March '07 Remembering Mary Kaye

Thinking back, I only knew Mary for about five years. I was never lucky enough to see the Mary Kaye Trio in person in their heyday, but, even recently she had not lost her gift for music. At several functions I heard her and her brother Norman Kaye perform a song or two to very appreciative audiences.

I did however catch "Bop Girl" recently, a movie from the 1960's, which the Mary Kaye Trio starred in. Wow, was America innocent in those days... what a difference a few decades make.

As did Mary, I too suffer from Diabetes. She assisted me in connecting with Bob Maxwell from the 'Diabetic Life Foundation', a local organization that assists people in the community with Diabetes which has been very helpful to me.

Mary's heart was as ENORMOUS as her talent. She shared her dreams with me about doing some humanitarian projects, such as building a Diabetic Center with a full blown children’s hospital for families that could not afford services. Mary was always thinking of the "other person", a truly compassionate individual. This town lost a real treasure when Mary Kaye passed on.

VCO sends it's Kudos to the Sahara Hotel who supplied a room for Mary's Remembrance and the Bootlegger Restaurant for the fabulous food which was enjoyed by all in attendance..

One thing about funerals, you tend to run into friends, and it was really wonderful seeing our good friend Michaelina, who was in great spirits.

Some of the family


Mary's son Jeffrey Pursley		Mary's Granddaughters Jasmine,
and daughter Donna Pursley		Keshia and Rosa

In the 70's, my husband Frank coached Little League and Pop Warner Football, it was there I meet Norman Kaye and his son Richard. Frank coached Richard in Football. One tends to get friendly with parents when coaching their children. What's very unusual in coaching children, is when the coach DOESN'T have a child on the team, most coaches are one of the teams' fathers. Frank coached for the love of the kids and game.

It is always GREAT running into our old pal and former member of the Mary Kaye Trio, Norman...

Others we ran into were.....


Former Lt. Governor Lonnie Hammergren		Good friend Pete Barbutti


The always beautiful Arleen Gibson		New friend Maggie Peterson Mancuso
		Charlene Darling from the "Andy Griffin Show"


Teddy Kaye (no relation) & Kid Cary		Box Maxwell and Marcel Forestieri

There were many others in attendance, some of them were...



Teddy Kaye with Former Lt. Governor Hunt		Tony Sacca with pal Ron Garrett


Kid Cary, Gloria and Don Hill		John Kaye and Barbara De Marco

Even more photos from the afternoon....


Marcel Forestieri, Loretta St. John		Lou Toobin, Steve Rossi & Michaelina
and James Rompel


Grant Griffin and Larry Matzkin		Artie Schreck and Linda November


Charmin Chic, Ron Garrett, Michaelina		John Kaye (Mary's nephew)
& Tony Sacca		and Larry Taylor


Gus Mancuso and Michaelina		Genevieve, Early Clover and Jeanne Bullit

We will all miss you Mary and pray that you Rest in Peace.

See Mary Kaye Memorial HERE