Kathryn Ryan, wife, mother, and Navy veteran, passed away quietly in her sleep on Nov. 17, 2007, after a short illness. Kay was born June 4, 1925, in Duluth, Minn., to Eva Veronica White and Frank Kutina and spent her youth in northern Minnesota with her sister Mary Marlene and brother Francis Kutina. Kay graduated from nursing school at the University of Minnesota in 1947 and spent two years as a governess eventually moving to La Jolla, Calif., in 1949. Later in the year she went to work at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and joined the Navy as a nurse in December 1949 with the rank of ensign.

She met and married Ensign Paul Edward Ryan on Dec. 8, 1950, in San Diego, marrying in the Navy Chapel at Balboa Naval Hospital. Paul and Kay spent the next 22 years moving between duty stations and raising five daughters. The family lived in San Diego, Pensacola, San Francisco, Memphis and New Orleans, eventually settling in Coupeville, in 1971. Kay returned to nursing at NAS Whidbey Island and retired in 1987 as the OB/GYN night nurse supervisor at Whidbey Naval Hospital.

Over the years Kay was the family matriarch, providing leadership and love to her extended family of five daughters and five grandchildren. In her retirement years Kay enjoyed her family, gardening, and life on Whidbey Island. Kay is survived by daughter Kathleen of Oak Harbor, daughter and son-in-law Eileen and Norvin Stanley of Oak Harbor, daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Rich McLaughlin of San Diego, daughter and son-in-law Sheila and Dave Myers of Oak Harbor, daughter and son-in-law Shannan and Dale Marrs of Oak Harbor, and grandchildren Megan Donaldson, Ryan Donaldson, Rachel Burnett, Veronica Burnett, and Lucas Burnett. Kay was preceded in death by husband Paul, sister Mary and brother Francis. She will be sorely missed by the family and close friends.

Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Oak Harbor on Nov. 23. Private family interment will be held at a later date at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor.