1939
Kay
2014
Kay Priest
January 26, 1939 — January 20, 2014
Kay gracefully passed away at home on Monday January 20th, 2014 at the age of 74. She was born on January 26, 1939 in Geneva, Alabama to the late Edith Loraine Harper and Charles Wood Matthews. She was a faithful member of Grace Episcopal Church in Ocala from 1960 to her death.
Her early years were spent in Geneva before moving to Birmingham where she graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1956. She then attended her beloved Auburn University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secretarial Sciences. While at Auburn, she was an active member of the Phi Mu Sorority and chosen Kappa Alpha Rose in 1959. Upon graduation in 1960 she married Zandy Collins and relocated to Ocala. Their first child, A.M. (Lex) Collins was born in 1961 and their second, Charles Thomas (Chuck) in 1965.
In January 1968 Kay married John Hemphill Priest of Ocala and their first child, John Porter, was born in September of that year followed by their twin daughters, Sara Corinne (Cori) and Kay Loraine (Lori) in March of 1971.
Her family set, Kay went about raising her family which also included her sister-in-law and father-in-law, joking at times for breakfast each day she prepared a “pound of bacon, a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread” which was not far from the truth. Kay was a dedicated mother and wife tending to her family with a warm and open heart.
During her life Kay enjoyed and was an accomplished ballet dancer and bridge player. The core of her bridge partners were close friends Charlene Drake, Henrietta Priest, Marion Thomas and Sally Williams and they brought a measure of mind sharpening play to an otherwise busy home life. She also enjoyed volunteer work with Grace Church and providing companionship to the elderly and sick. Of her achievements in life, Kay was most proud each of her children graduated from high school and college.
She was an avid Auburn Football fan to the end and was fond of watching her Tigers play, relishing their national championship in 2010 and their heroic play in 2013. As recently as December Kay remarked that “being an Auburn fan is just so stressful!” as she enjoyed their miracle victories over Georgia and Alabama.
Kay was predeceased by her husband John in 1987 and her parents. To fondly cherish her memory she leaves her children, Lex Collins (Debbie) of Tallahassee, Chuck Collins (Mary Anne) of Ocala, John Priest of Tampa, Cori Penuel (Tony) of Ocala and Lori Craig (Todd) also of Ocala, her brother Woody Matthews (Camille) of Tampa, nine grandchildren: Alec, Austin, Logan, Porter, Grayson, Bailey, Cash, Julia and Nate, one great-grandchild, Moseley, former daughter-in-law Leslie Mayberry Priest of Ocala and many cherished close friends.
Funeral Services for Kay will be held Friday January 24th, 2014 at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church, Ocala, Florida, The Rev. Jonathan French officiating. Burial to follow in Dunnellon Memorial Gardens, Dunnellon, Florida under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.
Those who wish may make contributions to The Michelle-O-Gram Fund 21765 SW 106th Lane-Road, Dunnellon, FL 34431 or the charity of choice of those cherishing Kay’s memory.
Her early years were spent in Geneva before moving to Birmingham where she graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1956. She then attended her beloved Auburn University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secretarial Sciences. While at Auburn, she was an active member of the Phi Mu Sorority and chosen Kappa Alpha Rose in 1959. Upon graduation in 1960 she married Zandy Collins and relocated to Ocala. Their first child, A.M. (Lex) Collins was born in 1961 and their second, Charles Thomas (Chuck) in 1965.
In January 1968 Kay married John Hemphill Priest of Ocala and their first child, John Porter, was born in September of that year followed by their twin daughters, Sara Corinne (Cori) and Kay Loraine (Lori) in March of 1971.
Her family set, Kay went about raising her family which also included her sister-in-law and father-in-law, joking at times for breakfast each day she prepared a “pound of bacon, a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread” which was not far from the truth. Kay was a dedicated mother and wife tending to her family with a warm and open heart.
During her life Kay enjoyed and was an accomplished ballet dancer and bridge player. The core of her bridge partners were close friends Charlene Drake, Henrietta Priest, Marion Thomas and Sally Williams and they brought a measure of mind sharpening play to an otherwise busy home life. She also enjoyed volunteer work with Grace Church and providing companionship to the elderly and sick. Of her achievements in life, Kay was most proud each of her children graduated from high school and college.
She was an avid Auburn Football fan to the end and was fond of watching her Tigers play, relishing their national championship in 2010 and their heroic play in 2013. As recently as December Kay remarked that “being an Auburn fan is just so stressful!” as she enjoyed their miracle victories over Georgia and Alabama.
Kay was predeceased by her husband John in 1987 and her parents. To fondly cherish her memory she leaves her children, Lex Collins (Debbie) of Tallahassee, Chuck Collins (Mary Anne) of Ocala, John Priest of Tampa, Cori Penuel (Tony) of Ocala and Lori Craig (Todd) also of Ocala, her brother Woody Matthews (Camille) of Tampa, nine grandchildren: Alec, Austin, Logan, Porter, Grayson, Bailey, Cash, Julia and Nate, one great-grandchild, Moseley, former daughter-in-law Leslie Mayberry Priest of Ocala and many cherished close friends.
Funeral Services for Kay will be held Friday January 24th, 2014 at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church, Ocala, Florida, The Rev. Jonathan French officiating. Burial to follow in Dunnellon Memorial Gardens, Dunnellon, Florida under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.
Those who wish may make contributions to The Michelle-O-Gram Fund 21765 SW 106th Lane-Road, Dunnellon, FL 34431 or the charity of choice of those cherishing Kay’s memory.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kay Priest, please visit our flower store.