Dr. David Kay, Ph. D. Obituary

Dr. David Clifford Kay, Ph. D., age 91, of Weaverville went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Dr. Kay was born on July 26, 1933, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Michigan State University and became a Professor and Chairman of Mathematics of UNCA then retired in 1996. He formerly taught graduate programs at the University of Oklahoma for 17 years. Dr. Kay is the author of over 30 publications in distance geometry, convexity theory, and related functional analysis.

He was a former member of Weaverville United Methodist Church and a current member of Providence Methodist Church. He was a member of Civitan, worked for Habitat for Humanity, and participated in construction missionary projects. His hobbies included being a marathon runner, crafting wooden math puzzles and giving them as gifts. Those who knew him would describe him as generous, accepting, patient, kind, “the absent-minded professor,” and he adored his wife, Katie.

Dr. Kay was the son of the late Clifford and Helen Morrison Kay and husband of the late Katie Goodson Kay who died May 5, 2016. He was also preceded in death by brother, James Kay (1984); son, Thomas David Kay (2018); daughter, Deborah Louise Kay (1973); and son, Michael Gordon Tullis (1983).

Surviving are his daughters, Julie Kay Quary and husband John Michael Quary of Norman, OK, Carol Tullis Cline of Weaverville, NC, Sherry LaBoon and husband Stephen LaBoon, Sr. of Athens, GA, and Janet Tullis and husband Raymond Matayabas, Jr. of Dothan, AL; sons, Timothy James Kay and wife Susan of Palm Bay, FL, and Mark Anthony Tullis and wife Lynelle Flowers Tullis of Fletcher, NC; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, February 3, 2025, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with the Rev. Doug Love officiating. An entombment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Gainesville, GA.

The family will receive friends from 9:45 am to 10:45 am, Monday, February 3, 2025, prior to the funeral service.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Dr. Kay’s family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.