Kay Bartlett

Kay Axtell Bartlett a longtime Alaska resident, died on Thursday, August 29, 2013 in Houston, Texas with her husband, Peter at her side and with her children in spirit with her. She was 74.

Kay was born on August 3, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida to Lois and Reginald Axtell. She graduated from Landon High School in Jacksonville with National Scholastic Society Honors, earned a B.S. in Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and obtained advance training at Piedmont Hospital with a degree in Medical Technology, and with many close and lasting friends developed in Jacksonville and Atlanta.

She made the adventurous leap to Kodiak, Alaska in 1965 with her then husband (after a stop-off in Seattle for his Naval Training and birth of their first child, Lee R. Ellenburg III). They then moved to Anchorage in 1968, where her daughter, Susan R. Ellenburg was born.

After the end of her first marriage she met Peter Bartlett, and each became the sweetheart, joyous kindred soul, love of their life, and pal of the other. They continued to live in Anchorage, where both of her children and all of her joyous grandchildren also reside. Her love for and pleasure and pride in her children and grandchildren, daughter, Susan's Skyler Robert Shary, Tristen Burke Doyle, Klancy Ian Doyle, and Lee's Lorelei Alice Ellenburg, and Lyndsey Payne Smith and Joshua Barton Smith, was without limitation. She was a reliably kind, supportive, loving and thoughtful voice in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Kay mixed motherhood with a career and worked as a Medical Technologist in Anchorage medical offices and at the Blood Bank of Alaska, and taught a number of classes in Medical Technology at the University of Alaska.

Kay was an avid participant in golf, golf and golf and in contract duplicate bridge, bridge and bridge, with the joy and friendship of the golfing and bridge community. She gained much pleasure from gardening her peonies and her herbs, with generous donations of these to her friends and family.

Kay and Peter had a joyful relationship, with continuous time shared in sailing in many places in Alaska and around the world, fishing, golfing, adventure traveling for extended periods, and care and deep love for each other.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 40 years, Peter; her children and grandchildren; Peter's

daughter, Mari Bartlett Swanson and her husband, Craig and their children, Grace, Sally and Helen; Kay's sister-in-law, Carol Little and brother-in-law, Richard Little, their children, Kristen and Paul Vais and their children, Cameron and Laura Little and their children; Barbara Little and her children, Kay's brother-in-law James Bartlett and Terri, Kay's sister and brother-in-law, Alison and Gary Garrett, and her sister-in-law, Ellen Axtell. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Lois and Reginald Axtell and by her beloved brother, Loren R. Axtell.

A service will be held on Sunday, October 13 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2222 Tudor Road (corner of Tudor and Lake Otis), with a Celebration of Life and reception at 4:00 p.m. at Tangle Wood/Fox Hollow Chalet, 11701 Brayton Drive (parallel to New Seward Highway between O'Malley and Huffman Roads).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Kay's name to The First Tee of Alaska (a youth golf charity), P.O. 143366, Anchorage, Alaska 99514, or to University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210.