Obituary

Kathryn “Kay” Singleton, a longtime Davis resident, died Jan. 22, 2025 in her 100th year. Born in the Brattain family farmhouse on July 25, 1924, attended Indiana schools and worked in an insurance office until her fiancé, Vernon Singleton, returned from World War II.

They married in 1947 and lived near the Purdue campus while Vernon completed his Ph.D. in biochemistry and the first of their three children, Steven, was born.

The family moved to Pearl River, New York in 1950, where Vernon researched antibiotics at Lederle Labs and Kay welcomed a second child, Stanley, in 1953. A four-year stay in Hawaii began in 1954, when Vernon shifted to food science with the University of Hawaii’s Pineapple Research Institute, and the couple celebrated the birth of a daughter, Sue Luana.

In 1958, the family made a final move to Davis, where Vernon taught and researched the chemistry of wine aging and phenolics in the UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Department.

Kay was as accomplished as a homemaker as her husband in his profession but without the public honors. Leading a 4-H group or as a room mother, she stayed close to her kids. As a domestic economist, she had few equals. Her Depression-Era upbringing gave her an eye for good values and she managed finances well. Kay was an adventurous cook and brought family, neighbors, academic colleagues and grad students together around her big oval dining table--her meals were gifts of time and effort and her pleasure. She loved people, especially kids, and besides being an ever-supportive mother, she adored her four grandchildren and six great-grandkids. Kay also enjoyed being an honorary grandmother for the kids of family friends.

Before his death in 2016, Kay and Vernon were together for their 69th wedding anniversary. He said that he was lucky to have her as a life partner and credited her for maintaining the family, often single-handedly, while he pursued his professional life. After his passing, Kay remained in the family’s J Street home until age 98, when a second broken hip meant living at home was no longer possible, even with assistance. As resident of a Davis care home, Kay was surrounded by family, friends and neighbors for her 100th birthday party on July 25.

Kay touched many people with her kindness, positive attitude and genuine interest. If there is a heaven, she will be there and waiting with a smile to reunite with those she loved and who loved her.

Kay is survived by son Steve and grandkids Damon Singleton and Merin Macechko of Fayetteville, Ark.; son Stan of Tlaquepaque, Mexico; daughter Sue of Windsor, and grandchildren Cory Loykasek of Los Angeles and Karly Anderson of Happy Valley, Ore. Kay’s great-grandchildren are Henry and Anna Kathryn Macechko of Fayetteville; and Noah, Callen, Beau and Hylah Anderson of Happy Valley.

A celebration of Kay’s life will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Davis United Methodist Church, 1620 Anderson Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to YoloCares hospice or Davis United Methodist Church.