Altaville, CA…Kay T. Arsate Wallace was born June 29th, 1939 to Margaret Volf and Henry Arsate. She entered peacefully into rest on Tuesday November 9th, 2021. She was 82 years old and was a life long resident of Altaville as was her family generations before her.

Mom attended Altaville grammar school until 4th grade then went to Mark Twain Elementary School. She then attended Bret Harte High School graduating in 1957. She medaled in high school tennis and also loved share dancing and was a member of the “Foothill Swingers.”

After high school she attended Heald’s Business College then went to work at Douglas Aircraft Rancho Cordova in the security division as a stenographer, secretary and processed security clearances.

After Douglas Aircraft mom returned to her home and worked for Bank of America in Angels Camp. She was working the day the last shipment of gold was brought in from one of the local mines.

On July 2, 1962 she married Robert E. Wallace and had a daughter Elicia.

Mom went to work for the State of California Youth Authority at Fricot Ranch School and later in Stockton then at Preston School in Ione as a secretary supervisor until her retirement. She was very active in the California State Employees Association.

Realizing she did not want to be completely out of the work force she went to work for a local Jackson attorney and later for the California Highway Patrol in San Andreas.

In the late 1960’s mom was a member of the Sierra Club taking horse pack trips into the sierras with her mother Marge and daughter Elicia.

Mom was a supporter of youth sports and in the 1970’s served on the Board of Directors for the AMA Boosters Club involved in various fund raising events for the local youth.

After mom’s final retirement, she and her long time companion Stan spent winters in Yuma AZ and summers at her home in Altaville.

If there was fun to be had mom was for it and usually in the middle of it. She loved water skiing, festivals, flea markets, playing golf, concerts, cooking, traveling. In 1981 she and her mother and daughter and several good friends went on a Caribbean cruise and in 1986 to Hong Kong and China with one of her dear friends. Traveling to different states and Canada in the motor home was always an adventure for her.

Mom enjoyed getting together and was involved with organizing the big Bret Harte reunions.

Preceding mom in death are her parents Marge Volf and Henry Arsate, Alberta Whittle Bardsley (sister), Joseph Whittle (brother), Robin Bardsley Johnston (niece), Darlene Bardsley Goforth (niece), George Bardsley (nephew).

Mom is survived by her daughter Elicia, companion Stan Schmidt and his son Michael, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mom is so deeply loved and will be missed beyond measure.

There will be a brief graveside service for family and friends at the Altaville Catholic Cemetery on January 22 at 11:00 then a pot-luck style lunch at St. Patrick’s fellowship hall. Please bring memories of mom and an appetizer, salad or dessert to share.