Kathleen “Kay” Mae (Dillane) Marcuson was born May 28, 1926, in Viking,
Alberta, Canada, the third child of four to William Perry and Ada
Harriet (Gurney) Dillane. She passed away December 9, 2021, at the Good
Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Kansas at the age of 95.
When she was two, Kay’s family moved to Chula Vista, California,
where she grew up. She graduated from Sweetwater High School in National
City, CA in 1944. On November 29, 1945, Kay wed Gail Marcuson, who she
met at a USO dance hosted by her parents, while he was stationed at the
San Diego Naval Base. After they were married, Kay and Gail moved to his
home in Decatur County, Kansas where they farmed and raised their
family and enjoyed nearly 69 years of marriage. Gail passed away on
November 27, 2014.
Kay loved people and the door to her home was always open with
homemade baked goods, a hug, and a laugh at the ready. An avid
needlework artist, Kay shared her angels, dolls, and other beautiful
creations with all who knew her. She was known for her sharp wit and
keen sense of humor, and she looked forward to reading the comics every
morning, often sharing her “funny pages” clippings with her loved ones.
Kay adored her family and was the best grandma ever, not only to her
beloved grand and great-grandchildren, but also to their friends. Kay
was raised as an Episcopalian and was a member of Lund Covenant Church.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Ada; husband,
Gail; siblings Ruth, Joyce, and Allan; father-in-law, Albert and
mothers-in-law, Ruby and Myrtle. She is survived by her children, Diane
(Chuck), Julie (Mark), Rick (Sally), and Bradley (Elaine);
grandchildren, Natalie (Toby), Chip (Angela), Jessica (fiancé Joe),
Brandon (Katie), Mollie (Nicolas), Grady, Leslie (Ryan), Sarah (Chris),
and Jared (Katy); great-grandchildren, Harriet, Sebastian, Elizabeth
Rose, Elizabeth Lorraine, Graham, Adler, and Ogden; special friends
Tammi Fredrickson, Sunnie Jo and Cody Minum, and Jessica Fredrickson;
and many nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will be held at Lund Covenant
Cemetery in rural Dresden, KS on December 18. Visitation will be from
1:00-7:00 pm on Friday, December 17, at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin,
KS. The family will greet guests from 5:00-7:00 pm. A Celebration of
Life will be held on Kay’s birthday, May 28, 2022, time and location to
be determined. Memorial contributions may be made to GROW Decatur County
Foundation or Miriam’s Hope and sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121
N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749. Condolences may be left at
www.paulsfh.com.