Patricia "Kay" Ann Levitt

Patricia Ann ("Kay") Levitt, 83, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019, after a short hard-fought battle with lung cancer. She was born in Manhattan, KS on August 7, 1935, to Frank & Kathryn Santo. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1953, she decided to go to cosmetology school. Patricia became a skilled and well-known cosmetologist. Recognizing her talent, her father agreed to go into business with her, and they opened K-Santo's Beauty Salon, which ultimately grew into the Villa Santo business park housing the salon, as well as residential apartments and commercial retail space. People often ask how Pat got the nickname "Kay" - it's because she worked at a salon with several "Pats" - so she used her mom's nickname to avoid confusion and it stuck.

Kay was the original "runaway bride." She was glamorous, vivacious, intelligent and a whole lot of fun - so naturally she had many suitors. She accepted many proposals, ultimately breaking them off and leaving her mother to return the rings. Fate intervened in 1961 when she was set up on a blind date with a salesman from Detroit. Kay heard that he was a "lady's man" so she stood him up several times. Allen Levitt was not used to being stood up so one day he showed up at her salon and introduced himself by saying "My name is Allen Levitt - and I wanted to see what the big [expletive] deal is." He proposed to her that night and five months later they were married. Kay and Allen built a house in West Des Moines where they raised two children.

Kay made the house a home by filling it with love and laughter over the years. Circa 1964, Kay converted to Judaism and had the opportunity to serve as a board member, a board president and a Sunday school principal at the Temple B'nai Jeshurun. In 1980 she was certified by the Library of Congress as a Braille transcriber and was a member of the National Braille Association. She used this skill to transcribe textbooks for high-school students. In addition to being beautiful and smart, Kay was sassy, elegant, irreverent, witty, charming, stoic and generous. Her sense of humor was legendary as was her mastery of scrabble and crossword puzzles. She enjoyed cooking, reading, knitting, traveling and time with family and friends. Kay had a good life, yet she endured many tragedies; where others may have been broken, Kay persevered.

Kay is survived by a daughter, Laura Wenck (Tom); aunt, Rosalie Wilson; grandchildren, Danielle Budnar (Ron), Nicole Levitt, Paul Levitt, Sarah Adams (Sean), Shannon Gunty (Ben); two great-grandchildren and many friends that will miss her greatly. Kay was predeceased by her husband, parents, son, Neil Levitt, and granddaughter, Andrea Levitt.

Kay's family would like to give a special note of thanks to the staff at Deerfield Health Center, especially Valerie, her favorite nurse.

The family will be holding a private graveside service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Temple B'nai Jeshurun.

Maya Angelou said, "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Kay made people laugh - she made them feel happy, and that is how she will be remembered