Kathleen “Kay” Reynolds was born September 25, 1929 in Lincolnton, North Carolina as the fifth of sixteen brothers and sisters. She grew up working on the family farm. Kay quit school in the 11th grade to work on the farm full-time.
Kay married Ray Reynolds in 1952. They were married for forty-five years until his death in 1998. They had two children, James Ricky and Faye, before moving to Monterey, California in 1956. Kay, her husband and their children made the trip to Monterey on a Greyhound bus. She gave birth to their third child, Larry “Buddy”, in 1957.
Kay worked in several restaurants in Monterey and retired from the Poppy in 1989.
Kay loved to garden and her flowers loved her too. The love and attention she showed extended far beyond her garden. She was a kind-hearted woman who always greeted strangers and loved spoiling babies and children. Kay always helped others and believed deeply in charity. Kay never drove a car. She walked everywhere she needed to go.
In 1983, Kay welcomed her first grandson, Justin. In 1986, her granddaughter, Ashlee was born followed by a third grandchild, Norman, in 1990. In 2014, she welcomed her great-granddaughter, Audrey. Kay was always so proud of her family. She cared for them and loved them with all her heart.
Kay lived her life simply with a huge emphasis on unconditional love.