Kathleen H. Gaut

Kathleen Hudson Gaut, 81, equally recognized throughout the Lakeshore school district as the mother of the “Rabbers kids”, completed her work in this world Monday, January 7, after a sudden illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, January 11, 2008, 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Dan Smith officiating, at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 10, from 2:00-4:00p.m., and from 6:00-8:00p.m., at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society or to the American Cancer Society. Friends wishing to sign the family guestbook, or to leave a message of condolence, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Born March 12, 1926, in Kalamazoo, she completed grade and high school at Western Michigan (then) College. Recognized in grade school for her athleticism, her interest in high school focused on music, culminating as drum majorette and band master. She completed her education at Kalamazoo Business College, then went on to a career at Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment (KVP) Corp. In 1970 she was married to a childhood friend, and with her children they came to Stevensville, to be near the Lake she had loved as a child. In 1983, Kay and her husband moved to Baroda where they created Senior Life Manor, a foster care home. Retiring 10 years later, they returned to Stevensville, and later to their present home in St. Joseph Township. Kay is survived by her husband of 37 years, Dell; five children, Susan (Robert) Vandervliet of Mineral, Virginia, Thomas (Rhonda) Rabbers of St. Joseph, James (Mary) Rabbers of Stevensville, Jodi Rabbers of Arlington, Texas, and Daniel (Diana) Rabbers of Peoria, Arizona; a step-son, Dale (Jackie) Gaut of Hudsonville, MI; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Kay’s mother and father-Harold and Doris Hudson preceded her in death.