Kaye Thacker

1945 - 2016

THACKER Kay Thacker With great regret we announce the passing of an Incredible Lady who meant so much to all of us. After a long and determined battle with cancer, Kay passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on February 19th. Please join us to celebrate Kay on Saturday February 27th at the Murray Nelson Government Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Mom requested that donations be made to "Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys, Inc." The following are some highlights of Mom's Life: Kay Thacker was born November 10, 1945 in Pikeville, Kentucky. She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1950, and raised her family in Greenwood, Indiana. She graduated from Arlington High School in Indianapolis in 1964. She has been coming to the Keys since 1965 and moved to Key Largo permanently in 1989. Her parents were Gene and Carolyn Damron who preceded her in death in 2000. She is survived by her husband, John Groothand, her sons, Tim Thacker, of Jacksonville, FL and Todd Thacker, of Lake Mary, FL and her daughter-in-laws Carrie Thacker and Danielle Thacker and her 7 grandchildren. Kay had a passion for Key Largo and Monroe County and was very involved in the inner workings of the local government and was a constant contributor to the editorial section of local papers. She believed it was her responsibility to tell officials the truth as she saw it and to speak on behalf of a whole lot of other caring residents. She was an avid watchdog for taxpayer's dollars, environmental issues and impacts of development in the Keys. In that capacity, she was a staunch supporter for Rowell's Marina to become part of Key Largo since 2006. She was the President of Friends of the Key Largo Cultural Center, Vice President of External Affairs of Island of Key Largo Federation of Homeowners, Inc., Secretary of Sexton Cove Property Owners Association. After earning her Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Indianapolis she became the Vice President of Sales, with Metal Honing, Inc. Upon arrival in Key Largo, she worked as a Beautician at the Ocean Reef Club and later on at the Key Largo Anglers Club. Not only, as the article in the KeysNews.com on March 13, 2011 referred to her, was she a "RAY OF SUNSHINE", but she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, a great friend to many, and a great advocate for keeping the Keys beautiful! In lieu of flowers please make donations to Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys, Inc. We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers over these last six years as Kay battled cancer.