Kay L. Ance

April 22, 1937 - October 30, 2019

Kay L. Ance, 82 of Traverse City, passed away at her home with her family by her side, under the gentle care of Hospice of Michigan, on October 30, 2019. Kay was a fighter and had bravely battled cancer three times in her life, most recently tackling a rare squamous cell carcinoma. Through it all, she fought with a smile, “It is what it is!” Kay was born on April 22, 1937 in Lansing to the late James H. and Lillian (Ross) Orsborn. She was a graduate of Williamston High School, married at the young age of 19 and started her family. After divorce she married Gerald Ance in 1973. Despite being widowed only 7 short months after uniting in marriage, she loved the area and chose to stay in Leelanau County. With her crazy, loyal, beloved little dog, “Kricket” by her side, Kay wanted it known in big bold letters, that she was a “VERY happily retired” office manager for the State of Michigan’s, Department of Social Services. Choosing to help write her own obituary, she will forever be remembered as a no-nonsense, fun loving, deal-shopping, euchre and cribbage card sharking, world traveler and was able to thoroughly enjoy over 20 years of retirement by traveling to places such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, as well as NYC Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, California Rose Bowl Parade, Alaska, Hawaii, East Coast up and down and all across America! She loved to be on the move and loved a good time with family, friends, and anyone else who was up for it! She was always quick with a joke, easy with a smile and absolutely LOVED to laugh, of which hers was most infectious! She was incredibly creative and for the past 30 years ceramics provided her a wonderful outlet for her talents; if you went to a craft show, you most certainly found her there! She loved to dance, the sound of a live band and the ringing of slot machines... and NASCAR - she LOVED Nascar! “Go Jimmy!” and she especially enjoyed race day dinners with fellow NASCAR fans. She may have missed her calling as she herself loved to go fast. With a front plate given to her by her mother that read “I’m the only Hell my mama ever raised” and a back window sticker that read “Yeah, I’m kind of a big deal!”, she was well known for a heavy foot! Though she was terrified of heights, she loved hot air ballooning and skydiving – the first of her three jumps was to celebrate her 70th birthday and she planned to jump again on her 85th. Kay lived for the pop in visits of family and friends passing through the area and always had hot cup of coffee, a variety of cold beer and a fully stocked bar, “because not everybody likes to drink what I drink!” Kay and her family wanted to send a special thank you to all those who were involved in her care; those at Munson, the Cowell Family Cancer Center, the Pavilions, and most of all her amazing team from Hospice of Michigan. She loved and appreciated each and every one of you. “Thank you for all you did to help keep me comfortable.” Kay was preceded in death by her parents, brother Gerald A. Orsborn, husbands Charles L. Britten and Gerald T. Ance. Kay is survived by her son C. Craig (Cassie) Britten of Naples, FL; son Curt (Kathy) Britten of Traverse City and daughter Kris (Tom) Brady of Traverse City; grandchildren Chad (Natalie) DVM; Kaylnn, Karissa MD, and Conner; and great granddaughter Aurora. Kay didn’t like funerals, but she did like a party, therefore a gathering will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 4 to 8 pm at the Cherryland VFW #2780 Hall at 3400 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, 49684. A special time for sharing will begin around 6 pm. Friends and family are encouraged to come as you are and if you own a Toby Keith, Snoopy or NASCAR T shirt, please wear it with pride. Be prepared to share a story, memory or joke and raise a glass in her honor. Kay was generous almost to a fault, and loved to shop year round to be able to donate to Toys for Tots and to the elderly, therefore memorial contributions are asked to be directed to Toys for Tots or to Hospice of Michigan. Envelopes will be available at the VFW. A box will also be set up for Toys for Tots donations. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family. The family is being cared for by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Lastly, Kay would like to leave you all with these final words of encouragement, “...you know life is far too short – so you better damn well get out there and live it while you can and do so with a smile on your face!”