William Ray ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS, William Ray 2/9/1924 - 4/16/2016 ST. LOUIS, Kathyleen Margaret (Kiernan) 5/23/1923 - 10/5/2011 Kathyleen Margaret (Kiernan) St. Louis was born on May 23, 1923. She grew up in Sheboygan, WI., with her parents Ambrose and Bernice Kiernan, and her sisters, Mary Ann (Lou), Betty (Don) and Pat (Tom). After graduating high school, she became a nurse's aide in the Red Cross, and was stationed in Texas. William Ray St. Louis was born on February 9, 1924. He grew up in in Kansas City, MO with his parents John and Verna, and his brothers, John (Margaret), Charlie (Ann), Bob (Shirley), and Don. Graduating early from high school, he had his parents sign a waiver so that he could go into the Army during World War II, where he rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant. Bill was injured badly while training to become a pilot, and was hospitalized for over a year, where Kathyleen became his nurse. Upon his discharge from the hospital, they married on June 8, 1945, and celebrated 66 years together. Bill and Kathyleen owned a jewelry store in Kansas City, then moved to Tucson in 1967, where Bill was an owner of an insurance company and later a clothing store, before he found great success as an owner of a tutoring center, the Reading Clinic, which became Learning Plus. Kathyleen went back to work after raising their son, and became the head of the fine jewelry department for Goldwater's department store. Bill and Kathyleen have always given back to the community, and were fixtures at the Uptown Optimist Club, Bill having been a member of the Optimist Club for over 65 years. They were also fixtures at events for the Pima Foundation for Youth, where Bill served on the Board of Directors for many years. Although not expected to be able to have children after being injured, they had one son, Joseph (Tania) 17 years after they married. They always put family above everything but their deep and abiding Faith as Catholics, and accepted Tania as a daughter. They spent their golden years in their favorite role, that of full time grandparents to Matthew and Jack, who they adored above all else. Kathyleen went to her reward on October 5, 2011, and Bill joined her on April 16, 2016. They are survived by their son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, their niece, Mary Joyce (Les) McMullen, and too many other loving relatives to name. Donations in their name are requested to be made either to the Tucson Uptown Optimist Club or the Pima Foundation for Youth. Arrangements by DESERT ROSE HEATHER.