Nancy Kay Dobbs Benjamin

Nancy Kay Dobbs Benjamin, may her memory be a blessing, was born in Phoenix on November 19, 1941, to Joel William Dobbs and Hazel Ermen Fulton Dobbs. As a young child, father in the military, Kay moved often to different military bases throughout the Midwest. Her father served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Air Corps, taught ROTC classes in Arizona State University's historic Old Main building, and served as a flight instructor at Falcon Field during World War II. Her mother was a registered nurse who volunteered at base hospitals and schools wherever the family was stationed. Both parents were Kansas natives and earned their college degrees from the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, respectively. Kay was raised in the Methodist church, and she loved being a Methodist. Always wearing white gloves, a bonnet, and a dress to church, she loved to sing the hymns; she famously earned her first reprimand for singing right on after the minister began his sermon.

She always looked forward to going to her grandparents' farm in Kansas. As a child, Grandpa Dobbs was her favorite person. She said that her grandpa gave her a beautiful red pony with a white blaze born in the spring of 1946, and she named him King. Kay also liked playing jacks, jumping rope, and going to the movies with her cousins. She said that her dad once bought her a Dr Pepper, and she never forgot how good it tasted. She excelled academically and was proud to say she could read at four years old when she started kindergarten. When Kay turned eight, she entered a bubble gum contest at the local furniture store. She correctly counted the bubble gum balls in a jar and won a brand-new piano. That was the beginning of her love for music. Latin was always her favorite subject. Kay was very athletic, playing basketball for four years in high school, participating in marching band and track and field, and outrunning the football boys barefoot. After high school, she attended Texas Women's University on a full-ride scholarship and joined the drama club, earning awards for outstanding performance in The King and I. After two years at TWU, Kay returned home to care for her ill mother, then stepped in as a mother to her younger sisters, Judy and Marybeth. She enjoyed college and looked forward to returning to complete her degree.

In 1960, Kay married her high school sweetheart, Charles Benjamin, in Belton, Missouri. They welcomed two daughters, Lisa Leah on June 25, 1963, and Amy Beth on November 2, 1966. Charles and Kay loved going out dancing with friends and listening to Elvis. Kay even attended an Elvis concert. While Elvis was singing, “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog,” she climbed onto the stage to get the King's scarf. Kay loved her dogs, and one was always there to sleep next to her in bed. Her best friend throughout her life was Judy Parish. They would get together, talk, and laugh for hours.

Seeking warmer weather and easier roads, the family moved to Arizona in 1974. They settled in Mesa. The Mesa School District had a strong academic program, and they bought a home near Mesa High School. Her daughters have always held first place in her heart, and their education mattered deeply to her. They also included extracurricular activities: Lisa in music and Amy in student council and school plays.

Family trips mostly involved being in nature, picnicking by the lake, finding the prettiest rocks, and exploring the Arizona desert. Kay loved the desert and the beauty of sunrises. She and Charles often got the girls up early to drive out to the desert by the Superstition Mountains and watch the sun rise. Kay always looked forward to the saguaro cactus flower blooms and the desert daisies.

After returning to school, Kay graduated from Arizona State University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and began a dedicated teaching career, spending most of those years inspiring students at Westwood High School in Mesa. Kay was named Teacher of the Year multiple times. She also participated in the Phoenix Area Writing Project during summer terms. She was invited to join the International Society of Poets, where she placed first in the international writing contest. She also served on many committees to enhance secondary-level English education and earned a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from ASU. Kay always had a poetry book to read. A devoted Sun Devil through and through, Kay proudly held the titles of ASU alumna, ASU mother, and ASU grandmother.

Her favorite book was always Tom Sawyer. She loved the trouble he often got into; it reminded her of her experiences as a high school English teacher. She advocated for all students, especially those who struggled most. Kay always kept $5 extra in her purse, knowing some student would need lunch. Her lunch usually consisted of a Pepsi and a mini pecan pie from Circle K; Pepsi was a staple in her life!

Always focused on her family, Kay (as the oldest sister) and Charles continued to champion her sisters and their children, creating a home everyone could return to and making room on the sofa with a warm blanket. The sofa also welcomed many friends, including the Flores family, who often ran in and out of the kitchen.

Kay and Charles retired in 1997. They spent several years in Texas with Charles Jr. and his family, then relocated to St. George, Utah, to be near Lisa, Robert, and their grandchildren. As grandparents, they had a rotating door at home. Chad actually considered trading his parents for his grandparents. Katie kept both grandparents running, literally. Charles and Kay spent hours at Amanda’s FFA and County Fair events, Matthew’s football games and scouting activities, Emily’s rodeos and cheerleading, Chad fishing with Grandpa, borrowing Grandpa’s car and being there at a moment's notice to help Grandma Kay, Katie’s dinners at the Denny’s, the claw machine and the dollar store, and at every graduation ceremony, birthday party, and all of the grandchildren's school milestones. With visits from Amy and all her friends, their house always felt welcoming. They did not slow down after retirement.

Charles loved his motorcycle, which was a surprise gift from Robert. Kay, however, never rode with him. She was too busy writing. Charles and Kay were also active, passionate advocates with Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA). Kay proudly wrote a novel describing BACA members' life experiences.

Charles, a strong, moral, kind, gentle soul with a wonderful sense of adventure and fishing always on his mind, passed away on April 17, 2014. Kay’s life continued, focused on writing, her children, grandchildren, sisters, and many friends. She still had many friends, including Dawn, Judith, and even her student, Charmaine, who grew up to be good friends. Her love for oil painting grew, and she spent hours creating beautiful butterfly and floral paintings. Her favorite painting was one that she created of Jesus and the children. She said the highlight of her later years was riding a horse with Robert on the trail. She enjoyed time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, visiting with Amy and her friends, and spending hours talking on the phone about family happenings or watching Gunsmoke while Lisa crocheted more baby blankets.

Lisa, Robert, and their children moved from St. George, Utah, and returned to Arizona in 2018; Kay and Amy came along, and she spent her last years in Mesa, a place she felt was home. However, she longed for Charles, their love and their 55-year marriage.

Kay will be greatly missed and is survived by a large family, including children Amy Benjamin, Lisa Benjamin and Robert Mitchell, and Charles Jr. and Cindy Benjamin; grandchildren Amanda Mitchell Freebairn and Steven Freebairn, Matthew and Amanda Mitchell, Emily Mitchell Fajardo and Nick Fajardo, Chad Benjamin Mitchell, Katharine Jane Mitchell, Charles Benjamin III, Tyler and Dana Benjamin; great-grandchildren Maisie Luella Freebairn, Juniper Rosalind Freebairn, Noah Benjamin Russell Freebairn, Ellis Anne Mitchell, Jackson Matthew Mitchell, Brigham James Mitchell, Olivia Marie Fajardo, Rosie Grace Fajardo, and Mable Scott Benjamin; and sisters: Joel Anne Rasul and Mary Beth Rock. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and more students than we will ever know.

On October 13, 2026, dressed in red and wearing white gloves, Kay was reunited with her sweetheart, the love of her life, forever. The family held a small ceremony at Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Arizona, to celebrate their beautiful reunion. Donations in remembrance of Kay and Charles Benjamin’s life can be made to the BACA St. George Branch. We pray that Kay and Charles’ lives blessed many.