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Kay W. Fishback
06/22/1920 — 07/18/2005
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Casper, Wyoming
Kay W. Fishback
Kay Fishback, a long time Richland resident, died July 18, 2005, at the Hospice House in Kennewick. She was 85 years old.
Kay was born in Casper, Wyoming, on June 22, 1920, to Archie and Nellie Weir. She moved to Richland with her parents, brother Gordon and sisters Jean and Mary in 1935. They had a farm in north Richland, near the current Safeway, where they raised grapes, cherries and asparagus.
It was in Richland where she met the love of her life Lester Fishback. They were married in Coeur dAlene, Idaho in January 2, 1942. While Les was away during World War II, Kay and her son lived with her parents. In 1943, the government took away their farm and livelihood by eminent domain to begin building the Manhattan Project.
Kay and Les were happily dedicated to each other for sixty-three years. This marriage produced two sons, Alan and Roger.
Kay was very active in local politics, and she served as precinct chair for many years. During this time, she met many presidents and was invited to several presidential inaugurations. She was also dedicated to many charities with special interest to the Kadlec Auxiliary. She served as president of the Auxiliary and volunteered over 8000 hours at Kadlec Medical Center. Her contributions to this community such as volunteering at Central United Protestant Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the American Cancer Society earned her the honor of Tri-City Woman of the Year in 1963.
Kay was an amazing cook and loved to entertain. Cinnamon rolls were her specialty. If her husband or one of her sons were in the hospital, she would always bring the nurses some of her home-baked goods.
She enjoyed her grandchildren. She held cookie baking sessions with the younger children, where she would bake five or six different types of cookies, and teach the children how to count out a certain number of each type to send home with them. She especially enjoyed it when they asked if they could spend the night.
Kay was an avid reader. Growing up during the depression, her family didnt have much money, but they did have a houseful of books.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Nellie Weir, and by a very beloved granddaughter, Dana Fishback. She is survived by her loving husband Lester Fishback; brother Gordon Weir; sisters Jean Weir and Mary Weir; sons Alan and Lonna Fishback and Roger and Sandy Fishback; grandchildren Jamie and Kathy Fishback Tyler; Alyssa and Johnathon Kupka; James and Kris Garland Jamie; Brett and Wendy Garland Tyler, Casey, Travis, Carly, Cody and Carson; Kerry and Mike Ripplinger Meghan; Traci and Scott Swent Tascha and Max; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Central United Protestant Church on July 23, 2005 at 11:00 AM. Those wishing to honor Kays memory may donate to the Tri-Cites Chaplaincy Hospice House or to the charity of their choice.
Carma’s relationship with Kay goes back to her time as a volunteer in the Richland City Clerk’s office during election time. This is when the Clerk’s office was a polling station, maintained registration records, and took lots of voter registration.
Kay would share her employment with the Gallup Poll Corporation and other survey companies. She was always the “point person” either leading a team or going to the “back country” to cover rural citizens. She was so good at people interaction and so trustworthy with anything in which she was involved.
I take great pride in displaying a series of 20 Christmas Tree Ornaments which she made and shared at each Christmas luncheon she prepared for the City Clerk staff for those many years. And, yes, we always left with a beautiful packet of Christmas rolls/bread.
We also benefitted as she shared the love and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.
And, as for Les, he always loved visiting with the husbands and sharing his garden and fishing expeditions.
The devotion of Les and Kay to one another was always evident.
At a time like this, there is so little one can say, but know that your mother was a special person in every way and God used her for blessing others her entire life. I am honored to have been part of her life.
God Bless.
Carma and Harvey Ragan
Carma’s relationship with Kay goes back to her time as a volunteer in the Richland City Clerk’s office during election time. This is when the Clerk’s office was a polling station, maintained registration records, and took lots of voter registration.
Kay would share her employment with the Gallup Poll Corporation and other survey companies. She was always the “point person” either leading a team or going to the “back country” to cover rural citizens. She was so good at people interaction and so trustworthy with anything in which she was involved.
I take great pride in displaying a series of 20 Christmas Tree Ornaments which she made and shared at each Christmas luncheon she prepared for the City Clerk staff for those many years. And, yes, we always left with a beautiful packet of Christmas rolls/bread.
We also benefitted as she shared the love and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.
And, as for Les, he always loved visiting with the husbands and sharing his garden and fishing expeditions.
The devotion of Les and Kay to one another was always evident.
At a time like this, there is so little one can say, but know that your mother was a special person in every way and God used her for blessing others her entire life. I am honored to have been part of her life.
God Bless.
Carma and Harvey Ragan
To all the Family of Kay,
I was so sorry to hear about Kay.She was a wonderful and great lady.I met her from Shirley Hankins, and all the campains, I cut her hair for years while I lived in Richland.She will be missed very much,
God Bless you all,
Roxanne Jenkins
Guestbook for
Kay W. Fishback