Kay Horak Obituary

Kay (nee Graue) Horak of Montgomery. Beloved wife of 57 years to the late Richard "Dick" Horak. Loving mother of Dr. Rick (Amy) Horak, Jody (Daniel) Tyrpak, and Brad (Michelle) Horak. Cherished grandmother of Christian, Anna Kate, John Miles, Luke & Amelia Horak, Lindsay & Lauren Tyrpak, and Caroline & Adam Horak. Dear sister of Dee (Ken) Kramer. Devoted daughter of the late Joseph and Helen Graue. Proud aunt of Peggy (Neal) Dossett, Kris Kramer, and Jackie (Samson) Gladieux. Passed away September 5, 2023 at the age of 81. Kay was born in Norfolk, VA in May 1942. Due to the ongoing war, the hospital was at capacity and, according to Kay's mother, she and her newborn were kept in the hallway instead of a room. Kay was the first of three children and the only one not born in Cincinnati. She and her mom would ride the train from Norfolk to Cincinnati where the rest of their extended family resided. During these train rides, little Kay would show off her dance moves while the fellow passengers (mostly soldiers) threw pennies to show their appreciation. Kay has always loved to dance. You could have caught her occasionally shimmying and shaking with the entertainers during happy hour. When Kay was about four years old, she and her family moved to Cincinnati permanently. She went to Kindergarten at Hyde Park School, Kilgore for Elementary, Guardian Angels for middle school, and the Academy of Sacred Heart for High School. After graduated high school, Kay began college at the Univ. of Miami in Florida with a major in merchandising. She eventually moved back to Cincinnati and finished her degree at UC. After moving back to Cincinnati, Kay met her late husband, Dick, at a Halloween dance for singles in 1963. She was dressed like a French maid and Dick, without a costume of his own, was the first to comment on hers. She generously gave him the last dance and they went out on their first date the very next day. Two and half years later they were married at Guardian Angels Church. Kay came from a family well versed in residential development: her grandfather built homes on the west side of Cincinnati and her father on the east side. Her father was the former president of the Home Builders Association and one of the developers to participate in the very first Homearama in 1962. Kay worked the ticket booth and her father's home exhibit. After becoming familiar with the exhibition, Kay went on to participate in three Homearama events under Horak, Inc with her husband. Kay and Dick had three children together: two boys and a girl. They thoroughly enjoyed going out and spending evenings together doing anything and everything from cheering on the Bengals to any number of live concerts at Riverbend Music Center to dinner and a show at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, KY. In fact, Kay and Dick were at the Beverly Hills Supper Club one week before the devastating fire that killed 165 and injured over 200 on May 28, 1977. One of the best times they had together was during an eventful business trip to Las Vegas where kay sang in a Jerry Lew show, sat in the front row of a Jonny Mathis show (she swears he didn't have a cavity in his mouth!), AND saw the Righteous Brothers at a Vegas sideshow before they became popular. Kay was a fierce, strong, independent woman who has lived by her father's words: "There's no such word as can't - you need to believe in yourself for others to believe in you!" Kay has never let anything stand in her way. Kay had a determination to do whatever she put her mind to along with wit and sensational sense of humor . Family and friends will be received from 10-11 AM on Monday, September 11 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 3105 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 AM. Entombment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Kay may be directed to Hospice of Cincinnati.