Katherine Emily (Wisner) Tallman (1921 - 2021)

Born 23 Jun 1921 in India

Ancestors

Died 1 Nov 2021 at age 100 in Yountville, Napa, California, United States

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Biography

BURIAL Tulocay Cemetery Napa, Napa County, California, USA

Obituary

Katharine Emily Wisner Tallman

1921-2021

Kay Tallman passed away on November 1st at the Yountville Veteran's Home where she has lived for 31 years, since 1990. She has been a source of happiness and love to everyone who knew her. She believed in family, equality, truth at all times, work hard, have fun, be fair, use your common sense, and always love one another.

She was born in India on June 23, 1921 where her father was serving as an agricultural education missionary. She grew up in the Pasadena/Santa Monica, CA area. At age 13, by direction of her parents and one sandwich for each child, traveled by train for the first time with her siblings to New York City to begin a life in the Father Divine Mission. Her parents soon followed. After her younger sister died there, she, her father and younger siblings moved to upper state New York where she graduated from 8th grade and went to work. Eventually they all moved to California where she had various jobs, including cooking for Colonel Holderman at the Veteran's Home. She also learned welding while living in Oakland before she enlisted in the Army. She served as a cook during World War II in El Paso, Texas. She returned to Napa after the war and met Eddy Paul Tallman (Toby) at the Dream Bowl.

They married in 1947 and had four children, living on the Tallman family ranch in Napa. At age 44 Kay earned her GED and psychiatric technician certificate. She worked at the Napa State Hospital until retirement.

Her love has been lavished on her family all her life. She helped raise her five younger siblings in New York. Everyone in her extended family has a story of how she has helped them in happy ways. She loved playing bridge and taught many groups of people how to play. She enjoyed beauty in the world. Her favorite place was the ocean. She never left it without wading in the waves; always reminding grandchildren to never turn your back on the waves. She enjoyed years of The Price is Right, watching baseball games (Go Giants!), reading and doing embroidery (which she learned as a child from her mother) until her end at 100 years old. Her embroidered dish towels have been given to hundreds of people.

Two rules she taught her children and always lived by herself: The Golden Rule and You Reap Just What You Sow. A famous Kay saying is: "There's no such thing as bad ice cream." She loved good humor and always helped people know how to spell her name by saying ,"Katharine is spelled 'K with an A and C with an E." Upon entering the Veterans Home at age 69 she immediately volunteered and was their librarian for 15 years. For nearly 20 years she also helped create veteran remembrances working all year to create red poppies for the VFW and folded, mini American flags to send to active duty service men and women. Starting with Kay's interest, the Veteran's Home began a new tradition for others wanting to see the Christmas lights around Napa each year.

She truly enjoyed anyone and anything that brought laughter, happiness, and family unity into one's life. She wanted everyone to always be included, and never complained about life and living. Her happy heart has endeared her to her caregivers at the Veteran's Home where she was known as Mama. Kay's family has heartfelt gratitude for the excellent care she has received there – especially through the COVID pandemic.

Kay is predeceased by her husband, Toby, son, Willy, and all but one of her six siblings. Surviving are her three daughters: Emily Morris of Samoa, CA; Carla Jarvi (George) of Yucca Valley, CA; and Lillian Butterfield (Bill) of Napa. She has 9 living grandchildren (with one deceased), 17 great grandchildren (with one deceased), and 2 great-great grandchildren.

The family will have a private burial ceremony at the Tallman family Tulocay plot. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the California Veteran's Home in Yountville. In memory of Kay's life enjoy something fun with family! https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/napavalleyregister/name/katharine-tallman-obituary?id=31547440

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133948737/katharine-e-tallman

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LFY6-DDG