Kay Harvey

Kay Harvey, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 at Stonecrest Memory Care in Wood- bury, Minn.

Kay was born Oct. 10, 1945, in rural Nebraska to her parents, George and Ruth Johnson. Her family later moved to Superior, Neb., where she graduated high school in 1963. She attended the University of Nebraska and in 1976, she graduated with degrees in English and journalism. While working at the Omaha World-Herald in the 1970s, she met Gary Harvey who would become her second husband. The two were married on June 7, 1980, in Omaha.

Kay, Gary and her two sons, Jon and Mark, moved to Woodbury, Minn., where she began working at the Pioneer Press. Kay returned to school from 1998-2003 and obtained her master's degree in human development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

In 1999, Kay read several books on dying with peace and dignity. She was fascinated with the subject. For more sources, she visited with a nurse from a HealthEast Hospice Care. From the information she gathered, she wrote her own book about a 30-year-old woman's final nine months dealing with breast cancer. She went on to write a four-part feature series on Gwen Frazier - "Dying Well." Sue Campbell, who edited Harvey's writing for more than a decade, said," Kay could put a human face on complex topics. Dying wasn't really being discussed before then, just the idea that you could plan and have meaningful conversations before dying."

After 26 years, she left the Pioneer Press in 2006 with her focus and passion now turned to understanding as much about people as she could, aging, psychology and self-growth.

She was an elegant writer, a connoisseur of food and wine, enjoyed a good pizza party, and was the 'hostess with the mostess' to all friends and family; making sure everyone was happy and had everything they needed before ever taking her own seat at the table. It was as easy for her to dress in a formal gown to attend an Oscar Party with her friends as it was for her to act silly with her granddaughters. She liked having a good time, and she loved her family - she especially loved being a Nana. She lived an active life She enjoyed walking or running on a park trail, swimming at the beach and travelling, meeting and getting to know people and their stories.

Survived by her husband, Gary; brothers, Tom and Mike; her son, Jon; step-son, Rand; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ruth Johnson; and her son, Mark Placke. 

Her funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, at Wulff Funeral Home in Woodbury, Minn.