Kathryn "Kay" Elizabeth Gould, 82, of Grinnell, died Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at UnityPoint Health-Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A Family Graveside Service will be held in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorials may be directed in her name and sent in care of Cox-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, PO Box 163, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Kay was born on October 29, 1942, to Glenn and Louise (Clifford) Meldrem in Grinnell. She attended high school there. On April 4, 1961, she married W. James Gould at the Baptist Church in Grinnell. She took a position at GTE and enjoyed her work. She retired after 20+ years.

Kay truly was one of a kind and was feisty and sassy as could be. She was a people person and always enjoyed a good cup of coffee with her friends, or a coke in the bottle-definitely not in a can. Occasionally you could find her drinking a margarita or a long island iced tea. If she wasn't cross-stitching, you could find her reading Harlequin Romance Novels. In their earlier years Jim and Kay would go dancing and roller skating. Kay loved to listen to music, her two favorite songs were "Rose Colored Glasses" by John Conlee and "Brand New Key" by Melanie. She was always the first to speak up when it came to her family. She would take the grandchildren to Wal-Mart and let them choose something, as she absolutely adored each and every one of them.

Those left to cherish her legacy are her daughters, Robin Paulson and Shelly (Jeff) Yates of Ankeny; grandchildren Greg (Carla) Paulson of Grinnell, Jordan (Jordan Stone) Yates of Nashville, Tennessee, Jenna (Tyler) Clasing of Arnolds Park, Iowa and Kaden Gould Paulson of Grinnell; one great grandson, Hudson Clasing; her brother, Dennis (Stella) Fleener of Grinnell; and her nephews, Rick Fleener of Goodyear, Arizona and David (Diedre) Fleener of Coralville, Iowa.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; husband James; parents-in-law, Berkley and Ruth Gould; and son-in-law, Tim Paulson.

The family would like to give their thanks to the Grinnell  EMTs. the residents and Grinnell Estates and to all the staff at UnityPoint-Grinnell for all the kindness they gave to Kay and her family. You went above and beyond during our time of need.