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On June 20, 1956, tragedy again struck in the
life of Kay Thomson. Suddenly widowed at the young
age of 38, she was pregnant and alone in life with five
dependent children, the elderly Aunt Mary Malooly
who had permanently joined the family in 1949, a
mortgage, no job, no marketable skills and no
significant income. From this point on, the story of Kay
Thomson is the story of a woman of indomitable
courage and love. A baby girl, Christina Marie, lovingly
referred to as Daddy’s last Christmas gift, was born on
December 26. Kay found short-term, temporary night
shift jobs and worked while her children slept under
the watchful eye of Aunt Mary Malooly. Aunt Mary
died in 1957. By then the two oldest girls, ages 15 and
13, were able to take on some of the care of their
younger siblings. While Kay continued to work nights
at the County Court House, she was very careful to
ensure that her older girls had the space to experience
the fullness of their high school years even while they
assisted her with family responsibilities.
Once the youngest children were in
school, Kay looked for full time day work. Hussmann
Refrigeration Company was hiring. Preparing for her