Kay Francis

PLEASE NOTE: This obituary is being placed on our website as a courtesy to the family and at their request. Hullinger Mortuary is not handling any part of these services.

Vivian Kay Whitney Madsen Francis, age 86, died on January 20, 2026, in Orem, Utah, after living a life full of devotion to her faith and family.

Kay was born on April 1, 1939, in Springville, Utah, to McKinley Whitney and Agnes Fern Hurst Whitney, as the youngest of six children. Kay graduated from Springville High School and attended Brigham Young University, where she studied cello and played in the BYU Symphony Orchestra.

Kay married George Franklin Madsen II on June 10, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Arlington, Virginia, while Frank attended medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. They later settled in Roosevelt, Utah, for Frank’s medical practice. Frank tragically passed away in 1976 from cancer, leaving Kay expecting their seventh child. For many years, Kay stalwartly raised her children as a single mother. All seven children graduated from college and served missions. Kay moved to Provo, UT, in 1986.

She married Evan Douglas Francis on December 29, 2000. After sharing 21 years of happiness together and devotion to their combined posterity, Evan passed away on April 17, 2022.

Kay is survived by her seven children: Mary Kaye (Bill) Welch of Washington, Utah; Peter Whitney (Laura) Madsen of Orem, Utah; Dale Franklin (Paulo) Madsen of Malaga, Spain; Jeffrey Coleman (Susan) Madsen of Orem, Utah; Andrew McKinley (Emily) Madsen of Cedar Hills, Utah; Michael Hurst (Jennifer) Madsen of Rexburg, Idaho; and Jonathan David Madsen of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is survived by 26 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Chloe Ann Thomas of Orem, Utah, and five stepsons, Greg, Marc, David, Kenny, and Kevan Francis, and their families.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank Madsen, her husband Evan Francis, her granddaughter Emily Kuhlmann, one brother Keith (Catherine) Whitney, and four sisters: Ruth (Helmut) Weseloh, Donna (Dick) Johnson, Merilyn (Wilbur) Wilson, and Nedra (Lynn) Walker.

Kay touched thousands of people throughout her life with her quiet, personal ministry of love, hospitality, and service. Kay worked at BYU’s Department of Continuing Education from 1988 to 2001 and served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Relief Society President twice, a beloved Laurel Advisor for many years, and an ordinance worker at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. She and Evan served a mission together in New Zealand from 2001 to 2003.

Kay loved music and shared her musical talents throughout her life. She played the cello in the New Horizons Orchestra at BYU, sang for many years in the Ralph Woodward Chorale and other choirs, and served as an organist at the Provo Temple. She also hosted dozens of family salon concerts in her home, passing a legacy of music on to her grandchildren. Other passions in her life included reading, travel, and BYU Sports.

Most of all, Kay devoted her life to her family and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her faith in Christ was constant and unwavering. Kay was always gracious, kind, and generous. She enjoyed opening her home to family and friends, where she prepared delicious meals and served as the consummate host. She loved and rejoiced in her ever-growing posterity, filling her time with attending their recitals, sports games, birthday parties, baptisms, concerts, graduations, weddings, and other events big and small. During the last few years of her life, her favorite saying was, “Thank you. You make me very, very, happy!”

Kay’s legacy will be cherished for generations to come, as “her children arise up, and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 762 East 1200 North, Orem, Utah. Viewing will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah, and also 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral location. Interment will be at the Midway Cemetery in Midway, Utah.