Kay Frances Knepprath

1931 - 2023

Kay Frances Knepprath

July 10, 1931 - December 13, 2023

Sacramento, California - Community leader, activist, volunteer, rabble rouser and breaker of barriers describes Kay throughout her 92 years of life. Kay Knepprath was born July 10, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri and died peacefully December 13, 2023, in Sacramento, CA with family by her side Predeceased by husband Hubert E. "Gene" Knepprath, she is survived by children Mark (Debbie), Cecily (Grant), David, and Paul (Valeri), several nieces and nephews, nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great- great- grandchildren.

Along with raising four energetic children, Kay was an active League of Women Voters member for 60 years serving on the state board and as President of the Sacramento County League in the 1970s. She co-chaired a national housing study, which spawned her deep commitment to affordable housing. She co-founded the California Homeless Coalition (now Housing California), volunteered for Sacramento Self Help Housing, and served on the South Area Emergency Housing Center (now Next Move) Board for 30 years.

Professionally, Kay served as the first, full-time lobbyist for the California Psychiatric Association advocating for the expansion of community mental health programs and was a legislative advocate for the Homeless Coalition until her retirement.

Kay helped lead numerous issue-based campaigns, one of her favorites being around the development of Sacrament's R Street Corridor. Kay helped advance a vision for R Street that prioritized housing, retail, restaurants, entertainment, and the arts over the developer-driven thirst for building high rise office buildings. As a result of these efforts, today R Street is a vibrant and lively community.

Kay and Gene loved to travel – road trips to visit family in various places around the country, camping, and Road Scholar volunteer trips. Kay's "happy place" was the coast home north of Bodega Bay that the family built. Reading, watching birds, playing cards, and just seeking quiet time were some of Kay's favorites.

Kay will be remembered for her quick wit, friendly demeanor and positive attitude that remained until her last days. When asked how she was doing, her response was always "If you're OK, I'm OK."

In keeping with her support for scientific discovery, and like Gene before her, Kay's body was donated to be used in scientific research. A celebration of Kay's life will be held on Saturday, February 24 at 2:30 p.m. at Sierra 2 Community Center, Room 10, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, California.