KAY A. PETERSON
1933-2025
Kay Peterson was born in 1933 to Eric and Pauline (Matlock) Johnson. She passed away peacefully on January 16 at 91 years of age and joins her parents and her loving husband, Bernard “Ben” Peterson, in eternal peace. She is survived by her cousin, Stacy Baron (Eric) and goddaughter, Mai Harvill.
Kay was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA and graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1951. She attended UC Santa Barbara from 1951-1953 and was a member of the CA Zeta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity during her time there. She transferred and graduated from San Jose State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956.
Kay married Ben in 1961 in Bakersfield then they settled down in Ventura, CA where they were both long time residents. She will be remembered as a wonderful neighbor especially to the neighborhood kids. She also loved animals and her precious dogs (Sassie, Sadie, and Fargo).
Kay was one of a kind and lived her life on her own terms. She loved to travel and visited 90 countries during her life. She had a great memory and would talk to her fellow travelers and could recall their life stories years later.
Our deepest gratitude to the Crestwood Villa II caregivers for their compassionate and loving care of Kay over the last 5 1/2 years. We are also grateful for the kindness and support of the staff at Assisted Hospice for ensuring Kay’s comfort during the final years of her life.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Kay’s favorite charities: Guide Dogs for the Blind, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or your local animal shelter.