Dr. Alice Kathrine Goebel

Dr. Alice Kathrine Goebel, 96, of Oklahoma City, OK, passed away peacefully at home on August 25, 2026.

Originally born in Glendive, Montana on October 30, 1929, to Jens Morris and Mary Beatrice Larsen. During the youngest years of her life, she grew up on a ranch alongside her younger brother, John Morris Larsen. She had a love for riding horses and reading books; often, she would be found lying on her horse bareback reading for hours. Additionally, she completed a 100 mile endurance horse race at the age of 15 as the youngest and only female finisher. Unbeknownst to her at the time, this was just a glimpse of the success she would gain in her future. However, she always knew she had a drive for success and to be her own person. As Kay remembered her mother often saying, “Be yourself, don’t be like anyone else.”

To everyone now, she was known as Kay or “Mimi” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. However, her given name was Alice Kathrine Larsen. As she entered school, she decided she wanted her “own name” and her schoolwork started to come home with the name “Kay” proudly displayed. She simply told her mother she wouldn’t talk to her teacher unless she called her “Kay” and the name stuck from there on out.

At the age of 7, Kay met a boy, Harry, from Marsing, Idaho, who was a friend of her cousins. Her family moved a few times during her childhood, landing in Marsing during her early teenage years. Kay and Harry began dating when they were in the 9th grade at Marsing High School - where she also graduated Valedictorian and Girl Most Likely to Succeed. They remained together throughout college at Boise Junior College (now known as Boise State University). Then Kay went on to Oregon State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Nutrition. On March 25, 1951, in Caldwell, Idaho, she married her best friend and soul mate, Harry Raymond Goebel. They were happily married until Harry passed away in 2006. During their early years of marriage, they moved a lot - 41 times to be exact - before settling in Oklahoma City in 1967. Kay and Harry always wanted a big family. They had 5 children born within 7 years, each born in a different city - Kathi, Kristi, Dee, Karen and Bart.

After all of her children were born, Kay decided it was time to further her education, but in no minor way. She began with earning a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Oklahoma City University in 1968 and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 1971. This began a new chapter in Kay’s life. One that was full of helping others in a seemingly endless number of ways. She opened her own private practice as a counseling psychologist in 1972 and continued to practice into her 90s helping a countless number of people along the way. She became a speaker for the American Institute of Medical Education speaking at mental health seminars around the world. Over all of her years she visited 46 countries, all continents except Antarctica, and all but 3 states. Kay even wrote a chapter on Michaelangelo for the book Creativity and Madness Psychological Studies of Artists. She was renowned in the field of psychology and gave so much of herself for the betterment of others.

However, her endless ways of helping reached much beyond her professional career. Closest to her heart was being a community volunteer and a philanthropist. She held many a seat, such as, President of the Board for Oklahoma City Arts Council, Chair of “Red Tie Night”, Chairman of the Oklahoma State Arts Council (which was appointed by former Governor David Walters), President of the Board for Calm Waters, President of the Board for the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, President of the Board for Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma, and served on the Board of the Mid America Arts Alliance, Allied Arts, and the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals.

In 1995, during the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, Kay worked on the task force counseling survivors, their family members, and first responders. She then helped shape the Memorial Foundation and served on the Board as well. Kay stated, “I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been very fortunate in my life and I greatly enjoy giving back any way I can to make our community and state a better place to live.” Kay was always one to say yes when it came to her community. One of Kay’s favorite fundraisers was going “Over the Edge” for the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, where she repelled off of the 17th floor in downtown Oklahoma City at the age of 85 years old. One of her most recent interests was checking out the progress of the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, a place that will continue the betterment of the community she loved, creating a place for more enjoyment of nature and the arts.

There’s no wonder, with all this accomplishment, drive, and success, that the accolades were just as prevalent. In 1996, Kay received the Governor's Arts award, and then in 1997 she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2001, she was named one of the 20 Most Influential Women in Oklahoma by Oklahoma Family Magazine. In 2002, she received the Outstanding Board Service Award from Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma. In 2004, she received the Margaret Sanger Legacy Award by Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma alongside her daughters, Kathi, Kristi, and Karen, as well as the Key Contributor Award from the Oklahoma Academy. In 2005, she earned Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Professional Fundraisers. Then in 2006, she was named as an Honoree for the Journal Record’s 50 Making a Difference Woman of the Year. In 2018, Kay received the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Woman of the Year. Then in 2021 she was named Honorary Chair of the Juliette Low Leadership Society. These are just the tip of the iceberg.

An Oklahoma icon, an advocate for young women, a champion for the arts and humanities and a trailblazer; these are all words that have been used to eloquently describe Kay Goebel. Beyond these honors and affirmations mentioned above, Kay was known for her perseverance and determination to make her community of Oklahoma City indefinitely better and because of her passion for helping, she has greatly succeeded. If there were more people like Kay, then the world would be a much better place.

Far beyond all of the honors and notable moments during her 96 years, the biggest honor by far was being a mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother. To Kay, family was always number one - if you knew one of the Goebels, you knew them all. Kay was fiercely loyal, supportive, and loving. She loved the arts, traveling, family and friends. Kay never turned down a lunch at the Metro, a weekend at Grand Lake, or attending her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s activities. She attributed her long life to an active and healthy lifestyle. She spent many days into her 90s going to a morning workout class, daily walks and an evening chardonnay.

Kay was truly a one-of-a-kind woman who lived every moment to the fullest and will be forever missed. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Jens and Beatrice Larsen; her husband, Harry Goebel; her daughter and son-in-law Kristi and Mac Oliver. Kay is survived by her brother, John Morris Larsen; her children Kathi Goebel, Dee (Diane) Goebel, Karen (Jim) Keith, and Bart (Tracy) Goebel; her grandchildren Jake (Shannon) Keith, Grant (Cecelia) Goebel, and Lexy (Jon) Sikes; her great-grandchildren Avery and Palmer Keith, Ella, Olivia and Tripp Sikes, and Warren Goebel.

A celebration of life will be held at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, 1212 Bedford Dr, Nichols Hills, OK 73116 on September 8, at 10:00am. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma at www.gswestok.org/donate, Calm Waters by clicking the “donate” button at www.calmwaters.org, Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park by clicking the “donate” button at www.uncommonground.org, or Nichols Hills United Methodist Church at www.nicholshillsumc.org/giving.