Kay L. Saunders

Saunders, Kay L.
1700 North Racine Street
Appleton

Age 85, died Monday evening, December 8, 2003, with her family at her side. She was born August 1, 1918, to the late Bernard and Mary Ann (Reagan) Laux, in Houghton, Michigan, where she graduated from high school. She had been a Fox Valley resident for over 50 years. Kay published five books: Gift of the Strangers, A Whippoorwill Calls for Memories, Pluck, Letters from the Other Side: The Gift of Flannery O’Connor and Only the Footprints are Gone. She also wrote numerous poems, articles, essays and short stories, which were published in magazines, journals and newspapers. Kay was a correspondent for the Catholic newspaper, The Compass, for 20 years, a creative writing instructor for Elderhostel at Treehaven, and an organizer for the Tuesday Night poetry reading at Conkey’s Book Store. She was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where she was very active and helped to organize the Tri-Parish Convention. She also was a member of National Association of Poetry Therapy, Sacre’ Coeur Book Club, Wisconsin Regional Writers Association, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, Catholic Daughters of America, Flannery O’Connor Society of Shreveport, Noonhour Philosophers, and the Fox Valley Writer’s Club. Kay is survived by her husband, George H. Saunders, to whom she had been married for 63 years; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ann Mitchell and Jim Everson, Milwaukee; Sara and Joseph Wahlquist, Kohler; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bernard and Connie Saunders, Maple Plain, MN; Mark and Kate Saunders, Waupaca; Daniel Saunders and Katie Kyndely, Ann Arbor, MI; thirteen grandchildren, Matthew and Chad Wahlquist; Todd and Erik Saunders; Gregg and Ryan Saunders; Daniel, Matthew, Joseph and Laurel Hutchinson; Kiera and Brion Berkley; and Amy Everson; five great grandchildren, Alex and Gabriella Hutchinson; Benjamin and Jacob Hutchinson; and Andraya Saunders. The funeral liturgy for Kay will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, December 11, 2003, at ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1810 North McDonald Street, with Father Gerald Falk officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 4 – 8 pm, Wednesday, and on Thursday at the church from 9:30 am, until the time of the mass. There will be at poetry reading at 6:30 pm Wednesday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, which may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Kay will be cherished for her lively Irish spirit and embrace of all. She nurtured poets, children, friends, and her husband. She lived a full life with style and grace.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com