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Katherine
Virginia Lang (Kay) was born September 22, 1930 in
Calumet, Michigan. She was the seventh and last child
of Thomas and Rose Bertrand Lang. When she was young,
the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Kay continued
to reside until she moved to Garden City, Michigan,
a year before she died. Kay married George William
Billings (Bill) on September 14, 1955, and they had
two children: Katherine Geralyn and William Thomas.
Kay was a homemaker, who enjoyed keeping a pleasant
and loving home for her family. She was also an avid
reader, and spent much of her time at the library
and used book stores. She enjoyed novels and had a
special interest in English history, especially the
Tudor period, often reading about the lives of Henry
VIII and Elizabeth I. She kept a journal of many favorite
poems, and especially liked those of Emily Dickinson.
She enjoyed knitting later in life.
Kay's main love was her family, including her husband
and children, her parents, and her brothers and sisters.
She had a heart for old people and often visited older
aunts and uncles in their later years. She was a loving
grandmother to her two grandchildren. She was often
"adopted" as grandma by neighbor children
and friends.
Kay's
faith was an important factor in her life. She was
a devout Catholic, who prayed her Novena and Rosary
daily.
Kay
loved the color blue. Her favorite music was the theme
from Somewhere in Time, bagpipe music, and Celtic
songs. She also had a twenty-five-year love of Rod
Stewart music.
Kay had a sensitivity for the past and kept many clippings,
mementos and heirlooms to remember those gone before.
Kay and Bill celebrated their 40th anniversary in
1995 with family and friends. In her last three years
of life, Kay suffered from heart problems. She died
a month after heart surgery on December 27, 1997.
A sample of her favorite poetry, found handwritten
among her mementos:
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Above:
Kay with her Kindergarten class, 1935
Below: Kay with favorite uncle, Hugh Lang, 1945
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