Kay Patricia Meader (Carlson-Nelson)

Kay was born on January 29, 1950, the daughter of Einar and Eleanor (Sipchen) Carlson.

Kay attended high school in Felch, Michigan with the class of 1968. Kay later attended Bay de Noc Community College to earn her teaching degree.

Following high school, Kay married Dennis Richard Nelson in Michigan. He preceded her in death. Kay later remarried to Jonathan K. Meader on May 25, 2002 in Ohio.

Kay was employed at the Dew Drop Inn in Gladstone, Mich., and as a manager at the Value Host Motel in Escanaba, Mich. Her favorite job was working for Interlake Steamship Company as a steward. She embraced her crew members as family and would call many of them her kids. This was especially true when she was working on the Kay E. Barker.

Kay was a very kind and generous person who truly did everything she could to support those around her. She tried to make the most out of her life experiences. She was a one-of-a-kind individual whose kindness touched so many people. She was never the kind to hold back on her opinion and she was known for her ability to tell it like it is. She spent her life working hard to take care of her children and grandchildren. She will be remembered fondly and missed always by all who knew her.

Kay is survived by her husband, Jonathan K. Meader of Springboro, Penn; her two children, Kim Nelson-Streichert of Ford River, Mich., and Dennis Ryan (Kasja) Nelson of Escanaba, Mich.; her four grandchildren, Joseph and Cortney Coppock, and Dustin and Amber Nelson; her two sisters Linda (John) Listle of Escanaba, Mich., and Patty (Bernard) Kleikamp of Perronville, Mich., and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 8, at Mission Covenant in Foster City, Mich. Masks are required. Kay’s ashes will be laid to rest between her parent’s grave sites at the cemetery in Foster City, Michigan.