Kay Vermeulen

Kay Cutshaw Vermeulen, a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026, at the age of 89. She was born September 18, 1936, to Albert and Mildred (Mileham) Cutshaw.

Kay married John D. Vermeulen in September of 1956. Together, they raised three daughters: Julie, Sara and Betsy. John and Kay enjoyed many years of travel with close friends Joan and Jack, sharing thirty-seven vacations together, as well as trips Kay and John took on their own.

Kay was very active in volunteering throughout her life. She was an honorary member of the former Service Club of Kalamazoo and an active member of her church, serving on numerous committees through the years. Her greatest joy was volunteering at Edison School through a church outreach program for twenty-two years, where she was with a fifth-grade class and the same teacher.

Kay experienced two apprenticeships in her life. In the early to mid-1950s, she worked as an assistant in the Children's Room at the Kalamazoo Public Library. Her other apprenticeship was from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, when she worked as a chairside dental assistant.

She loved art-not hands-on, but she enjoyed colors, wore them, and decorated her homes with them. She enjoyed the Kalamazoo Art League lectures and trips. Kay also had a love of shopping.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her loving husband, and her brother Richard (Duke) Cutshaw.

She is survived by her daughters, Julie (John) Addy, Sara Vermeulen, and Betsy (Matt) Young; grandchildren Nicholas (Ashley) Lytle, Collin (Monika) Lytle, Desmond (Lexy) Waters, Ian (Kara) Addy, Abbey Waters, William (Abigail) Addy, and Joshua Lange, Jack Young, Ava Young; four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Sally Cutshaw; goddaughter Susanna Rickman; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kay's memory to First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. David M. Shane Colloquium Lectures, Centrica Hospice of Southwest Michigan, Kalamazoo Art League lectures and trips or Loaves and Fishes.

Kay's wish was that those attending her memorial wear colors rather than traditional black, in keeping with her love of color.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, on Friday, October 2, at 2 p.m. Kay's service will be live streamed on First Presbyterian Church website.