Kay Mathison

Stoughton- Mary "Kay" Mathison, age 88, passed away May 20, 2013. She was born on July 1, 1924 in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Eva (Wilmott) and Earl Kreiser. Kay graduated from St. Andrew's HS, and attended UW-Platteville, earning a BS-Ed. degree in 1946, and taught at South Milwaukee HS, Pittsville HS, and St. Ann's Catholic School, Stoughton.

Kay married DeVerne "Matt" Mathison on June 28, 1947. Together they celebrated over 45 years together, creating a fabulous family of seven children.

In her many years of active volunteer services, Kay dedicated her musical talents playing the piano for Sunday Masses and special events. She especially loved singing with the St. Ann's choir whose friendships she dearly treasured.

Kay was never happier than when she was helping others in the community including the Stoughton Senior Center, the Nazareth Medical and Rehabilitation Center, and the Skaalen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. For years she served as a guide at the Governor's Mansion. She was an honorary member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court St. Rita, and Legion of Mary in Lancaster, WI.

Kay was an active member of Entre Nous study club for over 25 years, Friends of the Library and Associate member of St. Vincent de Paul. She has also been an RSVP driver and an active member of the Senior Center line dancing group.

Kay was best known by her vivacious personality, twinkling dark eyes, stylish ways, and her love of dance, music and exercise which brought so much enjoyment to her later years. Her sustaining faith provided her with the strength to endure even through her last few months of physical rehabilitation.

Kay is survived by her loving children; Karen (Jim) Schmidt, Constance ( Dr. Paul) Read, Deborah (Tom) Noeker, Peggy (Joe) Witherow, Steven "Matt" (Carla Rae) Mathison, Marylou ( Andrew) Moroz, and Lorilee ( Mark) Crawford; her grandchildren; Meagan, Courtney, Joseph, Collin, Matthew, Alyssa, Forrest, Cameron, Zachary, Jacob, Michelle and Lauren; great grandchildren; Dustin, Ariana, Charlie, Max, Joe-Joe, Jacob and Theo; and sister-in-law, Doris (Reuben) Johnson of Coon Valley, WI. She was preceded in death by her loving husband in 1992; her parents; Rosalie Keating, the Australian AFS student who lived with the Mathison family from 1969-70; and many Mathison family nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Stoughton, with Monsignor Gerald Healy officiating. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon, following the burial, in St. Ann Healy Hall. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, with a scripture service at 6:45 p.m., and on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass at St. Ann's. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be gifted to St. Ann's Parish or the Stoughton Senior Center.

Cress Funeral Service
206 W. Prospect Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-9244