8 Apr 1937 – 28 Aug 2017
Wife of William Cardon Pace
Life Sketch:
Kay Pace, 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 28, 2017, after a short stay in the Medford Oregon Hospital. Although her youthful vigor had faded over the past few years, her great love for her family deepened and spread as more great grandchildren joined the family circle and brought her extraordinary joy that she often expressed. She leaves behind her faithful husband, Bill, who was her best friend, and whom she openly adored. At a recent family gathering in June, she repeatedly stated how much she loved him and how thankful she was to have spent so many years with the man she met and married in college.
Kay was born Kay Sylvia Cowley on April 8, 1937 in Ogden, Utah to R. Adams Cowley and Marjorie Smith. She was an only child. Her father, a graduate of the University of Utah and famous heart surgeon, moved the family to Baltimore for medical school and later a career in trauma medicine. She loved returning each summer to Utah to spend time with cousins and Uncle Hal Cowley. she often spoke fondly of those memories.
When she was 18 years old, Kay was accepted at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah to study elementary education, and finished with her teaching degree. While at BYU, she found herself “the most handsome cowboy on campus”, Bill Pace, who hailed from Arizona, and who quickly found her beauty and companionship quite agreeable. They were married on May 13, 1955 and later sealed forever in the Oakland California Temple.
While Bill pursued a dental education in San Francisco, Kaye taught school to help make ends meet. She loved the school kids but really hated dropping off her daughters, Cathy and Cindie at day care. Later, she supported the move of the family to Los Angeles while Bill finished his Orthodontics degree at USC. Bill and Kaye loved to explore the country and often found themselves and their growing family in some long car rides that took them to some of beautiful locales. However, when they discovered Santa Cruz, California, they knew thay had found home. While Bill straightened teeth, Kaye was busy with the activities of her two older daughters, and created space for two rambunctious sons, Greg and Brad, to join their circle of love. They built a lovely home in Soquel that overlooked the Monterey Bay, and often entertained friends and neighbors with swimming parties and delicious barbeques. Kaye and Bill worked hard to create a heavenly environment for their children, but were interrupted in a tragic way when Brad, at 14, develope a cough that wouldn’t go away. Within a week the cough had been diagnosed as lung cancer, and withing another week Brad was gone. With astounding faith in God, Kaye pulled the family together and made sure everyone knew that Brad’s absence was only temporary and that all of her family would be together again in the great hereafter. She penned a beautiful journal of Brad’s life and shared it with many people who expressed appreciation for her insights, love, and faith.
In 1989, the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake did discouraging and severe damage to their home in Soquel. Undaunted and with the same familiar courage with which she faced most challenges, Kaye led the restoration effort to rebuild and redecorate so she could once again entertain family and friends.
In Kaye’s middle age years, she discovered an untapped talent in art and began producing beautiful oil paintings, some of which hang prominently in the homes of her children and grandchildren. Cindie especially appreciates the inspiring painting of Jesus Christ that Kaye produced remarkably soon after she developed her interest in art.
Kaye and Bill owned a water ski boat and loved to take their children and grandchildren camping and skiing. On one particular trip north, they discovered Lost Creek Lake just outside Medford, Oregon, and soon developed plans to move there. Purchasing a large parcel of property and a small home on the lake, they created their own little serene piece of heaven where they could garden, walk, and stare at the star-filled sky at night. Kaye spent the remaining years of her life in the most bucolic and happy setting she could imagine.
Kaye was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and often found herself in responsible and improtant positions serving her fellow members and providing a helping hand to community efforts. She will be missed by all those who knew her.
Kaye is survived by her husband, Bill Pace of Trail, Oregon, daughter Cathy Hunter (Marvin) of Medford, Oregon, daughter Cindie Blake (Rob) of Cedar Hills, Utah and son Greg Pace of Santa Cruz, California. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Obituary:
Kaye Pace, 80, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon, August 28, 2017, after a short illness and stay at the Medford Oregon Hospital. Although her youthful vigor had faded over the past few years, her great love for her family deepened and spread as more great-grandchildren joined the family circle and brought her extraordinary joy that she often expressed. She leaves behind her faithful husband, Bill, who was her best friend, and whom she openly adored.
Kaye was born Kaye Sylvia Cowley on April 8, 1937 in Ogden, Utah to R. Adams Cowley and Marjorie Smith. She was an only child of a saintly mother and world famous heart surgeon.
Kaye attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she met and married the love of her life, Bill Pace. Together they had four children, three living to adulthood. Their youngest son Brad passed away at age 14 after a short illness from lung cancer.
Bill and Kaye lived in San Francisco and Los Angeles as Bill attended dental school and orthodontic school, while Kaye used her elementary school education to support the family with her teaching. They made their first long term home in Santa Cruz, California. Later they moved to Trail, Oregon, where they had their own piece of heaven on earth by Lost Creek Lake, outside of Medford.
In mid-life, Kaye discovered she had a talent for art and developed a love for oil painting. And she could always be found beside Bill as they created and built many things together.
Kaye was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many responsible positions while she served her fellow church and community members. Her most significant legacy was her love for the Lord and her love for her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Kaye is survived by her husband, Bill Pace of Trail, Oregon, daughter Cathy Hunter (Marvin) of Medford, Oregon, daughter Cindie Blake (Rob) of Cedar Hills, Utah, and son Greg Pace of Santa Cruz, California. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 1, 2017 at 11:00 am in the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 11175 OR-62, Eagle Point, Oregon 97524