Kathleen "Kay" Vance

VANCE, Kathleen ''Kay''


Passed away on Oct. 3, 2007 in Sacramento at the age of 92. Kathleen was born Jan. 23, 1915, in LeQuire, Oklahoma to Eugene Adrian Kaylor and Wilma Gertrude (Spears) Kaylor. Her father owned an ice cream parlor, and later worked for the Oklahoma Pipeline Company as a telegraph operator.
Every Saturday, for four years, she rode the train to take ''classical'' piano lessons. One Saturday, she heard a Benny Goodman song and was hooked on Big Band and Boogie Woogie. She would never play classical music again! She did, however, provide all the piano accompaniments for the local Baptist Church and school productions.
During the depression, the family moved to a 160 acre cotton farm in Arkansas, where Kathleen graduated from Charleston High School, then joined the National Youth Administration. From 1940 to 1942 she was married to Louis Hudson, and had her first daughter, Phyllis.
In January, 1944, she married Robert (Bob) Vance, a good-looking soldier she met while she worked at the Fort Chaffee Army Post Exchange. While he fought in General Patton's Army in Europe, Kay had another daughter, Sharlene.
His safe return in 1945 was celebrated, and in 1946, they moved to North Columbia, California, where they opened a small grocery, bar, and gas station with his war bonds and her savings, calling it, ''BOB & KAY'S.'' Kay ran the store most of the time while Bob worked his gold claims. Later they bought a sawmill partnership called Spring Creek Lumber. Throughout the 1950s, Kay played piano in various combo bands. She played at Peterson's Corner, the Gold Nugget Inn, and other venues. In 1953 she had her third daughter, Linda.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Kay and Bob lived in Oregon. After 19 years in Oregon, they returned to Grass Valley to retire. In 1990, Bob passed away.
Kay loved music and her family. She was the glue and the family matriarch. She had a way of making everyone feel loved. She had a keen sense of humor, and a wisdom all her own.
She is survived by her daughters Phyllis Hess, Sharlene Jackson, and Linda Bennett; and her four siblings, Adrian Kaylor, Jack Kaylor, Wilma Culberson, and Louise Reynolds; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13th, 10:00 AM (Visitation Friday, Oct. 12th, 10 AM-7 PM) at Hooper & Weaver Mortuary, 459 Hollow Way, Nevada City, CA.