Kay M. Debard

With what would seem to be such a long road to travel, the journey of Kay DeBard was tragically cut short. She was a vibrant and fun-loving woman whose greatest delight was found in her son. Life was not without trials for Kay, but she made the best of whatever life brought her and in doing so, exhibited a graceful strength that is to be admired. After meeting her for just a brief moment, it was easy to see that her heart was as limitless as the sky and that she was the sort of person who could brighten up even the darkest of days. Life will never be the same without Kay here, but her memory will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched. When we reflect on the sixties, we remember things such as Barbie dolls, slot cars, and go go boots, but we also remember more serious events that forever shaped our nation such as the assignations of President Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King and Alan Shepards history making walk on the moon. Amidst this colorful decade there was much to celebrate in one young family from Muskegon, Michigan, since they were overjoyed with the birth of a healthy baby girl on July 19, 1968. Kay Marie was welcomed into the arms of her loving parents, Robert and Phyllis (Saunders) DeBard, and was the youngest of three children in her family including her brothers, Mark and Tim. Her father was a dental technician while her mother was a homemaker. Kay attended Fruitport Edgewood Elementary School and was a busy young girl. She was a baton twirler who performed in parades and recitals, and she was an excellent reader. Kay also took dance lessons at Dianes School of Dance in Fruitport. She had a heart for animals including her Dalmatian, Measles, and her longtime devoted canine companion, Taco. She also raised a chicken from just a small chick, and each day she collected her chickens one brown egg. When she reached high school it was clear to see that Kay didnt intend to slow down at all. She was a member of the Upstagers in school, a group that performed plays. She additionally worked in restaurants and womens clothing stores in order to earn some extra spending money as a high school student. After graduating from Fruitport High School in 1986, Kay was ready for all that life had in store. She attended Baker College, Muskegon Community College, and later graduated from Grand Valley State University. Throughout her years in the workforce Kay enjoyed her work at Charlie Marlins Restaurant the best. Life was forever changed for Kay when she met the man of her dreams. His name was Royce Slater and they met in 1998. A whirlwind romance ensued and the couple married on March 6, 1999, deeply in love. The newlyweds settled into married life in a home in Fruitport and had four cats that Kay adored, and she also enjoyed frequent trips to Chicago. Kay experienced firsthand that life is full of both great joys and deep sorrows. The year 2004 was a rollercoaster of a year for Kay as her brother was paralyzed from the neck down following a diving accident in July, but in October of that same year she was elated to become a mother to her son, Wyatt. She adored her son and fully immersed herself into caring for his needs. From the time he was born Wyatt was the center of Kays world, and she was involved in his life in a variety of ways. When Wyatt was only a young boy, Kay and her son were dealt a devastating blow with the unexpected death of Kays husband in 2007. This really shook her and rather than raising her son on her own, Kay chose to move in with her parents. She continued putting one foot in front of the other as best she could while still finding joy in her son. Together they enjoyed frequent visits to the park and going out to eat. When he was old enough to go to school, Kay took Wyatt both to and from school each day and was a regular volunteer at his school in a variety of ways. Not only was her son of the greatest importance to Kay, but so was spending time with all of her family. Traditions were always welcome guests in Kays family and times that created precious memories, too. On the eve of both Thanksgiving and Christmas the family gathered at Kays parents home for shrimp and a tradition they called pickin' the bread in which they would get the dressing ready for the turkey. Although much of Kays time was wrapped up in her family, there were other things she enjoyed as well. She treasured fun-filled trips to both Puerto Rico and Aruba, and shopping was something she also enjoyed. Those who knew Kay were well aware of her deep love for the 1996 Pontiac Firebird she purchased new and planned on never selling. She also loved her fur coat and her waterbed. Kay tried to catch her favorite soap operas as often as she could, and she never took for granted the beauty of a full moon, a clear sky full of stars, or a brightly shining planet. In everything she did Kay DeBard was a woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was compassionate, generous, and full of love. She was willing to work hard no matter the cost and wholeheartedly embraced whatever task was at hand. Family was always Kays greatest blessing, and she viewed her son as a priceless gift. Kay will be deeply missed, but all who knew her will be forever grateful for having been touched by such a remarkable woman. Kay M. DeBard died Sunday, April 17, 2011. Kays family includes her son, Wyatt; stepchildren, Royce Slater of Grand Rapids & Audrey (Chris) Townes of Kalamazoo; 2 step-grandchildren; parents, Bob (Phyllis) DeBard of Fruitport; brothers, Mark DeBard of Fruitport, Timothy DeBard of Byron Center; aunt, Margaret (Bob) Hulka of Muskegon; uncle, John (Donna) DeBard of FL. Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Royce. Services will be held on Friday, April 22, 2011, 4:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel - Fruitport with Pastor Donald Wood officiating. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial donation to the Wyatt DeBard Education Fund.