Obituary of Kay Louise Bridges

Kay Louise Bridges January 31, 1937 - August 8, 2019 Kay passed away peacefully with both daughters at her side. Her entire family and many, many friends stopped by and called each day to visit and reminisce. Kay was born in Dover, Delaware, the only child of Philip and Helen (Cannon) Pyper. They soon moved to Towson, Maryland. Her favorite childhood pal was her dog, Vicky. Kay spent summers on her grandparents’ tobacco farm and she loved riding horses and playing with her cousins. In 1952, Kay's family decided to begin an adventure west to Oregon. Newberg became their new home and this is where Kay would graduate high school in 1955. She married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Baslington, and their daughter, Lynne, was born in 1956. In 1960, Kay welcomed daughter, Lori. In 1961, while working for Bede-Hibbitt Printing, Kay met and married Bill Bridges, and they made their home in southwest Portland before eventually moving south of Scholls on Chehalem Mountain, in 1972. That's where Kay, Bill and the girls, would enjoy clearing their acreage and building a home, along with constructing log-pole fences for their horses. Kay loved horseback riding, birds, tending her favorite ornamental tree - a Golden Chain Tree, and a large vegetable and flower garden. It is not surprising that her favorite hymn was, “In The Garden” – a place where she spent lots of time. Kay worked in the Title Insurance business for 17 years and was always active in many civic projects including committee chairman of Beaverton Chamber of Commerce, member and committee chairman of Make America Better Committee for Washington County Board of Realtors. She also organized the Beaverton Chamber Challenge project. Her work with high school students led the Washington County Board of Realtors to enlist her help in setting up a program coordinating realtors and marketing classes and selling student-built homes. The home sales then provided an annual scholarship to one student from each participating school. Kay was investing her time, talent and treasure for others. Kay’s interest in local government grew and her mentor, the former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh, encouraged her to toss her hat in the ring and run for Oregon State Representative – District 7, all the while working at Safeco as Title Department Supervisor. She won the republican nomination in 1976, and did quite well considering she was a freshman-candidate. She believed in and lived out how important it was to be involved in local community. Kay truly believed it was her obligation to be a part of the solution and represent local voices. She would wake each morning and ask, "Lord, what do you want me to do today?" The next role for Kay was Sales Rep for KUIK Radio and then on to Bucher Realty as Operations Coordinator and Bill Snyder Co., Realtors for a time. In 1980, Kay became a business owner-operator. She and business partner, Linda Pond, opened “Bridges and Ponds ~ Plants Past & Presents”. Eventually, Kay would become sole owner and the retail shop became Bridges ~ All About Flowers and then Bridges Florist. Kay created the first-ever Monday Flower Subscription service where anyone could send a vase of fresh flowers weekly to their loved one, a client, or a friend. She was able to get the shyest person to open the door! It was more than just a business to Kay - it was a ministry. She enjoyed bringing her grandchildren along with her to the shop and on deliveries. She had a true entrepreneurial spirit one that she must have inherited from her parents who owned their own variety store after Kay’s namesake. It was in 2005 that Kay decided to close the store and care for her mom who suffered a stroke. She became a full time care-giver for the next 2 years. However, she continued delivering Monday Flowers to a few loyal customers and this continued right up until Kay’s recent illness prohibited her from driving. Over the last several years, Kay discovered a new passion and became proficient in “all-things-Facebook”! She was self-taught and knew this platform could serve a higher purpose. She didn’t keep this new found knowledge to herself – she became a Facebook Consultant and Coach and recognized the importance and more importantly, understood HOW to use social media effectively -- she even wrote a book on it! Correction, 3 books on the subject! One of them titled: How to Facebook Effectively. Kay blended her social media skills with her love of “unposed” photography and raw footage video, and became well-known around our state's capital, as a Citizen Journalist! Kay leaves behind her 2 daughters and son-in-law, Lynne Bridges and Lori and Bob Scholz, and her pride and joy - four dearly loved grandchildren, Nicole Butler, Amanda Benson, Britny Scholz and Joseph Scholz, and a precious great-granddaughter, Daphne Butler. Kay's family would like to thank Care Partners Hospice, Crown Memorial, and the dozens of friends who visited, wrote letters, called, sent beautiful flowers and more. We express our deep, deep gratitude for the kind words, the chuckles you shared, and allowing us to get to learn more about what an amazing woman she was. A celebration of Kay's full life will be on Saturday, September 14th, from 12 noon to 2:00 pm, at the Historic McLean House and Park located at 5350 River Street, West Linn, OR 97068. Limited parking. Carpool if possible. Alternatively, remembrances may be mailed in care of Lynne Bridges, 19363 Willamette Drive #301, West Linn, OR 97068 (this is a mailing address only; no floral deliveries), or Lori Scholz, PO Box 1582, Sherwood, OR 97140. Please use the following link to respond indicating your desire to attend the gathering: Kindly RSVP here. Kay leaves us with the memory of her exuberant laugh that you could hear across the room, and with this question, "Lord, what do you want me to do today?"