Obituary: Mary Kay Zettl Myers
Mary Kay Zettl Myers on November 2, 2016 died of a massive stroke. 
Mary Kay was born in Girard, Kansas on Feb 4, 1938, to Karl and Wilma Zettl. She had a pleasant childhood, fishing with her father, playing with dolls, learning to sew from her mother, and working in the family bakery. Inspired by a favorite teacher, she wanted to teach 7th grade Social Studies. An only child, she dreamed of someday having a big family of six boys. This wish nearly came true: she was blessed with an enthusiastic family of five children who kept her busy.
She attended the University of Kansas, where in her freshman year she met the love of her life, John Adams Myers. He called her “Kay”, and Kay she has been ever since. They were married in June, 1958 and started their family with a son, John Karl in August, 1959. A daughter, Elizabeth Anne, was soon on the way but waited until after Kay’s graduation with a B.S. from KU in 1961. 1963 was an eventful year: Joseph William Adams arrived in March; John A. received his PhD in Chemical Engineering in the spring; and in August the family moved to the Philadelphia area where John A. began his long teaching career at Villanova University and Kay joined the Faculty Wives Club. Her mother-in-law, Anna Elizabeth Myers, came and lived with them for nineteen years. Michael Edward Andrew was born in September, 1965, and Mary Clarinda completed the full house in June, 1970. Kay taught History and English courses at Radnor High School 1977-1979, and also at Harcum Junior College and Cabrini College. She began writing in 1974 and produced an unpublished novel, So That We Love, by 1977. Another unpublished novel, Lawrence, spanned 1980-82. She earned a M.A. degree from Villanova University in 1982. Kay wrote poetry as well, published poems in high school annual, college poetry magazine, Seabury in Memoriam, and self-published a booklet of poems in 1984, Philadelphia Marathon. She returned to school and earned a PhD in American Literature from Villanova University in 1992. The subject of her dissertation was Closure in the American Problem Play. The Episcopalian National Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1997, and Kay was on the Diocesan Committee. For it she organized a juried exhibition, “Art & Religion, the Many Faces of Faith”, of religious art from around the world, held at the Villanova University Art Gallery. Kay was passionate about this project and developed a curriculum based on the artwork in the show which could be used for Bible study groups anywhere and subsequently wrote a poem for each art piece. The bible study frameworks and many of the poems and art pieces may be accessed at http://artandreligionpoems.com.
Kay cared deeply about social justice, doing what she could to promote equal treatment of all races and religions and combat global warming. Her personal journey as the mother of a gay son began with tears and dismay and ended with a wholehearted embrace. The poem that she wrote for Joseph’s wedding to his longtime partner, and read with gusto, was a highlight of that event. Kay was generous with her time and talents. She was a Girl Scout troop leader, taught Sunday School and was on the vestry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA. She was active in a church-sponsored reading literacy program at the Bluford School in inner city Philadelphia. Most recently, she was helping to sponsor a refugee resettling project for a family from the Congo. John A. loved camping and travel, and she gamely joined him. The “Great Trip” of family lore was a three-month driving trek in the summer of ’72 from Wayne PA to Seattle WA and back again, in a station wagon stuffed with gear and children ranging from a nearly two-year old up to an early teenager. Later in life John and Kay took many car trips through National Parks in the West, Southwest and Midwest. In 1984 Kay also learned to backpack to join John in taking a Radnor High School Explorer crew, including their two youngest children, Michael and Mary, on a 10-day trip at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Her grandmothers Tindal and Zettl instilled in Kay a love of music and gardening which she has passed along to her children. Kay would relax by playing hymns at the piano; the whole family would sing with her. Kay attended plays regularly and loved reading Shakespeare aloud with a group of local friends. She took painting classes, and her house is filled with her portraits of family and landscapes of hay bales seen while traveling. She loved reading aloud to her children and grandchildren. Even at age 78, with two knee replacements, Kay would get down on the floor for a game of jacks.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Myers in June, 2012. She is survived by her three sons, John K., Joseph, and Michael Myers; her two daughters Beth Procassini and Mary Canniff; her six grandchildren, and loving in-laws and friends.
A memorial service for Kay will be held Saturday, November 12, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 104 Louella Ave, Wayne, PA 19087.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Mary’s at the address above or to one of her favorite charities: UNICEF, www.unicef.org.
Arr. by The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, 610-989-9600. Online condolences www.donohuefuneralhome.com.