Martha Kays Obituary

Martha Merrill Kays, 93, of Downers Grove, and longtime resident of Portage, Michigan, passed away on November 15, 2012. She was born on Christmas Day, 1918 in Cambridge, Ohio. Martha grew up in the Depression, became a Wartime Bride, raise four children, became a graduate from Kalamazoo Community College with Honors at the age of fifty-one, traveled North America and the world with her devoted husband, and lived to see ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren born. A mild mannered farm girl from Ohio, Martha had moments of true tenacity and determination that have inspired all of her family. Upon her husband Fred's retirement from the Michigan Transportation Department in 1980, he and Martha took up Air Streaming; pulling a 24 foot silver-trailer behind their car around the North American Continent. Driving from one state to another, they took their grandchildren along for the ride during the summers and taught them about the United States and some of its most important places or brought them to little out of the way towns. They even volunteered in Belize, helping shrimp farmers set up their farms and bathing in the rivers with Manta Rays (critters Martha did not always appreciate showing up during bath time). In the last decade, Martha and her husband slowed down, moving to Downers Grove to be near their daughter, Jolie. They enjoyed their time going to church, visiting with family and took two expansive road trips across the United States. In Martha's passing, her family lost the cornerstone of its foundation. Her enthusiasm for family and of all the adventures she took brightened people's spirits around her. Martha's steadfast support for family and friends inspired them to look for the goodness in people around them, to love and to be open minded about the world. Her relationship with Fred was an example to all of her family of how two people can work, live and care for one another, something they all take to heart. We will all miss her pink applesauce, pies and pickles. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Fred; her four children, David, Vern, Jolie and Randy; ten grandchildren, Jennifer, Roland, Forrest, Halena, Carrie, Noah, Michelle, Justin, Amy and Amelia; and ten great-grandchildren, Sunti, Eli, Robbie, Zach, Sasha, Fletcher, Luca, Sophie, Harley and Ripley. Funeral Services were held. Arrangements by Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home. 630/968-1000 or www.adamswinterfieldsullivan.com