Theora ARGUINCHONA

1938 - 2024

July 30, 1938 - April 24, 2024

Spokane - Theora "Kay" Arguinchona passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024, at age 85, surrounded by her family in Spokane, Washington.

Kay devoted her life to marriage, family, and music. She was born the youngest of five children on July 30, 1938, in Boise, Idaho, to Ella Mae and Theodore Schubert. She married Dr. Henry "Hank" Arguinchona on August 22, 1959, and their devoted marriage lasted nearly 60 years before Hank preceded her in death on May 17, 2020. Kay is survived by her close-knit family of five children, Maria, Henry, Anne, Pat, and Paul, and their spouses; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren to date.

Kay's love of music blossomed early in life, the Boise community calling her "little blue eyes" as she sang and played piano at local events from a young age. She grew as a musician, studying piano throughout high school, eventually earning a music scholarship to Whitman College, where she studied for two years before leaving to marry and start a family in Spokane. Kay returned to her college education while raising her school-aged children, who will forever remember waking to the dramatic sounds of Beethoven and Bartok resounding from her grand piano in the living room as she practiced each morning at 5:30 am before starting her busy day as the mother of five. We and our dad were very proud of our extraordinary mother when she graduated with a degree in Piano Performance from Fort Wright College in April of 1974.

Many will know Kay as a dedicated music teacher, instructing numerous private students, teaching music classes at the local elementary school after funding was cut, and inspiring young children with music in liturgy classes at church. One of her greatest joys was creating musicians from among her children and grandchildren, an enduring gift for which we are all immensely grateful. Many others in Spokane will know Kay as a consummate classical pianist who performed as a soloist in addition to accompanying superb instrumental and vocal musicians. She was generous with her talent, also lending it to contemporary bands, ballet studios, opera rehearsals, and friends for special events. She touched hundreds of lives with her grace and her gift.

Although Kay was a wonderfully accomplished musician, the preeminent music of her life was the music of family. We will miss our beautiful mother, and beloved grandmother dearly.

Kay was celebrated in a private family graveside service on May 7th. In honor of her, donations recognizing her love of music can be made to Spokane Symphony Education Programs via website at https://foxtheaterspokane.org/education or by contacting their Development Department at 509-464-7075.