Kathryn "Kay" Marion

On the evening of Saturday March 18th, 2023, Kathryn “Kay” (Troth) Marion died at her Ann Arbor residence with family present. She was born June 1, 1924, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and lived an extraordinary and fruitful life of 98 years.

After graduating from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1941, Kathryn Troth attended nursing school in Spokane, Washington and became a Registered Nurse in 1944. During that time she met Paul Marion at a church social event while he was stationed at the Navy’s Farragut Training Station at Lake Pend Oreille. They were married in Coeur d’Alene on November 1, 1944.

Following World War II Kay and Paul pursued their educational and career interests, residing in Little Rock, Champaign-Urbana, and New York City before moving to Elkhart, Indiana, where they started their family. In 1957 they moved with their children Margot and Marc to Toledo, where Paul and Kay would live until his death in 2013. There Kay found great purpose as an integral part of the local community, especially at St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church. She loved the opportunity to meet new people of all backgrounds and learn about their lives over a meal. After Paul’s death, she moved to Ann Arbor and enjoyed the company of her family and new friends.

Until the birth of her children Kay worked as a Registered Nurse wherever she lived, thriving in that role as an accomplished professional. As the children grew she joined Paul in managing their insurance business. She was an avid learner throughout her life, absorbing knowledge whenever she could and reading the New York Times every day.

Kay was predeceased by her parents William Troth and Lucille (Dennis) Troth, four brothers, William, Dennis, Joel, and Jason, and her dear husband of 68 years, Paul. She is survived by her two children, Margot Amrine (Fred Amrine), Ann Arbor and Marc Marion (Martha George), Oklahoma City, three grandchildren, Stefan Amrine, Alexander Amrine, and Gabrielle Marion, and one great-grandchild Leila Kay Amrine.

An active advocate for equal rights for all people, she worked tirelessly in Toledo’s fair housing initiative in the 1960s and as a volunteer for the League of Women Voters. It was a joy to her to become a benefactor to many non-profits, most significantly to the acquisition of the Karl Wilhelm Pipe Organ at St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, which she watched Paul play in his role as church organist and choirmaster.

She and Paul enjoyed the performing and visual arts, travel, their grandchildren, and any opportunity to combine all three. They provided a uniquely cultured upbringing for Margot and Marc that overflowed into the next generation; thanks to their guidance and own pursuit of knowledge they were able to watch their children and grandchildren all pursue higher education and careers in fields they first learned about in the family home.

The family thanks the staff of Glacier Hills Care and Rehabilitation Center and Arbor Hospice for Kay’s compassionate care. A memorial service in Toledo will be announced for a date later this spring. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to The Toledo Museum of Art, St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, or the League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County.