I learned yesterday evening that a classmate of mine died in Boise last Sunday, May 31st. My first memory of her was in third grade. As the teacher went down the roll asking each person what name they wanted to use, Mary Kaye replied that she wanted to be called “Kaye”. When the teacher got to me, even though up to that time I had been called by my middle name “Kay”, I had to be called something different. Can’t have two people by the same name in the same classroom, I guess. That year I was known as “Roland” in the classroom and “Kay” everywhere else, including the playground. We were in different classrooms in the fourth grade but back together in fifth. By that time she was using “Mary Kaye” as her name and that’s how she remained through high school and graduation.

I’ve not seen her since then and was surprised to learn that she had been very sick for a while and had passed away.

It looks like I’ve gotten to the age where any of us in the Soda Springs High School Class of 1963 can go at any time. Bummer.

Rest in Peace, Mary Kay Isle!