Search Results

MCABEE -- KAY ARTHUR Was born in Joliet, Illinois on Nov. 17, 1930 and passed away Jan. 8th after a month-long illness. He had been a resident of Albuquerque since 1986. Kay started his professional career as staff organist for the W.W. Kimball Company in 1952. After completing his musical education at the Chicago Musical College and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, he went on to become a featured soloist in at least five national conventions for the American Theater Organ Society (ATOS), and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1985. He was a pioneer in the theater organ world and well remembered for the series of concerts he performed at the Rialto Theater in Joliet, Illinois and the Aurora Paramount in Aurora, Illinois, and more recently at the Phil Maloof Roxy Organ at the Albuquerque Ramada Classic, Fred Hermes residence organ in Racine, Wisconsin and concert series for the St. Louis Theater Organ Society. Kay taught up to fifty students per week in Joliet for years at the World of Music. Kay was a member of the American Guild of Organists for 50 years, choir master and organist at St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Frankfort, Illinois for 23 years and most recently, organist for Covenant United Methodist Church. Survived by his adopted family friend, Tony Horvat; niece Ellen Schroll; nephew Ted Dimmick; and brother-in-law, Charles Dimmick. Preceded in death by his parents, George S. McAbee and Edith Barbee McAbee and sister, Rosamary Dimmick. A Memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 14th at 2 p.m. at the Covenant United Methodist Church. Another Memorial service will be held in Illinois. Details will be announced soon on the Facebook page, Kay McAbee Fans. Special thanks to his church family at Covenant United Methodist Church for all their continued support during his illness, and to all of his friends at Milton's Restaurant, where Kay was often the life of the party.
        Published on: Thu January 12, 2012