Kathleen Marie “Kay” Boon was called to the Lord on May 20, 2011, at the age of 81 following a valiant battle against cancer. She was born in Oak Harbor at the home of her parents, Sidney and Lena (Abrahamse) Jongsma on Zylstra Road, now Fort Nugent Road. She attended Oak Harbor High School, leaving before graduation to get married. She and Martin Boon were married in Oak Harbor on May 2, 1947.

Kay and Martin began a life together as farmers, raising a family on the family farm on Boon Road. Kay quickly learned how to cook for a large family. During harvest time, she would do her own chores and feed all of the farm hands, so large meals became a way of life. Kay was raised in a family with strong musical background and she, Martin and all of their children have wonderful musical abilities.

In the late 1960s, the Oak Harbor School District offered night classes for adults who had not graduated from high school and Kay enrolled in the first class. She attended school while raising seven children and working on the farm and received her diploma with the first graduating class.

Kay had a passion for teaching and was soon taking classes at the Mount Vernon campus of Skagit Valley College. She completed her training and received a Washington State Music Teachers Association Certificate. She continued taking courses until reaching her continuing certificate.

Kay was an extremely talented musician, teaching piano lessons to a myriad of students over the years. She also became the church organist and pianist for the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church for over 65 years, the First United Methodist Church for nearly 14 years, and played for a time for the First Baptist Church, Concordia Lutheran, Southern Baptist Church, both St. Mary and St. Augustine Catholic churches and the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Chapel. For the past 40 years, she was the organist at Burley Funeral Chapel.

Kay was a 4-H club leader for over 23 years. She was a member of the Golden Hour Circle, the Women’s Republican Club, the Whidbey Island Music Teachers Association (WSMTA), T.O.P.S. Club and the Emmaus Reunion Group. She was also a longtime water safety instructor for the American Red Cross and served on the home Economics Advisory Board at OHHS.

Kay is survived by seven children and their spouses: Jean and Lloyd Hofkamp of Marysville; David and Yvonne Boon of George, Wash.; Evelyn and Randy DeVries of Oak Harbor; Charles and Jeannie Boon of Mount Vernon; Stanley and Mary Boon of Mount Vernon; Leslie and Joan Boon of Oak Harbor; and Shirley Boon of Los Angeles.

She is also survived by five brothers and sisters: Franklin and Lois Jongsma of Mount Vernon; Mary and Al Wright of Mount Vernon; Cornelia and Carl Huisman of Ada, Mich.; Lois and Andy VanderMeulen of Mount Vernon, and Glenn and Josie Jongsma of Olympia. She also leaves 23 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. He husband, Martin, and sister, Rose Lindall, preceded her in death.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at Wallin Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Family graveside services will be held at Fircrest Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 2 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Randy Beumer officiating. A reception will follow. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Christian School Foundation or Northwest Hospice. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation.