Kathy Myers

Kathryn Long Myers was born April 25, 1956, in Springfield, Ohio to Robert and Ellie Long. She graduated from Springfield North High School in 1974, and received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Michigan in 1978.

Kathy had a business career marked by many successes. She was enthusiastic about developing people and teams. After college, she began as a store manager in the Waldenbooks chain in Ann Arbor, moving her way through various regional and national management roles at Waldenbooks and Borders before becoming President of Borders Group Stores. Following her time at Borders, Kathy applied her business leadership as Chief Operating Officer of Learning Care Group to lead a successful corporate turnaround of a company that specialized in early learning and child care. When Kathy was ready to step back from the big corporate world, she continued to apply her business skills toward projects that she loved. She purchased the Bellanina Day Spa in Ann Arbor to put her business skills and values to work in owning and operating a small business. Kathy became a certified SCORE Mentor, providing expert advice to small business owners.

Kathy’s interests were centered around her family, neighbors, and community. She adored her daughter Katy, and she felt so blessed that Katy and Jeff were building a wonderful life together. She was devoted to being “Oma” to her grandchildren, who brought her endless delight. Nieces and nephews enjoyed the special attention that Aunt Kathy gave them. Kathy treasured her time at the family lake house in the Traverse City region, hosting friends and relatives on the water and around the table. The summer trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware was Kathy’s annual celebration of sunny days at the beach sitting in her beach chair next to Dale, enjoying jigsaw puzzles and visits on the screened porch, and exploring restaurants. Kathy was an enthusiastic cook, always eager to try new recipes and perfect them with her own touch, creating memorable meals, parties, and family gatherings. A long-time Ann Arbor resident, she was an avid supporter of University of Michigan athletic teams. Kathy was devoted to her neighborhood book group, a group of friends journeying into the imagination of authors on a wide variety of topics.

Kathy was proud of her Finnish heritage. Kathy’s relatives and other fellow Finns recall fondly the “Finnfests” she hosted at the lake house. She loved using and displaying household items that expressed the lives of her ancestors, and a sense of the place where they lived.

Kathy was predeceased by her parents, Robert Oscar Long and Elma Kalliomaa Long. She is survived by her husband Dale Myers, daughter Katy Holden, son-in-law Jeff Holden, granddaughter Henley Holden, grandson Ryan Holden, brother Erik Long and sister Laura Long Reiter.

A memorial service will be held on May 6, 2023 in Traverse City, MI at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM. Those wishing to honor Kathy’s life and interests can make contributions in her memory to the Michigan Humane Society, the League of Women Voters, and the Democratic National Committee.