Elaine Kay Albright

Elaine Kay Albright was born Feb. 3, 1949 in Hays, Kansas to Eugene and Ruby (Janke) Wetzel.  She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 5, 2025 in Seward, Nebraska.

Elaine attended school in McCracken, Kansas, graduating in 1967.  She then went onto college at Fort Hays State University where she graduated with her bachelor’s in nursing in 1971.  She worked as a nurse in Hays, Kansas after graduation.  At her brother Bill’s wedding in 1973, she met Merle Albright, the brother of the bride.  They hit it off and started a long distance relationship.  Elaine and Merle married on January 10, 1976 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hays, Kansas.  They then moved to Merle’s family farm just north of Colby, Kansas and settled into life together.  They welcomed two children, Brian in 1977 and Maria in 1980.

Elaine held various nursing jobs over the years in Colby, starting at St. Thomas Hospital then she moved onto the Thomas County Health Department in the 1980s.  She then worked for Citizen’s Medical Center as a home health care nurse for most of the 90s before taking a job as a staff nurse at Family Center for Health Care.  After moving to Manhattan, Kansas in 2003, she worked for Homecare & Hospice, providing at-home end of life care for many patients.  Elaine loved being a nurse and provided high quality nursing care to innumerable patients over her 46 year nursing career before retiring in 2017.  That same year, Elaine and Merle moved to Seward, Nebraska to be closer to family and live out their retirement years.

Elaine enjoyed many activities, including baking, scrapbooking, crossword puzzles and spending time with family.  She was active in her churches, Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, Kansas, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Kansas and St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.  Elaine loved being a pet parent to many cats over the years and a dog named Leo, adopted in 2020.  Most of all, Elaine loved being a mother and a grandmother, and she will most be remembered for having a kind, gentle soul who was always willing to help where she could and always having a positive attitude.  She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Elaine is survived by her son Brian (KaiPing) Albright and her daughter Maria Albright, grandchildren Martin and Kayla Albright, brothers Bill (Melanie) Wetzel and David (Teresa) Wetzel, sister-in-law Janice Kinsley and several cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Merle, her parents, Eugene and Ruby Wetzel, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Thomas, Ben, Carol and Glenda Albright, and nephew Timothy Wetzel.

MEMORIALS IN CARE OF YORK ADOPT A PET

NURSING HONORS BY NEBRASKA NURSE HONOR GUARD

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