Kaye was born Karolyn Kaye Cottrell on October 12, 1943 in Diagonal, Iowa, the daughter of Cecil and Mary (Brown) Cottrell. She was a 1961 graduate of Rockford East High School in Rockford, IL and went on to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree from Cardinal Stritch University in the 1980s. Kaye married William E. Tucker on October 10, 1998 in Stillwater, MN, and spent much of her life as a resident of Eau Claire, WI. She was employed as a business manager at NSP (Northern States Power Company) for many years and later retired from the City of Bloomington, MN. Kaye took pride in her employees and was regarded as an excellent and compassionate manager. During her retirement years, she and her husband wintered in Cape Coral, FL.
She also had numerous hobbies and a very adventurous spirit. Kaye loved sewing, embroidering and quilting, and owned an embroidery business for several years. She also enjoyed downhill skiing, roller skating, roller blading and boating, and even lived on her boat for a period of time. Kaye appreciated nature and spent time birdwatching, observing wildlife and feeding the birds and squirrels around her home. Additionally, she was an accomplished pilot, and her pursuits culminated in her attaining a commercial pilot’s license later in life. Kaye was a member of Women in Aviation and The 99’s (International Organization of Women Pilots), and was an avid advocate for females in aviation. Most of all, Kaye adored spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Kaye was a kind and light-hearted soul and is loved and missed by her husband, William; children, Kristine (Patrick) Smetana, Richard (Tasha) Yetter, Andrew (Michelle) Tucker and Kristy Tucker; grandchildren, Elissa and Addilyn Smetana and Kelsey and Jake Yetter; siblings, Marla Harned, Shirley Carlson, Gary Dean (Marla) Cottrell; sister-in-law, Sharon Cottrell; numerous nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Larry Cottrell; brothers-in-law Terry Harned and David Carlson.
A memorial gathering for Kaye will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd., Machesney Park, IL 61115. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to GIFT Academy, Inc. (Girls in Flight Training), www.girlsinflight.org or Angel Flights www.angelflightse.org. To share a condolence, please visit www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com.
