Kay was born in Iowa City, Iowa. She died peacefully at Stanford University Hospital where she generously donated her body to help the understanding of heart disease for further generations. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dr. James A. Cunningham, two children Cathy Cunningham-Dorigo and husband Ercole Dorigo John Cunningham and wife Valerie Cunningham and three beloved granddaughters, Erica Dean Dorigo, Linda Kay Dorigo and Ashley Taylor Cunningham. In addition survivors include her sister Diane Sayles Murphy and two brothers, Mike Sayles and James Sayles as well as her nieces Sharon, Shannon, Holley, Wendy and her nephew James, Jr.

She will be remembered for her sweetness, her gentle nature, her love of art and nature, her volunteer work at the Thrift Box and the Book-go-Round, and her kind, compassionate pesonality.