Obituary: Kim Colleen Kay

June 20, 1960 - May 29, 2013

Kim Colleen Kay died, peacefully in her sleep, on May 29, 2013 from complications with high blood pressure (Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease). Born as Colleen Comba in the same hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii by the same Doctor nearly one year before Barack Obama June 20, 1960, Kim was an identical twin with her sister Karen. By school age, they moved to Reno with their new father Ronald Ralston. It was then, her mother Ingrid gave Kim her surname and Colleen became her middle name. As the Ralston Twins, Kim and Karen went through the entire Washoe County School System attending Jessie Beck Elementary, Swope Middle School and Wooster High School (class of 1978). On the side, they appeared in T. V. commercials for their father’s Artist/VOGUE Dry Cleaners also doubling as singing coat-check girls for Al Vario’s local Restaurant. Kim spent her entire career working in the office setting; from receptionist to secretary to managerial/executive assistant. Kim was truly a valuable member to every company she worked for including Farmers Insurance, Bonanza Produce and ADT. As secretary for the UNR school of Social Work she earned a seat on the Staff Employee Council. Her most recent employer was Pro Group Management in Carson City, her residence since 2004.

A Celebration of Life (w/host Michael J. Smith) was held Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Autumn Funerals & Cremations. Featured speakers included Kim’s niece and confidant, Michelle Landrus Farrell, plus Kay family matriarch Barbara Jane Kay. Also longtime friend, Suzanne Snell Connell whose daughter, Mariah, played the bagpipes. Original songs were performed “live” by veteran singer/songwriters Marty Easter & John R. Long. Alan Redstone’s performance Tribute to Kim is visible on youtube. Kim’s spouse Chris Kay ended it all with a special pre-recorded version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” also on youtube.

Daughter/sister/niece/cousin/aunt/wife & best friend, Kim Kay is survived by her husband, Christopher John Kay and his nine brothers and sisters; also from Reno cousin, Shirley Walsh and her husband Wally. From Truckee, CA, niece Michelle Farrell continues on with her husband Bryan and their daughter, Lily Audra Farrell. Finally, from Vancouver, B. C. on Kim’s mother’s side, Kim’s aunt Audrey Pearson is joined by cousins Linda Fellingham and Jan Lasteen.

At sunset on June 11, 2013, Michelle Farrell joined Chris Kay for a special boat ride on Lake Tahoe. Precious cargo included her mother Karen’s ashes from when she died in 2005; while Chris had Kim’s recent cremains. In a moving send-off, the ashes of both identical twins were inner mingled into the powerful deep waters near Stateline, NV. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, just as they came into this life so they left it together. In the arms of the angels may they both rest in peace, forever...

Please go to autumnfuneral.com (Carson City) where you can leave a message by signing the guest book on Kim Kay’s obituary page. Also, her remarkable full-length Celebration of Life video is now available for viewing at

youtube.com/watch?v=XOsxA2xOmN0