Kay Archey

Kay Karen Archey, 83, of Charlevoix, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025, with her beloved family at her side. She was born on August 24, 1942, in Bay City, MI, the daughter of Elmer and Gwendolyn (Miller) Kreger.

Kay grew up on a dairy farm in Conway, MI, and was the oldest of six children so there was never a shortage of work to be done. She graduated from Petoskey High School. On June 8, 1974, she married Harold “Butch” Archey at the Trinity Missionary Church in Charlevoix. They built a home together north of town, and it was in that home that Kay raised their five children.

Kay loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful homemaker, and spent countless hours in the kitchen baking, cooking, and canning. She was also a skilled seamstress and ran an alterations business out of their home. Christmas gifts from Kay were always homemade with love; jams, jellies, bread, sewn projects, and so much more.

She and Butch enjoyed traveling together whenever they could. Initially on their Honda Goldwing motorcycle, then by putting a lot of miles on their motorhome, they visited many places around the US. One of their favorite spots was Lake Havasu, Arizona. Recently, their summers were spent camping at the family’s property in Manistique. Kay had a love of the outdoors and spent much of her time enjoying it; she liked to hunt deer and pheasants, ride around in the side by side, pick berries, and she never passed up the opportunity to hunt for rocks. She will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her.

Kay is survived by her husband of 51 years, Harold “Butch” Archey; four children, Richard (Melissa) Starr of Gaylord, Anthony Starr of Crystal Falls, Kristine (Alan) Holmes of Harbor Springs, and Phillip (Melissa) Archey of Charlevoix; her son-in-law, Ben Brown; a brother, Alan (Marcey) Kreger of Sebestian , FL; four sisters, Leona (David) Ellis of Alanson, Linda Pitman of Petoskey, Carol Burke of Ann Arbor, and Connie (Tom) Seger of Bliss; eleven grandchildren, Michael Holdorph, Katrina (Lance) McKay, Nathan Grubbs, Brody Starr, Noah Starr, Eden Starr, Gabrial Holmes, Joshua Holmes, Jennifer Archey (Andy), Jacob Archey, and Kaden Archey; four great-grandchildren, Madeline, Cole, Zander, and Ronan; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Kay Lynn Starr Brown; her grandson, Brian Lee Anthony Starr; and an infant sister, Patricia Kreger.

Kay’s family has chosen to celebrate her life privately.

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com