SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kay E. (Smith) Owen, 69, died Wednesday, July 2 at Gateway House of Peace after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.
Born on October 20, 1944 in Scott Field, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Robert Fay Smith and Roxie May (Johnson) Smith of Gloversville.
She was a 1962 graduate of Gloversville High School and earned an Associate’s Degree from Albany Business College in 1964.
Kay is survived by her daughter Heidi Owen-West (Robert) and son, Ronald F. Owen Jr. of Marblehead, Massachusetts; her cherished grandchildren: Tristan and Miles West of Saratoga Springs and Muriel and Eli Owen of Marblehead, Massachusetts; her brother, Larry H. Smith (Jacalyn) of Mayfield; nephews, Ben Smith (Billie) of Picayune, Mississippi and Matthew Smith of Waxhaw, North Carolina; and her niece Jennifer Brockert (Luis Ribas) of Massalfassar, Spain. Other survivors include her former spouse and father of her children, Ronald F. Owen Sr. of Saratoga Springs, family friend Mary “Ninki” Carroll and a large network of deeply loved friends.
Kay began work right out of college, parlaying her business degree into various roles with the IRS, Knolls Atomic Labs and GE, among others.
An entrepreneur at heart, Kay redesigned her life, in 1991, and followed her dream of opening a retail business. She believed in Saratoga Springs and was a familiar face and enduring presence in downtown retail for over 25 years. Kay’s retail endeavors included her beloved Nostalgia, (gifts and home furnishings), The Bunny-Patch (children’s boutique) and Indulgence Café and Bakery. Her influence is still felt in Lifestyles of Saratoga, an icon at the corner of Broadway and Caroline Street.
A great lover of historic homes, she owned and lovingly restored several historic properties in Saratoga winning preservation awards for her work. Kay enjoyed spending time at her Sacandaga Lake House and was an avid collector of antiques. Weekends often found her at Antique festivals building her extensive collection of antique glassware and linens. Anyone who entered a space that Kay created was certain to get a sense of her beautiful, loving, joyful, generous, open, spirit.
Relatives and friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cuniff Funeral Homes. 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-5373.
The public is welcome to join the family for a celebration of Kay’s life at the Batcheller Mansion Inn, 20 Circular Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-7102 on Thursday, July 10 from 1-3 p.m.
The family expresses their gratitude for the loving care and support of Dr. Edward Leibers and his staff, the entire Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center Team and the nurses and caregivers at the Saratoga Hospital.
The family expresses tremendous gratitude to the angels at Community Hospice and Gateway House of Peace for their compassionate, tender, loving care.
Those who wish to honor her memory may contribute to Gateway House of Peace, 479 Rowland St., Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
