Tay Eugene Kersey

On August 1, 2023, at the age of 89, Tay Eugene Kersey passed away in his home in New Brighton, MN after a months-long battle with bladder cancer. His wife of 70 years, Donna, and his daughter Cheryl were by his side at the time of his death.

Tay was born on April 21, 1934, to Mahlon “Tay” Kersey and Virginia Florence Weiser. He grew up in Minneapolis, MN with his siblings Pat, John, Walter and David.

Along with his siblings, Tay was an active member of the Grand Avenue Alliance Church in South Minneapolis where he was taught the Bible and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He held a variety of jobs in his youth, from delivering papers to working in a butcher shop, until the age of 18 when he landed a job at Dayton’s restaurant in Minneapolis. It was there that he met Donna, his future wife and the love of his life.

Tay and Donna eloped on May 9, 1953 at the ages of 18 and 17, and gave birth to a baby girl Diane in 1954. The same year, Tay was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a clerk during the Korean War. He was fortunate enough to never see combat.

Tay received an early discharge so that he and Donna could pursue an education at Saint Paul Bible College where they studied foreign missions together. During their time in school, they gave birth to a daughter Cheryl (1958) and a son Kent (1959). Following Tay’s graduation in 1961 they began fundraising for their mission trip to the Philippines, where he faithfully served the Lord alongside his wife Donna for nine years.

With three young children in tow, Tay and Donna relocated to Manila in 1963. While moving between islands for nearly a decade they learned to live like locals, including speaking Tagalog fluently. During this time, they gave birth to their two youngest children --- a son Daniel (1964) and a daughter Loralee (1966).

The Kersey family moved back to the United States in 1973, residing in New Brighton, MN where Tay worked as a property manager for three years. From 1976-1978, Tay was called to ministry again, this time for a rural church in Disputanta, Virginia.

Following their time in Virginia, Tay moved the family back to Minnesota where they purchased their home on Eastwood Road in Mounds View.

Over the next twenty years, Tay held various jobs, including continued work as a property manager, a night auditor for the Sheraton hotel, the treasurer of the CCCC organization and a brief but fulfilling business venture in the floral industry.

Simultaneously, Tay ran a successful income tax preparation business, putting his charisma and mathematical proficiency to good use. He eventually passed along his knowledge to his daughter Diane and son Kent who have taken over the business since his retirement.

Tay and his wife Donna were enthusiastic travel buffs, enjoying vacations together and with their family. Some of their most noteworthy adventures included international trips to China, England and France, though they also enjoyed road-tripping throughout the United States to Branson, Alaska, many National Parks, and numerous CCCC conferences with their grandkids.

When not working or traveling, Tay loved games, whether it was baseball (or any ball game, for that matter), card games with Donna, an expert-level Sudoku, chess, or any television game show. He also loved fishing, wrenching on cars and helping with any handiwork that needed doing around the house. Tay was a gifted orator and was known for his powerful speeches at weddings (which he also officiated for many of his children and grandchildren), birthdays, family reunions, or simply at a Sunday dinner before the latest football game started.

Tay was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and—as the patriarch of his Kersey clan—supported his family fiercely and dutifully. Though respected for his wisdom, patience, and service to the Lord, he also had a great sense of humor and loved to tell stories, often with a twinkle of playfulness in his eye.

Tay is survived by his wife Donna Kersey, children Diane (Michael) Parlin, Cheryl (Donald) Marshall, Kent (Mayka) Kersey, Daniel (Maggie) Kersey and Loralee (Daniel) Berle; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mahlon “Tay” and Virginia Kersey, sister Pat Arvan, brothers Walter Kersey, John Kersey and David Kersey.

Please join us in remembering and celebrating his full and blessed life; he will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

A Celebration of Life for Tay will be held on 8/25/23 at 10:00 AM at the Sunset Funeral Home & Cemetery, 2250 St Anthony Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55418.