Kayse (Pegg) Ricker peacefully transitioned surrounded by family and feeling the love of so many, including her exceptional care team, on September 1, 2023 following a brave battle with a brief illness. She was 80 years old.

Kathleen Louise Pegg, born on June 7, 1943 to Arthur Pegg and Valerie (Clark) Pegg in Alhambra, CA, spent her youth with her four siblings in Long Beach. She attended St. Barnabas School and graduated from St. Anthony’s High School (‘61).

In 1967 she began to build her own beloved family with David Ricker (who passed in 2005), relocating for a brief time to Chicago, IL, before settling in Mission Viejo, CA in 1973. A mother of four, Kayse was a rousing cheerleader of her childrens’ pursuits, an active volunteer in their schools, could create a theme to celebrate any event, and was devoted to her faith as a parishioner of Santiago de Compostela, and later St. Timothy’s.

Described by many as having a (often mischievous) twinkle in her eye, Kayse was endlessly creative with her abundant talent. An interior designer for many years, she returned to school for a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, graduating from Cal State University, Fullerton. Kayse worked as a crisis counselor, an after-school specialist, and eventually as a Membership Counselor at Lake Mission Viejo.

But, what she enjoyed most was writing. She was prolific, focusing on children’s books, and always ready with clever prose for loved ones' special moments. Her children will cherish the many happy thoughts and doodles she drew for family and friends on any bit of scrap paper nearby while chatting with them on the phone. And, she could talk on the phone for hours. Indeed it will be a very long time until any of them can get in a car or go for a walk without the instinct to call her for an extended chat.

In 2016, Kayse moved to New York where she celebrated the changing seasons with family – at her daughter’s annual Halloween party, her sister’s delicious Thanksgiving dinner, sipping hot cocoa on Christmas Eve – and relishing every single thing her grandchildren did or said all year long.

Always the last to leave a party, with a witty sense of humor and infectious laugh, she made friends wherever she went and her accepting heart made everyone feel welcome. She was also incredibly strong, feisty, and brave - qualities that served her well during her last weeks of life.

She is lovingly survived by her sisters Joanne Sheffield, Patricia Soldati, Mary Vavrick, brothers Arthur Pegg and Hank Bisnar, sisters and brother-in-laws Penny Brockson, Sylvia Bisnar and Gary R. Soldati, son John Ricker, daughters Melissa Ricker, Jenna Ricker and Kathryn (Ricker) Trainor, sons-in-law Clint Collins, Greg Stuhr and Mike Trainor, daughter-in-law Pamela Moye, grandchildren Kaitlyn Barnhart, Collin Ricker, Delaney Trainor, Beau Trainor and Eliza Trainor, great-grandchild Tucker Thomas, nieces Jacqueline Bisnar, Julie Farbaniec, Janine Neale, and Cheryl Clark, nephews Brent Bisnar, Andy Bisnar and Gary M. Soldati. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Valerie Bisnar of Long Beach, CA, and brother-in-law Chad Sheffield of Redmond, WA.

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