026.

Kathy was predeceased by her mother Jean Long and sister Betty Boggs. Some of those who love and will greatly miss her are husband Billy, son Dylan Disney, wife Lynnette, and grandson Leo; Father Hal Long; brother Ken Long, wife Jody and family; brothers Curt Fillmore and Ed Abrusley; many cousins, friends, and foreign exchange sisters Ice’ from Brazil and Christa from Denmark.

Funeral services will be held 2:50 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2026, in the Garber Community Theater will interment to follow in the Garber Cemetery under the care of Brown – Dugger Funeral Home of Perry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor can be made to:

GCIA (Garber Community Improvement Association)

FBO: Garber Dinner Theater 402 Main Street Garber, OK. 73738