The wife of the first mayor of the City of Knox, Alice Kay, passed away Tuesday at the age of 101. She had lived for many years at the Catherine Kasper Home in Donaldson. She would have been 102 on May 8th.
“She was just a wisp of a lady, but her personality was that of a person twice her size,” stated Ted Hayes. “Alice Kay was devoted to her husband Glen, daughter Judy, grandson Dirk, son-in-law Herb, St. Aquinas Catholic Church and her many friends. She was a partner with her husband in Glen Kay Clothing and Shoes which was located in the building that now houses Fingerhut Bakery in Knox.”
“Dixieland Jazz enthusiasts, Alice and Glen traveled every year to the New Orleans Jazz Fest. Light on her feet, Alice could trip the light fantastic, as she did at many Jazz Clubs throughout northwest Indiana. She and Glen were members one and two in the Illiana Traditional Jazz Club.”
“Because the store was next to what was then-Price-Van Gilder Funeral Home, the pair adopted the Van Gilder children, Kelly, Joe and Kate,” continued Ted. “The kids could be seen at the store at any time during the day. Mr. Kay even made little Joe an honorary store manager.”
“Alice Kay never had a drivers license and she could be seen walking throughout Knox doing her shopping. That’s probably what put her in such good health.”
“Husband Glen was a WKVI stockholder, and board member, and so Alice was of course a part of our radio family. We who knew her well are richer for the experience.”
