Mary Kathleen (Hester) Dains was born July 14. 1936 in Glasgow Illinois, the only child of Everett and Lela (Wilson) Hester.  She attended elementary school at Glasgow School, then graduated from Winchester High School in 1954.  She enrolled at the University of Missouri – Columbia to study Journalism but changed her major to Education after the first year.  She graduated in 1958 with a B.S. in Education, and in 1964 her M.A in American History.

While in college Kathy (as friends and family called her) married her college sweetheart, Jay D. Dains, on Sept 9,1956 in Glasgow Illinois.  They had two sons, Everett Michael and Stephen Bert.  After graduation, Kathy spent two years as a housewife in Shelbyville, MO.  When Jay's job transferred them back to Columbia Mo, she enrolled again at the University of Missouri to study for her master's degree.

After Graduation, Kathy began her career at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, where she worked for 28 years.  She began as a research assistant in the editorial office, advancing to Associate Editor of the Missouri Historical Review, a quarterly publication of the State Historical Society.  Shortly before her retirement she served as Assistant and the Associate Director of the State Historical Society, retiring in September 1991 and moved to St Clair County with Jay.

Kathy was an accomplished writer. During her years as editor of the Missouri Historical Review she wrote numerous articles for that publication as well as free-lance pieces for other publications.  After her retirement, she wrote Guided by the Hand of God: The History of First Christian Church, Columbia MO, 1832-1996 and edited Show Me Missouri Women, Selected Biographies, as well as co-editing Volume 2 of AAUW's Show Me Missouri Women.

Kathy loved reading, writing, time with her family and traveling, She and Jay traveled extensively after retirement, Florida in the winter, Alaska in the summer, as well as RVing all over the United States, Canada and Mexico.  Kathy also traveled to the USSR and The Holy Land.  She was very active in church and was a member of the Disciples of Christ Church in El Dorado Springs.  She was also a 60+ member of the Eastern Star #148 in El Dorado Springs.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Everett and Lela, and her husband Jay.  She is survived by her two sons, Everett Michael Dains and wife Linda of Columbia MO and Stephen Bert Dains and wife Kathy of Pleasant Hill MO, 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and family.

The family suggests any memorial donations be made to the St. Clair County Historical Society and may be left at Hill & Son Funeral Home.