Kay G. Martin (née Goldschmidt), 62, passed away on Oct. 21 after living a life filled with music.
Kay was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, the granddaughter of Edith and Henry Levitt, with whom she was very close. She grew up hanging around and working in her family’s department store, Henry’s.
Kay graduated from Southeast High School in Wichita before attending the University of Kansas and graduating with a music education degree. While at KU, Kay was a member of the Marching Jayhawks and Tau Beta Sigma and traveled the country to support the Jayhawk football team.
Kay taught music in the Kansas City area before going on to spend the majority of her career in the insurance industry. She worked as a claims adjuster at Pyramid Life, CNA and ESIS. It was at Pyramid where Kay met her husband of 37 years, Craig Martin, and many of their dearest friends. Kay and Craig made their home in Prairie Village, Kansas, and were members of Congregation Beth Torah and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park, Kansas. Together, Kay and Craig raised their two sons and several mischievous dogs, including Max, Beamer and Manny. Their home was one filled with love, and of course, music.
Kay made a name for herself in the Kansas City Jewish community playing clarinet in several klezmer and traditional Jewish music groups, including the Tizmoret Orchestra and Oy Tate. She frequently performed at the Kansas City Jewish Arts Festival, weddings and b’nai mitzvah across the region. Kay’s passion for the arts extended beyond music and onto canvas and tile, where she created works that appear in the homes of friends and family.
Kay dedicated much of her time to making sure our country had a more progressive future, volunteering for and contributing to many Democratic causes and candidates. She was also a dedicated sports fan who cheered on her Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks with fierce pride.
Kay is survived by her husband, Craig, of Prairie Village, and her sons, Derek Martin (Anna) of Washington, D.C., and Robert Martin of San Francisco, California. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Annette Goldschmidt, and her brother, Larry Goldschmidt.
A memorial celebration of Kay’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, at Louis Memorial Chapel. Interment at Leavenworth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org).
