Katherine May Mckay

Katherine May McKay, born June 22, 1927 in New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at her home on August 30, 2017 at the age of 90. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Tom, and is survived by her son Scott McKay and wife Kathy McKay, and their two children Evan and Heather; and her daughter Diane McKay Braun and husband Michael Braun, and their two children Chase and Payton.

Born the only child to Harry Martin (West Virginia) and Maude King (Kentucky), Kay spent much of her early childhood in Buckhannon, West Virginia with her grandmother and great aunts. Her parents divorced when she was very young and her mother traveled extensively for work as the Western Regional Sales Director for Saks Fifth Avenue cosmetics. When Kay was 15, her mother married Hollywood restaurateur, Dave Chasen, and Kay moved permanently to California. She attended University High School in West Los Angeles and graduated with top honors. During her senior year, she contracted scarlet fever, and after battling the disease for over six months, she lost most of the hearing in her left ear. She would go on to graduate with a B.A. from UCLA where she was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and won the prestigious title, the Belle of '49.

Kay was married briefly to David Smith and had a son, Michael, in 1953. Michael would go on to graduate from Harvard University. After college, he chose to reside permanently on the East Coast and was seldom heard from again. It wasn't until 1960 that Kay met the love of her life, a handsome navy pilot and inventor by the name of Thomas Lorne McKay. They were married on June 9, 1962. Their two children, Scott and Diane, were born a few years later.

Kay was a devoted wife and mother, and spent much of her life raising her family. She also enjoyed entertaining her friends, playing golf at Los Angeles Country Club and enjoying the beach at Bel-Air Bay Club with her family and friends. She and Tom were loyal supporters of Saint John's Health Center and Pepperdine University, and Kay also dedicated much of her time to charities such as the League for Children, the Diadames, and Project Hope, to name a few. She held several presidential positions in these organizations over the years and was well-respected by all who worked with her.

When her husband, Tom, passed away on July 4, 2000, she carried on with strength, resilience and a wonderful sense of humor. She was a woman of such class and beauty, and had an elegant style that never wavered, even into her 80's. She loved her children and grandchildren very much, and also loved the wonderful nurses who took such good care of her in recent years. We will miss you, Kay May, with all of our hearts.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2017 at Forest Lawn in Glendale (Church of the Recessional). A reception will be held following the services from 3:30-6:00pm at The Los Angeles Country Club (Ronald Reagan Terrace). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint John's Health Center Foundation.

SERVICE INFORMATION:

TIME: 1:00pm
LOCATION:
Forest Lawn in Glendale (Church of the Recessional)

RECEPTION INFORMATION:

TIME: 3:30 - 6:00pm
LOCATION:
The Los Angeles Country Club (Ronald Reagan Terrace)
10101 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 276-6104
www.thelacc.org *

* Click "Guest Information" for dress code details.