My wife Laura and I first met Kay in 2016 after we answered a post on Nextdoor. She lived on our block and was looking for a playdate for her dog Murdock. Laura and Kay hit it off immediately and our dogs hit it off just as well. It didn't take her long to draw us into her wonderfully messy orbit and we all grew close rather quickly. Murdock became a regular fixture in our home by the end of the year and Kay and Evelyn quickly became family.

When Laura and I planned on getting married in a small ceremony, Kay was our immediate and first choice as a witness. Kay, Evelyn and Murdock were three of only five people (including the minister) at our ceremony.

She loved good whiskey, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Chris Evans, Spider-Man and Venom. She loved eating at El Burro Loco in the Central West End, winding down the night with a drink at Nick's Pub and napping at friends' homes across the St. Louis area.

She loved good pizza, bad pizza, donuts and gyros; modern rock music and classic jazz; cooking for large groups or just her and Evelyn; dogs and cats, kids and adults; dad jokes, inside jokes and dirty jokes; shoes, tools and tattoos along with woodworking, painting and glasswork.

Kay's laugh was unforgettable, a combination of a squeak and a gasp. And if you could get it out of her more than once, you felt like the funniest person on the planet. She didn't like asking for help, but when she did, there was never a moment's hesitation to rush to her aid. She gave more than she took. She also knew when to stand up for herself and push back when she felt she was being wronged.

Murdock ("Murds") was a huge source of love and humor for her. She loved playing with him, playing jokes on him and making sure he was as happy as possible. One of the last things she did was take him to Bar K, the dog park bar. It was a place she'd always wanted to experience with him.

Above all else, she loved Evelyn. She was the purest source of joy in her life and her great motivator. Their time together was the highlight of her week. Everything around those few days was focused on Evelyn (as soon as Evelyn finished her homework, of course). I can't even begin to describe their relationship. But if you were ever around it, you know it was nothing but pure love, respect, hope and admiration.

They say you can't choose your family, only your friends. Kay started out as a friend and became more important to me than family ever will. She was "Aunt Kay" to our dogs, a best friend to Laura and a younger sister to me.

We will miss her so much.

I am in utter shock. She was my very best friend when my family lived in TN and it was devastating when we moved. We laughed SO MUCH together and I will cherish those memories for the rest of my life.

I love you so much, Kay. 💜 

My heart is with you Jamie, Chris, Mark, and Yoriko. ❤️