Kevin Manning Abbey of Owasso, OK passed from this life on January 7th, 2024 in Tulsa after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Kevin was born on July 30th, 1953 at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa but he did most of his growing up in Redondo Beach, CA.
He graduated from Redondo Union High School (class of ’71) where he played the trumpet in the band and cruised the strip in his cherry-red Triumph convertible. He earned his bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences from the nearby California State University campus at Dominguez Hills.
Kevin was blessed from a young age with a natural gift for music. He was able to play seemingly any instrument by ear. He especially enjoyed the piano, guitar, and banjo. He also had an upbeat personality and goofy sense of humor which was enjoyed by the fun, and scorned by the boring.
In adulthood, Kevin devoted his working life to the well-being of others through his career as a social worker and mental health counselor before making a switch to public service in the mid-2000s.
He found himself in Ohio, then eventually settled back down in Oklahoma. There he was employed for many years at Grand Lake Mental Health, then later as a public servant working as a Probation and Parole officer with the Oklahoma Department Of Corrections, and then in various roles with the Department of Human Services, before working to retirement at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Claremore.
In retirement, he enjoyed spending his time with his devoted wife Paula, gardening, playing and listening to music, traveling, and dining at the local pancake house.
Kevin was preceded in death by his sister Kimberly Ann Abbey in 2014, his father H. J. “Jeff” Abbey in 2016, and his mother George Ann McVennon (Onstot) in 2019.
He is survived by his wife Paula, his sisters Barbara and Suzette, his lifelong friend Carl, whom he loved like a brother, and many others. He is also survived by his son Kevin Jr. (and his wife Kristi), his daughter Emily (and her husband Derek), his son Jeffrey, and his stepchildren Shaun, Janan, and Elizabeth. Kevin was exceptionally proud of all of his children.
The family will hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a tax-deductible donation in his memory to the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org/oklahoma.
