With profound sadness we announce the passing of Kay Montgomery, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and friend to all whose lives she touched, on December 19, 2023. She left us while sleeping peacefully in her home in Winters, CA. She was 82.

A fearless soul who enjoyed her fair share of good-hearted mischief, Kay lived life to the fullest. She traveled far, entertained many, and cherished the love and support of her close-knit family until her twilight hours. Kay will be missed dearly.

The oldest of four kids, Kay was known for her determination and independence. She was "a dickens" but managed to balance that with a strong sense of responsibility and a resolute will.

Kay valued family above all else. She was one of many in a long line of strong women who showed us all how to love and support one another while still maintaining a sense of humor. Her mother and grandmother were tough as nails, and so was Kay.

Kay met Brent, the love of her life, at a young age and they spent 37 wonderful years together. She had her first child, Kim, at 21 and her son, Mitch, followed a few short years later. She cared deeply for her family, even when they drove her a little batty. Kay always put her kids first. She was a great mother who turned into an even better friend.

If Kay valued family above all else, her love for dogs came in a close second. In fact, her family doesn't remember her ever being without a dog. She was a sucker for all animals and would have cared for them all if she could.

As a young woman, Kay started working in her father's plumbing shop and later became a legal secretary. She worked for many years in the UC Davis Medical School, where she maintained close bonds with her colleagues. She kept in contact with many of them and enjoyed their friendship well beyond retirement.

Kay traveled far and wide, setting sail with friends on cruises around the world, taking trips to Hawaii with family, and visiting relatives in Alaska. She ventured across the pond multiple times to visit family in England and prioritized maintaining her family's transatlantic ties.

If you ever visited Kay, you would never find a thing out of place. She enjoyed collecting antiques and working in her gardens, which were always stately and fashioned in the proper English style. Those who love Kay have many cherished memories with her: crab feeds with friends, vacations at Anchor Bay, playing Pedro 'til the wee hours of the morning, lazy summers spent lounging on Donner Lake, camping with all the kids at the family ranch and Dillon's Beach. Kay had a renowned sweet tooth, loved following politics, and spent many an hour watching football and rooting for the San Francisco Giants.

Kay will be remembered as a fun-loving and determined woman, whose tenacity was admired by all those who were fortunate enough to know her. She was a dedicated and beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, cousin, aunt, and friend. She leaves a profound impact on all those who loved her.

Kay is preceded in death by her late husband Brent Montgomery and her parents, Miles and Audrey Nicholson. Kay is survived and dearly missed by her children, Kim Hyer (Dave) and Mitch Montgomery (Kathleen); her grandchildren, Justin, Tess, and Colten; her siblings, Tom Nicholson (Debbie), Susie Jones (Tom), and Jon Nicholson (Cara); and the many cousins, nephews, and nieces that make up her loving, tight-knit family.

A funeral service will be held in Kay's honor on January 12th at 12:30pm at Vaca Hills Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Yolo County SPCA ( www.yolospca.org/donate ) or the ALS Association ( www.als.org/support/states/california ).