Kay has drawn her final breath. On the morning of January 16, 2017 she stepped gracefully over the threshold from Here to There. She died peacefully in her home, surrounded and supported by those who love her and cared for her; her friends, caregivers and her dog, Silver.

Katherine Louise Kammann White was born August 9, 1920 in Sioux City, Iowa. She moved with her parents throughout the Midwest. She graduated from high school in Evanston, Illinois at the end of the Great Depression and entered Northwestern University at the beginning of WWII. Much of her life was shaped by both eras.

After graduating from University in 1943, she worked at the phone company in Chicago before moving to California. There, in 1950, she found a lifetime career as a licensed customs broker. In later years, she entertained us all with stories of her adventures.

She met William White at her work. They married in 1971 and lived an exciting life in Southern California. They owned race horses and commuted to Santa Ana by plane. But it was not until they arrived on Vashon Island in 1978 that she truly felt she was home.

Life on Vashon found her gardening, singing and supporting various Vashon organizations: the Garden Club, the Chorale, the Senior Center, Vashon Opera, Vashon Chamber Music and most significantly, the Vashon Center for the Arts.

Kay lived a full life, and she did it with grace and generosity. She left an indelible mark on her friends and a legacy for her community.

Memorials may be made to the Vashon Garden Club, the Vashon Island Chorale, Vashon Opera and Vashon Chamber Music.