Mary Kathryn (Kay) Ballou passed away on Jan. 5, 2012 in Mount Vernon, Wash. She is survived by her daughter, Deanna Ballou Jensen and her husband Jim, of Beaverton, Ore.; her son, David Lee Ballou and his wife Arden, of Surprise, Ariz.; her granddaughter, Jenny Duce and her husband Gerald, in California, and her great-grandchildren Jade Duce and Carson Duce. Nieces and nephews surviving Kay are Jerry Dixson, Patricia Cobb, Tom Dixson, Chuck Dixson, Bob Dixson, Gail Hughes, and Merlin and Claudia Hughes.

Kay was born in Milton-Freewater, Ore. on Sept. 18, 1921, the youngest of the five children born to Charles and Mary Dixson.

She worked as a hairdresser until she married Dean on Oct. 23, 1945, following his return from his service in the Air Force during World War II.

They lived in Walla Walla, Wash., after their marriage, moved to La Grande, Ore., and then moved to Portland, Ore., where they lived from 1952 until about 1974. In the mid-1970’s, they built a home on Lopez Island where they lived together until Dean’s death on Nov. 10, 1995.

After Dean’s death, Kay remained in their home on Lopez until 2007, then moved into a cottage at the Creekside Retirement Community in Burlington, Wash. Kay was a loving mother and grandmother and had many close friends.

She will be deeply missed by all. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes, Wash. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, Wash., and the San Juan Islands.

To share memories of Kay, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.