Obituary of Dr. Jon A. Kay

Canton— Dr. Jon A. Kay, of County Route 21, died Wednesday, August 10, in his home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 74. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 12 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm, at the Lawrence Funeral Home, 21 Park Street, Canton. A funeral will be held at 10:30am, Saturday, at the same location. Jon was born June 21, 1942 in San Francisco to Dr. Raymond and Martha (Orwoll) Kay. The oldest of four children, Jon is predeceased by his parents and a sister, Mary Blincoe. He is survived by his wife, Shereen of Canton; two siblings, Karen (Bill) Green of Colorado Springs and Joel (Joyce) Kay of Milwaukie, Oregon; two sons, Taylor (Amy Kinner) Kay of South Portland, Maine, and Tim Kay of South Grafton, Massachusetts; two stepsons, John (Tracy) Parcell IV and Robert (Marlene) Parcell both of Canton; and four grandchildren. He is also survived by the mother of his sons, Lain Grosscup Kay of Gallatin Gateway, Montana. Jon grew up in southern California, graduating from Upland High School in 1960 as class president and MVP of the football and wrestling teams. He studied history at Stanford University, graduating in 1965, and medicine at Columbia University, class of 1969. Following an internship at Harlem Hospital and a pediatric residency in Rochester, Jon served as a physician in the Indian Health Service at Crow Agency, Montana. A highlight was the gift of an Indian blanket received not for medical heroics but for donating blood to a child. In 1974, he moved to the North Country to start a family medical practice, which culminated in Canton Family Physicians with Drs. Sandy McCloy, John Dewar and Daniel Palmateer. Jon practiced family medicine and pediatrics in Canton and at Canton-Potsdam Hospital for over 30 years. He cared deeply for his patients and greatly enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of providing care. He also served as a physician at St. Lawrence University and Clarkson, Canton and Potsdam schools and neighboring districts as well as at the Canton and Potsdam nursing homes. He retired from practice in 2006. He married Shereen Nosser Parcell on July 20, 2002 with Judge Michael Crowe as celebrant. The couple built a home on land above the Pyrites gorge and relished the company of family and friends. A 30-year member of the St. Lawrence University Community Choir and later the Canton Goldenaires, Jon found lifelong enjoyment in horseback riding, canoeing, and cross-country skiing. He was active with Boy Scout Troop 27 and trekked Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He loved genealogy and class reunions. When Alzheimer’s started to ensnare his mind, he resumed the trumpet, cleared brush and did Sudoku puzzles, until he couldn’t. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, which provided exceptional care in Jon’s last months of life. Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice & Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.lawrencefuneralhome.org