Kay Anderson Washington, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, June 22, 2014. She knew, lived, and witnessed to His grace and mercy. She felt strongly called to lend a friendly ear, encouragement, and kindness to everyone who crossed her path in life.
Kay was born to Aulsey Anderson and Minnie Bell Sutherland Anderson in Floresville, Texas in 1933. Hard of hearing from infancy, she learned to read lips, and became an accomplished musician. She also excelled academically and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she met James Washington and began a sixty-year adventure of married life in 1954. In 1957 they moved to Pasadena, Texas and put down deep roots. They raised three children and served faithfully in Pasadena Boulevard United Methodist Church. In addition to her full-time job as wife and mother, she found time to continue her love of music. She was church organist and pianist for many years, and taught private piano lessons in her home. She supported her children’s education passionately, enforcing requirements for homework, and teaching research and writing skills at home when she thought classroom instruction fell short. When they began to develop their own musical skills, she volunteered as an accompanist for students in band, choir, and orchestra, and coached young musicians to success in competitive solo work for many years.
Kay’s life was touched with sorrow as she nursed her father through his old age, then a son through his losing battle with cancer in 1995. She had always struggled with health issues of her own as well, and these began to consume more of her strength and time as the years passed. Stiffened by arthritis, she retired from her organist position in 2000, much loved and appreciated by her congregation. Kay and James moved to San Antonio in 2008. Her declining health altered many plans they had made for retirement, but they joined St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church and forged many new friendships to add to the old ones they cherished. She came to the rescue of a granddaughter in a vocal solo competition in 2011, serving as substitute accompanist from her wheelchair after the scheduled accompanist backed out. James cared for her faithfully until her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Lois Townes McDaniel and Laura Roell, and her son Lyle Washington. She is survived by her husband James Washington, her daughter Sherryl Walsh and husband Drew of San Antonio with their children Ian, Erin, and Mackenzie, and by son Glenn Washington and wife Tonia of Friendswood with their children Logan, Nicholas, and Kirsten.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 9:00 A.M. followed by the funeral service at 10:00 A.M. at Grandview Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Highway in Pasadena, Texas. The interment will follow privately in Grandview Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held in San Antonio at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church at 11 AM on Monday June 30th.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Agape Ministries of San Antonio or a charity of choice.
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