Portrait of Kay Maroney. IMB Photo

Kay Maroney, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Czechia, died May 25, 2026. She was 86.  

Kay was born Dec. 3, 1939, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to the late James Burton Farmer and Ione Knipe Farmer. She graduated from Wichita Falls (Texas) Senior High School, attended Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas, and received the Bachelor of Science from Howard Payne College (now University), Brownwood, Texas.  

She married Jimmy Maroney on Oct. 25, 1963. Both taught school in Wichita Falls before moving to Fort Worth, Texas. Kay taught at the Everman Independent School for two years while Jimmy went to seminary. Later they returned to Wichita Falls, where Kay continued to teach.  

While seeking missionary appointment Kay wrote, “I first became interested in missions through Sunbeams, GAs, and YWAs (missions programs). I loved to read about missions and listen to missionaries speak.” 

In 1967, Jimmy and Kay moved to Ghana, West Africa, as married Journeymen (an IMB program for young adults), where they taught Bible classes at Kumasi Academy. In 1969, they returned to the U.S. briefly while Jimmy finished seminary requirements. 

In 1970, the International Mission Board appointed Jimmy and Kay missionaries to Ghana, where they continued serving at Kumasi Academy. They also served in Ethiopia and Kenya. In 1983, they returned to the U.S. and served at the IMB offices in Richmond, Virginia. From 1997, Kay worked as secretary for the Eastern Africa regional office. In 2000, they were reappointed and served in Czechia. 

Kay is survived by her husband of 62 years, Jimmy Maroney; her sons, Barry Maroney and Eric Maroney; and three grandchildren. 

Services will be private.