Kathryn Marjorie Crowell Michener (Kay), age 95 of Kingston, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on May 8, 2010.

She was born on January 4, 1915, in Wallkill, NY to John and Georgiana Crowell. Kay was married for 60 years to her University of Michigan sweetheart, Larry, who preceded her in death in January 2001. Kay and Larry met at a "Victoria" dance in Ann Arbor, Michigan and married in 1940. The Micheners moved to Oak Ridge in 1943 where Larry worked with the Manhattan Project.

Kay received her undergraduate degress at St. Petersburg Jr. College, Fla. and Columbia Teacher College, NY. Her masters degree in psychology was from the University of Michigan. She was a teacher in Oak Ridge and then she became the first accredited special education teacher in RoaneCounty in 1957. She taught at the old Kingston Elementary, Fairview, Cherokee and EmoryHeightsSchools. Oma, as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren, was blessed with 25 years retirement, during which she and Larry traveled overseas and across the United States by RV. She was an inspiration and comfort to everyone she met, regardless of age, and was always known to have an open kitchen and an open home.

She is survived by her five daughters Mariana Oonk and Berty Brown of Kingston, Cathy Wacksman of Tallahassee, Fls., Martha Chandler of Broad Run, Va., and Laura Lee Stephenson of Pinkerington, Ohio; grandchildren, Anneke Oonk, Kingston, Michael and Milara Oonk, Texas, Jimmy Wacksman, Fla., Georgiana Wacksman, VA. and Kathryn Isted, Ga.; Robert Stephenson and Roberta Haeffle, NC., and Polk Brown, Kingston; and seven great grandchildren, including Lyric Rivera of Kingston. She is also survived by her brother Robert Crowell of Atlantic Beach, Fla.