Ronald Kay

Ron was born on August 7, 1934 in Atlantic, Iowa to Elden and Mayme (Jensen) Kay. He grew up on the family farm in Marne, Iowa with his siblings, Marcella and Larry. All of the Kay children attended the one-room school house down the road and Ron told stories of sinking into the deep snow drifts on his way to school. Ron graduated as valedictorian from Atlantic (Iowa) High School in 1952. He attended Iowa State University where he was a member of the Farm House Fraternity and graduated with honors in 1956 with a degree in agricultural economics. Ron began dating his future wife, Diana Summers, while in college and they were married on July 27, 1957. Ron entered the United States Air Force and soon after their marriage, was sent to Wiesbaden, Germany for the next three years. Upon their return, they settled in Iowa where Ron became the 4th employee of Hertz Farm Management supporting his young growing family by professionally managing farms until he decided to pursue his doctorate degree at Iowa State.

After obtaining his doctorate, Ron moved the family to College Station, Texas in November 1971 where he taught farm and ranch management in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, being designated as full professor and retiring as Professor Emeritus. He wrote a textbook on farm management which is currently in its 10th edition and is still being used today. He was known as a tough but fair professor. Ron was also a long time member and supporter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He was actively engaged in farming, personally managing his own Iowa farm land after his father's death and acquiring a tract of Brazos River bottom land after he moved to Texas.

Ron and family enjoyed traveling. Ron would pack his family in the station wagon and take annual vacations around the United States. Later, he took his entire family on several amazing trips to Alaska, New Zealand, Tahiti and a Hawaiian cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. Ron and Diana especially enjoyed cruising.

After retirement, Ron honed his woodworking skills becoming a master craftsman and made some beautiful pieces of furniture and other items that are still enjoyed by his family. He also enjoyed volunteering at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum until just a few weeks before his death - putting in 7, 229 volunteer hours over 25 years.

Ron is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia K. Withrow (Kirk) of Wylie, Texas, Elizabeth K. Stephenson (Michael) and Rhonda K. Reina (Thomas) all of College Station, Texas; four grandchildren, Jeffrey M. Stephenson (Crystal) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Laura E. Stephenson of Knoxville, Tennessee, Steven K. Withrow (Angela) of Lavon, Texas, and Sarah K. Stephenson of College Station, Texas.

Ron was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Diana S. Kay, his parents, and his siblings, Marcella (Kay) Jensen and Larry Kay.

The family is honoring Ron's request that no services be held. A private burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron's memory to the Farmhouse Foundation Excellence Fund, 1021 Jefferson Street, Kansas City, MO 64105 or to the Resident Covenant Fund at The Langford Methodist Retirement Community, 1851 Carroll Fancher Way, College Station, Texas 77845.