TRAVERSE CITY – Karleen May Hoy (Kay) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 21st at age 89, after living for 2 years at Northern Star Assisted Living in Traverse City, followed by two years at Maple Ridge Manor of Manistee. Kay’s family and church were the most important parts of her life. She dearly loved her family, and delighted in spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, spending as much time with them as possible. She enjoyed ceramics, scrapbooking and quilting. Kay was one crafty lady! Bingo, reading and spending time with friends were also favorite activities. Two things Kay was known for were her infectious laugh and her punctuality. She almost always arrived early for any event.
Karleen (Fischer) Hoy was born in Suttons Bay, MI on August 20, 1934, the daughter of Helen and Herman Fischer. She graduated from Traverse City Central High School and married her High School sweetheart (Lee W. Hoy) on October 11, 1952. In the early years, Kay worked at Michigan Bell Telephone and then worked for several Osteopathic doctors as a medical secretary. She also worked at the Traverse City Osteopathic Hospital in admitting. Kay, a Certified Ceramic Teacher, and her husband also operated a Ceramic Studio in Interlochen for about 7 years. They then moved to Dade City, FL where they were resident managers of Country Aire Estates Mobile Home and RV Park for 14 years. For a short time, they owned and operated a restaurant and bakery in FL. Then they moved back to MI where Kay worked part-time at Kmart. She also spent many hours volunteering at Bortz Health Care helping with crafts and games. She and her husband were actively involved at West Bay Covenant Church, and after her husband of 50 years passed, she attended The Journey Church.
Kay was preceded in death by her father, Herman Fischer in 1957, her stepfather, Louis Hein in 1980, her brother, Gordon Fischer in 1991, her son, Randal Hoy in 1998, her husband, Lee Hoy in 2003, her mother, Helen Hein in 2005, her daughter-in-law, Gina Hoy in 2020 and her son, Michael in 2021.
Kay is survived by 2 daughters, Kathy (Sam) Johns of San Marcos, CA, Vickie (Ross) Schuch of Bear Lake, MI, and 9 grandchildren: Katrina (Matt) DeVries of Escondido, CA, Eric (Amy) Johns of Fairbanks, AK, Derrek (Amy) Schuch of Wellston, MI, Amber (Kenny) Daniels of Ft. Worth, TX, David (Holly) Schuch of Tupelo, MS, Randy (Jenny) Hoy of Traverse City, MI, Cameron (Jocelyn) Hoy of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Larissa Meakin of Kingsley, MI, and Branden (Rachael) Hoy of Interlochen, MI. Kay also has 26 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Kay’s daughters, Kathy and Vickie, are extremely indebted to Kay’s loving caregivers at both Northern Star Assisted Living (formerly in Traverse City) and Maple Ridge Manor (Manistee). In addition, Kay received excellent services from Heartland Hospice and Hospice of Michigan. Her daughters are very grateful to these organizations for the care and comfort they added to Kay’s last years. They also appreciate the Area Agency on Aging (Traverse City) which was a critical part of providing support for Kay the last 4 years. A celebration of life will be held the summer of 2024. In accordance with Kay’s wishes, cremation has taken place. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.