Dorothy Dottie Louise Adkins Kay

Dorothy Louise (Adkins) Kay passed away peacefully at her home in Garden Grove, California surrounded by family and friends on March 10th 2013, just 2 months shy of her 100th birthday. Dottie as her friends liked to call her, was born in Charleston, Illinois on May 5, 1913. She attended high school and college in Illinois, and her DAR records indicate direct family ties dating back to 1734. In her family of six siblings, she outlived everyone. She grew up on a farm in Charleston and learned the art of dressmaking from her Grandmother at an early age. She was a gifted and prolific seamstress making clothes that were appreciated by everyone. Late in life she made intricate and exotic gowns for the Ladies Oriental Shrine most appreciated for their quality and style.

She always said that the best thing that happened to her was meeting her husband Edmond Kay (Sr), whom she married in 1956. Ed had two children by a previous marriage, Ed (Jr) age 10 and Karen, age 8 who she took under her wing. The kids were a handful as they had just lost their mother to cancer. Dottie stayed home with the children after she married and did an incredible job raising the family.

Dorothy’s leadership skills were legendary. She was a member of Khaba Court Number 40, Los Angeles, California (Ladies Oriental Shrine), and became High Priestess in 1974 to 1975. She became a member of El Tanya Court Number 61, Long Beach, California, in 1998. She was a charter member of a social club known as Royal Order of Jesterettes. Over the years she belonged to many Shrine social clubs, and was also active with the submarine vets and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dot and her husband Ed (a submariner) unselfishly opened their home to many groups for fund raisers over the years and the Submarine Veterans of WWII was one of the beneficiaries of their hospitality as significant monies were raised for the Submarine Memorial in Seal Beach.

Dot is survived on the west coast by son Edmond Kay, Jr MD & family of Seattle, daughter Karen Kay of Garden Grove, and nephews - David MacLean (Lily) of Chino Hills, CA and Cameron (Roberta) MacLean of Yorba Linda, CA. Many other family members still reside in Illinois, the ancestral Adkins family home.

Her generosity and spirit and the love she gave her family will always be fondly remembered. A Celebration of Life and Memorial Services are being planned for May 5th, 2013 at 1:00 PM, at the Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA (714) 537-1038.