Kay Garton

Born in Zion, Illinois on April 24, 1940, Kay was the second of five children. She spent her childhood in Zion and ultimately graduated from Zion-Benton High School in 1958. On June 20, 1959, she married Jim Garton, and the two made their home in Fort Collins, Colorado until 1983 when they moved to Jupiter, Florida. Following a career in banking and trust administration, a career that she dearly loved, Kay retired in 2002 from Northern Bank and Trust as an Assistant Vice President Trust Officer.

Cherished by many and loved by all, Kay’s pleasant nature punctuated her petite stature. Her love of family and food was clearly apparent --especially at Thanksgiving, Kay’s favorite holiday. Setting out china, preparing her famous Australian apple pie, and perfectly mashing potatoes was her annual ritual. Scores of recipes, cookbooks, and foodie magazines lined her shelves. Many an afternoon found her carefully preparing a new dish for dinner “Measure everything and follow the recipe,” she would advise with smiling eyes. If not cooking, Kay was reading all the latest novels, often two or three at a time, all a variety of genres. Never one to grow old, Kay embraced all the next generation Apple devices. Her iPhone and iPad found their home next to her, and “I have an app for that,” was offered with that same friendly smile and little chuckle to anyone who inquired. Kay’s calm, graceful presence gave way to a wealth of spirit, and her unconditional generosity was reveled by all those who were warmed in her embrace.

The apps on Kay’s phone paled in comparison to the photographs she captured and saved. Sharing pictures of “Jim and Kay’s Excellent Adventures” to such places as Cade’s Cove, St. Simons, or the Biltmore were always narrated by the route taken, food eaten, and riches discovered. Photos of her family, though, were the lion’s share of the gigabytes. Delighting in her three grandchildren, Kay never forgot a birthday, graduation, Valentine’s Day or even the 4th of July—all of which were celebrated with cards, cuisine, warm hugs and usually captured with immortal prints.

The memory of Kay will be treasured by those she loved the most: her husband of 54 years, Jim; son, Scott and his wife, Sharon, and their daughter, Devyn; and Kay’s daughter, Robin, and her husband, Tim Grenz, and their children, Jamie and Dillon. In addition to her immediate family, Kay is survived by her sister, Karen Pankow and brother, Cliff Johnson.

Please join the family in celebrating the blessing of Kay’s life on Tuesday, May 7th from 12-2 PM at Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, Florida. Burial will be private.