Kay Arlene Saxby

Kay Taylor Saxby, age 90, died peacefully on July 26, 2024. Born Kay Arlene Bellingham on March 5th, 1934, in Duluth Minnesota, to William and Myrna, Kay was the oldest of five children.

Kay graduated from the St. Luke’s School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1955. Kay started her career as an assistant head nurse at St. Lukes Hospital and became the Director of a Minneapolis nursing home in 1957.

Kay married Thomas H. Taylor in 1959 in Edina, Minnesota. They had two children together, Thomas H. Taylor, Jr. and Jane A. Taylor. In addition to Edina, MN, Kay and her family resided in Louisville, KY, Wheaton, IL, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, and Lake Bluff, IL.

Kay married Lewis W. Saxby, Jr. in 1993, and they resided in Ottawa Hills for 19 years, prior to Lew’s death. Kay and Lew travelled the world together but they also loved to entertain at home. Kay was the perfect hostess, known for her attention to every detail. Kay and Lew were enthusiastic members of the Toledo Museum of Art and the Apollo Society.

Kay was an avid gardener, and she was instrumental in establishing the Ottawa Hills Garden Club Gardens on Central Avenue at the base of Indian Road. Kay’s love of gardening grew as she aged, and her garden was always her favorite place to be, especially in the summer months, where she loved to entertain outdoors. Kay also had a passion for cooking and served as editor of the first ever Ho-Ho-Kus Hostesses Cookbook in the late 1970’s.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Thomas H. Taylor, Jr., her husband, Lewis W. Saxby, Jr., her brother, William and her sister, Gwen Osenbaugh. Kay is survived by her daughter and son-in law, Jane Taylor Elfers and Peter W. Elfers, of Allendale, NJ and her beloved granddaughter, Claire Elfers of Manhattan, NY. She is also survived by her sister, Jean (Patrick) Johnson of Holland, Ohio and her sister, Linda (Richard) Allardyce of Garnesville, VA and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be private with a celebration of life to be held at a later date.

For those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Kay’s honor, please consider Mercy Ships at Mercyships.org and Operation Smile at operationsmile.org, two charities near to Kay’s heart.