Mary Kathryn "Kay" Doolittle Merralls passed away peacefully on September 18, 2012. She had a long and happy life, having celebrated her 100th birthday with a Hawaiian-themed party last December.
Kay was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1911 and soon after moved to Arizona with her 16-year-old mother and her father, a mining engineer. Two years later, her brother, James Arnold Doolittle, was born and the family moved to Hollywood in 1915, appearing as extras in the silent movie "Birth of a Nation".
Kay remained in the Los Angeles area for the rest of her childhood and for most of her adult life. During the Depression, Kay married Melvin Randall, a General Agent for Crown Life Insurance Company. She worked for a short time as a real estate agent but, as was typical of her generation, spent most of her life at home, raising a son, Thomas, now deceased, and a daughter, Nancy. Kay's father became the Vice President of Santa Fe Winery while her mother was very active in the Motion Picture Council. Kay remained very close to her brother, who became a theatre impresario, producing opera, ballet and theatre, and presenting numerous individual performers at both the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre.
Kay's marriage to Melvin ended in divorce in 1965. Several years later, she met Fritz Merralls through their mutual love of dancing and they eloped to Hawaii. They lived in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, overlooking what is now Donald Trump's Golf Course. When Fritz died in 2006, Kay moved to Los Gatos to be near her family.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Kay is survived by her five granddaughters - Kristin Rivers (Jean Rivers), Stacy Millich (John Gyselbrecht), Lisa Millich, Kyra Millich (Matthew Freedman), Olena Randall and - and four great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a donation in her name to Hospice of the Valley.
Kay was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1911 and soon after moved to Arizona with her 16-year-old mother and her father, a mining engineer. Two years later, her brother, James Arnold Doolittle, was born and the family moved to Hollywood in 1915, appearing as extras in the silent movie "Birth of a Nation".
Kay remained in the Los Angeles area for the rest of her childhood and for most of her adult life. During the Depression, Kay married Melvin Randall, a General Agent for Crown Life Insurance Company. She worked for a short time as a real estate agent but, as was typical of her generation, spent most of her life at home, raising a son, Thomas, now deceased, and a daughter, Nancy. Kay's father became the Vice President of Santa Fe Winery while her mother was very active in the Motion Picture Council. Kay remained very close to her brother, who became a theatre impresario, producing opera, ballet and theatre, and presenting numerous individual performers at both the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre.
Kay's marriage to Melvin ended in divorce in 1965. Several years later, she met Fritz Merralls through their mutual love of dancing and they eloped to Hawaii. They lived in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, overlooking what is now Donald Trump's Golf Course. When Fritz died in 2006, Kay moved to Los Gatos to be near her family.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Kay is survived by her five granddaughters - Kristin Rivers (Jean Rivers), Stacy Millich (John Gyselbrecht), Lisa Millich, Kyra Millich (Matthew Freedman), Olena Randall and - and four great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a donation in her name to Hospice of the Valley.
Mary Kathryn "Kay" Doolittle Merralls passed away peacefully on September 18, 2012. She had a long and happy life, having celebrated her 100th birthday with a Hawaiian-themed party last December.
Kay was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1911 and soon after moved to Arizona with her 16-year-old mother and her father, a mining engineer. Two years later, her brother, James Arnold Doolittle, was born and the family moved to Hollywood in 1915, appearing as extras in the silent movie "Birth of a Nation".
Kay remained in the Los Angeles area for the rest of her childhood and for most of her adult life. During the Depression, Kay married Melvin Randall, a General Agent for Crown Life Insurance Company. She worked for a short time as a real estate agent but, as was typical of her generation, spent most of her life at home, raising a son, Thomas, now deceased, and a daughter, Nancy. Kay's father became the Vice President of Santa Fe Winery while her mother was very active in the Motion Picture Council. Kay remained very close to her brother, who became a theatre impresario, producing opera, ballet and theatre, and presenting numerous individual performers at both the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre.
Kay's marriage to Melvin ended in divorce in 1965. Several years later, she met Fritz Merralls through their mutual love of dancing and they eloped to Hawaii. They lived in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, overlooking what is now Donald Trump's Golf Course. When Fritz died in 2006, Kay moved to Los Gatos to be near her family.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Kay is survived by her five granddaughters - Kristin Rivers (Jean Rivers), Stacy Millich (John Gyselbrecht), Lisa Millich, Kyra Millich (Matthew Freedman), Olena Randall and - and four great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a donation in her name to Hospice of the Valley.
Kay was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1911 and soon after moved to Arizona with her 16-year-old mother and her father, a mining engineer. Two years later, her brother, James Arnold Doolittle, was born and the family moved to Hollywood in 1915, appearing as extras in the silent movie "Birth of a Nation".
Kay remained in the Los Angeles area for the rest of her childhood and for most of her adult life. During the Depression, Kay married Melvin Randall, a General Agent for Crown Life Insurance Company. She worked for a short time as a real estate agent but, as was typical of her generation, spent most of her life at home, raising a son, Thomas, now deceased, and a daughter, Nancy. Kay's father became the Vice President of Santa Fe Winery while her mother was very active in the Motion Picture Council. Kay remained very close to her brother, who became a theatre impresario, producing opera, ballet and theatre, and presenting numerous individual performers at both the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre.
Kay's marriage to Melvin ended in divorce in 1965. Several years later, she met Fritz Merralls through their mutual love of dancing and they eloped to Hawaii. They lived in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, overlooking what is now Donald Trump's Golf Course. When Fritz died in 2006, Kay moved to Los Gatos to be near her family.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Kay is survived by her five granddaughters - Kristin Rivers (Jean Rivers), Stacy Millich (John Gyselbrecht), Lisa Millich, Kyra Millich (Matthew Freedman), Olena Randall and - and four great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a donation in her name to Hospice of the Valley.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
