Kathryn Lucille Tweeten Fraser passed away early Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in El Toro, California.  She was 97 years old and had experienced declining health for the past few years.

Kay, as she was known, was born October 16, 1925, in Swea City, Iowa.  She was the first child and only daughter of Albert B. and Annette Lillian (Anderson) Tweeten.  She had two younger brothers: John and Paul.  All three siblings held doctoral degrees and were accomplished professionals.  Kay graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1947 with a Bachelor's Degree in English.  She went on to earn her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Iowa and, later in life, completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at California Graduate Institute.  Kay was recognized for her many educational and professional achievements when she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Olaf College in 1990.

While in graduate school at the University of Iowa, she met her future husband Robert Fraser of Rock Island, Illinois, who was in law school at the time.  They were married on April 19, 1952, in Swea City, Iowa.  Kay and Bob had two daughters together: Susan Elizabeth and Nancy Jane. Kay was married to Bob for about 16 years.

Kay worked as a high school teacher and guidance counselor both before and after having her children.  Most of her career was spent in Downey, California, where she was on staff at Warren High School for many years prior to completing her doctorate and going into private practice as a licensed marriage, family, child therapist.  She continued to live in Downey until 1991 when she moved to Irvine to be closer to family.  She moved to Freedom Village in El Toro in 2016 and enjoyed several activity and friendship-filled years before her health began to decline.  In keeping with her background working with youth and education, Kay was particularly happy to have served on the Freedom Village scholarship fund committee, through which staff members were able to apply for funds to help further their education.  When she moved to assisted living, where she resided from 2020 until her passing, she was affectionately known as "Doctor Kay."

Besides her children and education, Kay's great love was music.  She placed first in the State of Iowa for clarinet performance her senior year of high school, and continued to play the clarinet at the yearly family Holiday Musicales into her 90s.  But her voice was her primary instrument.  A true soprano, she sang solos at the weddings of her many friends and participated in church and community choral groups for most of her life.  As a founding member of the Choral Society of Southern California, she traveled the world and performed in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall, the Beijing Opera House, Coventry Cathedral and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens.

Hand-in-hand with her love of music was her love of travel.  Kay was a true world traveler, starting with an early tour of Europe with Bob in 1956.  In her lifetime, she skied the Alps in Austria and Switzerland, walked the Great Wall in China, visited Red Square in Moscow, drove with her "Golden Girl" pals to the Vancouver World Expo, and cruised the Mexican Riviera and Alaska's Inside Passage.  Her last trip in 2017 was to Hawaii for granddaughter Chloe's wedding and to visit her best friend and singing/traveling companion Jeane.

Kay leaves behind her brother Dr. John Tweeten of Boise; daughter Susan and her husband Bob Maples; daughter Nancy and her husband Marty Bonsangue; granddaughters Anne Bonsangue Kennard, Natalie Maples, Jennifer Bonsangue Clinkenbeard, and Chloe Maples McEvoy; and great grandchildren Lillian Jayne and Eloise Pearl Kennard, and Alexander Martin Clinkenbeard.

Friends wishing to make a memorial gift in remembrance of Kay are encouraged to support a music-related organization of their choice, St. Olaf College, Lutheran World Relief, or the Freedom Village scholarship fund.  Kay's ashes will be interred at Rose Hills at a later date.