Mari-Cathryn “Kay” Blackard

Mari-Cathryn “Kay” Blackard passed away at age 89 on June 15, 2016 on Mercer Island with family at her bedside. She was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana as an only child to Mildred and Stephen Fabian. After graduating from high school, she attended college in Indianapolis and received her RN degree. At the age of twenty, in 1947 she met and married Jim Blackard, whom she remained married to for 45 years until his death in 1991. Together they had four children, Mike, Judy, Suzanne and John.

Travel was a big part of Kay’s life. She was adventurous and loved to meet new people and experience new things. On a whim Kay and Jim moved to Spain with their two children and ended up living there for ten years where her two youngest children were born. She was fortunate to be able to travel with her family throughout Europe during those ten years. Later, in Seattle, she and Jim and often, she and John, continued travelling many times to many destinations around the world.

While living in Spain, Kay continued her love of learning and attended many courses at the University of Madrid. She was an avid reader and a voracious learner. After returning stateside, she attended the UW, while working at Harborview Hospital, and received her MSW degree. Throughout her career, Kay worked as a nurse, a charge nurse, director of social services at the UW’s CDMRC, director of education of the Burn Center at Harborview Hospital, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington and Bellevue Community College.

As well as traveling and learning, Kay was very active in various clubs and organizations. While living in Spain, she belonged to the American’s Women’s Club where she helped create a welcoming network of American women expats. Together they worked on various charitable events. She was also an active member in the Democratic Party on Mercer Island and one of the first few women to become a member of the Seattle Rotary Club. But she had a lot of fun in other less serious groups as well such as wine tasting clubs and financial investment groups.

Without a doubt, what Kay loved most, was spending time with her family. She is survived by her sons, Mike and John, daughters Judy and Suzanne and daughter in law, Peggy. Also by her seven grandchildren, Heather and husband Scott, Christy and husband Martin, Derek, Steven, Robby, David and Cameron and her four great grandchildren, Austin, Jordan, Maria and Logan.

Kay was fortunate to have found love again with her loving companion of fifteen years, Bob Nash. Together they spent many happy years traveling and wintering in sunny Indio, California amongst a fun loving group of retirees. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten.