Kay Scranton

Kay Marie Scranton,88, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025 at LifeCare Center of Jacksonville, Florida. A celebration of her life will be on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00a.m. at St. John's Cathedral Cummings Chapel, 235 East Church Street, Jacksonville 32202 with interment afterwards in the memorial garden. Kay was born on August 8, 1936 in Plainview, Nebraska. She graduated from Plainview High School as class Valedictorian in 1955. Her high school album listed her ambition to be D.C.E. - Director of Christian Education. Her college and postgraduate years focused on that goal. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in theology and music in 1959 at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Kay finished her formal education with a Master of Arts from Northwestern University. Her major was Christian Education through Garrett School of Theology. She was formally certified as a D.C.E. in 1961. Ambition achieved. Those qualities of perseverance and determination emerged early. Kay's careers spanned many states and institutions. After the D.C.E. position in Wheaton, Illinois, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she worked as an editor for the Methodist Publishing House; then as office administrator for TN Council on Human Relations, Outlook Nashville, for George Peabody College, and Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She served St. Matthias Episcopal Church for 10 years as church secretary, while continuing her music career as a member of the National Guild of Organists playing piano and organ in local Nashville area churches. In 1998, Kay moved to Jacksonville to be near her close friends the Tranks and the Hintons. She rapidly expanded her church and social networks. Kay was an expert networker. She worked at Aging True (then Urban Jax) and was organist, of course through networking, at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church. In 2000 she celebrated 50 years of playing the organ. Due to worsening health problems Kay retired from full-time work in 2001. But true to her spirit of service she wrote, "That gave me more time to devote to volunteering at my church, St. John's and my Daughters of the King chapter." Kay's spirituality was revealed through her writings and meditations, through her good works, her ready laugh, her many stories, and sharing what she had with others including her wonderful oyster stew on New Years Day. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Charles L. Scranton and Wilma Belle Michener Scranton, by grandparents Frank and Lunetta Scranton, Leroy P. and Beulah Michener Jensen, an infant sister Chloe Belle Scranton and her godson Bill McGrath. Between her parents' siblings Kay had 19 first cousins. She anticipated the yearly Scranton Reunion in Plainview. Thanks to her cousin Mary Lou Erxleben, Kay joyfully participated by video conferencing in her last years. Thanks also to social services director Jane Sneed, the nursing staff, and the CNAs at LifeCare of Jax for their care of Kay during the past three years. Although Kay was an only child and lived far from her roots her legacy will live on through stories and memories shared by her Nebraska family, her church family, her treasured goddaughter, Marian McGrath Ramsey, her trifecta support team Jane Sander, Teresa Barton, and Judy Hinton, and so many, many others. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully appreciated per Kay's wishes to St. John's Cathedral MUSIC DEPT. or Daughters of the King. Church office telephone 904-356-5507