Edna “Kay” Goines Obituary

Edna "Kay" Goines
April 12, 1922 ~ December 31, 2007

CARMEL – Kay Goines, 85, a former teacher at Carmel River Elementary School and esteemed educator and scholar of children's literature, has died. She passed away peacefully. at home, early in the morning on New Year's Eve.
   Kay was a uniquely creative teacher-artist whose insights and sensitivity enriched the lives of both children and adults around the world.
   She lived a full and remarkable life, devoted to her belief in the importance of literature. For her, poetry and books were the key to helping children "grow in knowledge, social sensitivity, and human relation skills in order to reach their full stature as human beings."
   Mrs. Goines gained renown while working as a kindergarten teacher. Colleagues called her "the Picasso of education." Parents described her as "a life force." In Learning Magazine she was heralded as "The People's Choice for Kindergarten." Children said they loved Kay Goines "Because she reads to us a lot."
   Kay received recognition, tributes and awards throughout her life. She was featured in the film, A Child's Right to Read. She was nominated for the Marcus Foster Memorial Award for her innovative use of literature to nurture a lifelong love of reading. And in her honor, with her guidance, the Bring Me A Book Foundation was established. It continues her life work: "To provide easy access to the best children's books, and to inspire reading aloud with children."
   Kay was born in Fayette County, Iowa where she was surrounded by a loving family and the seasonal rhythms of nature. She often spoke of the "hope, joy, and quest for knowledge that is childhood"; that was her childhood.
   She is survived by her loving niece, Rosalind Cusack; her sister, Barbara Temple; her brother, Dr. Robert Kamm and many cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend, Laurence "Larry" Goines.
   At her request, no services will be held. Kay often said, "My celebrations are held while I am here." And for Kay, celebrations were a daily occurrence.
   For those wishing to do so, donations may be made in her name to the donor's favorite charity.

"My hope is that my passion for the union of childrenand books will continue.... Take the ribbon and run."
-Kay Goines

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Monterey Herald from Mar. 5 to Mar. 6, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Edna “Kay” Goines

9 Entries

Nina Draper

July 22, 2017

One of my blessings was to be a student teacher in Kay's kindergarten class in the fall of 1978. She never had children of her own, but said her students were her children. I wished I could've recorded her in action, such a wealth of information. I wanted to help her write a book. She made everyday special, but holidays were magical!

Dean Leonard

October 8, 2008

I have very fond memories of Mrs. Goines from taking her Kindergarten class in '65-66 (Carmel High class of '78). My twin sister and I both had her that year. I remember the class being very fun, the birthday celebrations, reading time and more.

Tina Benedict Daily

August 5, 2008

The class of 1968 was the first class to have Mrs. Goines as their kindergarten teacher at Woods School in Carmel, California. We were
amazingly fortunate to have her as our teacher. Her room was warm and inviting, she (we) sang at the piano, she did all those auditory, visual and kinesthetic things I look for in my kndergaten teachers as their principal. Maybe she encouraged some of us to go into eduaction by her example. She was a friend of the family. She continued to work around books and literacy for most of her life.

David Paine

April 1, 2008

Kay was a wonderful friend and mentor. I took almost all of her UC Extension classes in the 1980s, hosting several at Westlake School in Santa Cruz where I taught the primary grades. I enjoyed phone calls and
visits with Kay in Carmel over the last 25 years. Things just won't seem right without her. I am glad to have many of the books and poems which she loved in my collection.

Dave Scheffer

March 10, 2008

Mrs. Goines was just wonderful. I had her in Kindergarten at Woods School in 1961-62 and still remember the great times and definitely her reading to us. She had a wonderful life and I'm lucky to have been a part of it.

Jeanne McCombs

March 6, 2008

Kay was a splendid human being with an ageless spirit. She frequently attended Monterey Public Library's Stories for Adults series, which is where I first met her. She was almost legendary as an inspiration to readers, writers, storytellers, and others who love language, literature, and the spoken word. It was a blessing to know her.

Valerie Williams Morin

March 6, 2008

Mrs Goines was my kindergarten teacher in 1961 at Carmel Woods School. I have the fondest memories of that time. My sister and I still laugh and make reference to "Benjamins Whistling" which if you were one of her students, (at least back then) you know what that means.
She got my education off to a great start and I will always remember her kindness.

Mary Fry

March 6, 2008

Kay and I first met when her late husband, Larry, worked for my Late husband, Jerry Fry, some 50 years ago. She helped guide me through raising four children and when my children were almost grown, I decided to go back to school to get my teaching credential. She also mentored me through that experience, and I even did my student teaching in her kindergarten classroom. I had taught high school 20 years before and really didn't have a clue what went on in a primary classroom much less a kindergarten! But Kay had faith in me and gave me a very good evaluation.

Watching Kay teach was like being in the presence of a Genius. Her love of children and her dedication to them was awe inspiring. I went on to have a very rewarding 25 year career in the primary grades. My students were well versed in Children's Literature thanks to the many classes I took from Kay and her mentoring. I took the ribbon and ran with it. Rest in peace dear friend.

My deepest sympathies to her family.

kathy klawans smith

March 5, 2008

Even though she’s gone - just looking at that photo of Kay makes me smile. I don't remember my own kindergarten teacher but I certainly remember Kay. I'll bet all three of my children do as well. Kay dealt with things in a completely unique way and the lessons she taught aren't forgotten.

One day my son (second child to have Mrs. Goines) asked if he could bring a friend home after school - and they wanted to walk home. He'd never walked home before but I wasn't worried. There were two of them, weren't there? But they didn't show up. Mild alarms became ear-piercing, screeching sirens. I became frantic. Not only was my own child missing – but I was going to have to explain to the other child's mother that I'd lost her son somewhere along the way. I called River School and ‘talked’ with Kay. I'm pretty sure Kay could hear the penetrating panic in my voice. She and Mrs. Green immediately got into a car and started driving around looking for them. I got into my car with my oldest daughter - age 6. I was driving along the ocean and lagoon babbling about lost boys and wondering why I’d allowed then to walk home and they probably got too close to the ocean and a big wave came and….. My age 6 daughter firmly stopped me in my tracks and said; “Don’t worry, they won’t do anything stupid. They’ll be okay. We’ll find them.” I screamed; “What do YOU know? You don’t know anything.” (Panic doesn’t elicit rationality in me.) We drove back and forth along the beach and lagoon and finally went back to wait at home. Shortly after getting back my son and his friend walked through the gate just like they’d just left school 5 minutes ago. Shortly after that – Kay and Elaine exploded – EXPLODED(!!) - through the gate to see if the boys had shown up. Kay saw them and wagged her finger in their faces and said; “Do you have ANY idea how long you’ve been gone? Any idea at all? You’ve been gone so long you missed your last birthday.”

Kay just put the whole incident in perspective and allowed us all to start breathing again. What a truly wonderful woman.

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