Kay Hubach
Kay Joan Hubach passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 30, 2021, at the age of 86. She was born December 22, 1934 to Jay (Curtis) and George Bjornsen in St. Louis, MO, where she was a life-long resident. Kay graduated from Southwest High School in St. Louis, where she met her first husband Jerry Smith. After briefly attending Mizzou, Kay began her career with McKesson, working in the pharmaceutical warehouse. Following the birth of her four boys, she attended night classes at Sawyer Secretarial School and was promoted to the corporate office at McKesson upon graduating. It was there, after many years of devotion to raising her children, that Kay met her second husband, Frank Hubach. They cherished nearly 40 years of marriage.
Kay volunteered as a foster parent with Greyhound Companions of Missouri for over 30 years, assisting in the rescue of hundreds of retired racing greyhounds. In her free time, Kay cultivated various interests and hobbies to include traveling, listening to classical music, and gardening with Frank. Kay was an avid, life-long reader, and volunteered for many years with the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program. She enjoyed being a mentor to children, helping them improve their reading and writing abilities, as well as their attitudes about education. Kay instilled a curiosity towards learning and an appreciation for the arts in everyone who came to know her. Later in life, she enjoyed attending weekly water aerobics classes at the Ballwin Commons, going to lunch with her swim friends, and traveling to Houston and Springfield to visit with family. Kay was always a source of love, support, and stability for her family and friends.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Frank, and her brother Jason Travis. Kay is survived by her four children: James W. Smith, William B. Smith, Dean A. Smith and his wife Elizabeth Moulder, and Mark R. Smith; two stepchildren: William F. Hubach and Joyce A. Schatz, and her husband Perry Schatz; and 17 grandchildren: Luke Smith, Andy Smith, Cristine Emerson and her husband Michael Emerson, Ryan Smith, Nicole Smith, Keith Faulkner and his wife Rhonda Seel-Faulkner, Alex Lim, Ian Smith, Arielle Smith and her husband Scott Oitker, Nathan Schatz and his wife Jodie Schatz, Mathew Schatz and his wife Amy Teague-Schatz, and Elizabeth Schatz. She is also survived by her brother Stuart Travis and his wife Janet Travis of Houston, Texas, her sister-in-law Danielle Travis, also of Houston, her stepsister Fran Dooley of St. Louis, MO, as well as her nieces, nephew, and great-grandchildren. She also leaves many dear friends in fond remembrance, including Barbara Berra, Betty Oelzen, and Sally House, all of St. Louis, MO.
The family thanks the dedicated medical professionals with St. Luke’s Hospital, and St. Luke’s Hospice Staff, for her last weeks of compassionate care.
A private family gathering will be planned soon. Online condolences may be left below.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice.
I met Kay through Greyhound Companions. She was the foster mom to my first greyhound, Jack. She called him Ricky. His racing name was Quirky Ricardo. I loved how well behaved he was and I think it helped that he came through Kay’s “boot camp”. That is what I called it, she didn’t. I hope that Jack has found her in heaven. I am sure she is surrounded by all the dogs that she fostered.
Kay graciously took care of our retired racing greyhound, a blue fawn named Katie, every summer when we went on our family vacations. Katie loved staying with Kay and her family every year, and Kay was always a wealth of knowledge and passion on all things greyhound. Katie crossed the rainbow bridge in 2018, so perhaps she was among the countless number of greyhounds who greeted Kay in heaven. We hope that Kay is in heaven enjoying the many greyhounds she helped over the years. Our deepest condolences to Kay’s family.