Kay Parker Jex, 93

Kay Parker Jex on May 18, 2022, loving wife, mother, grandmother and accomplished attorney, passed away peacefully at age 93 surrounded by family.

Kay Parker Jex https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ncadvertiser/name/kay-jex-obituary?id=34978476

Kay was born on July 27, 1928 to Frank and Edna (Madeleine) Parker in Eggertsville, a hamlet of Buffalo, NY. She lived in Buffalo, NY and later Dayton, Ohio with her parents, and siblings Ann and Peter. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan Phi Beta Kappa, was Valedictorian of the class of 1950, and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Kay married John (Jay) M. Jex on December 26, 1955 and they raised the family in New Canaan, Conn. She received her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. Her illustrious and industrious law career spanned a remarkable 48 years, and she continued to practice until the day before she died.

Kay was an accomplished woman of great intelligence, curiosity, and varied interests. Professionally, Kay’s career pursuits spanned journalism, politics and, most significantly, law. With a freshly earned bachelor’s degree in business in hand, Kay went to work as a features writer for the Dayton (Ohio) Journal Herald, where she wrote alongside famed humorist Erma Bombeck. Industry recognition and awards followed her to the features desk at the Dayton Daily News. It was here that Kay’s interest in politics grew. She left journalism to work with Charles Taft as he campaigned for Governor of Ohio in 1952. Soon, the national stage called, and Kay moved to Washington D.C. as a member of the staff for Ohio Congressman Paul Schenk. Later, she worked as a legislative assistant to Ohio Congressman Bill Ayers.

Kay’s time in the nation’s capital proved life changing. She met her soon-to-be husband of 59 years, John (Jay) Jex, on the elevator of the apartment building they shared. They spent several wonderful years together in Washington, D.C. working on “The Hill,” and starting a family.

The young family headed north in 1962, settling in their longtime home of New Canaan, Conn. But “settle” isn’t a word you would ever associate with Kay. Immediately upon their arrival in New Canaan, Kay immersed herself in service to the community. As a member of the Stamford-Norwalk Junior League, she was instrumental in helping to restore the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion and spearhead the development of the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium. She was regional Director for the Association of Junior Leagues of America for years. As a resident and lawyer in Fairfield County since 1962, she was active in local civic and philanthropic activities. Among her many other charitable works, in recent years, Kay was a devoted board member of Schoolhouse Apartments, a subsidized apartment for seniors in New Canaan, and at age 90, she organized the fundraising fair for the Lewisboro Public Library. She was also a member of the Woodway Country Club.

Never one to leave a moment unfilled, Kay loved spending time with her family; traveling; attending concerts and theater; fine dining; visiting museums and national parks; gardening; interior design; walking the beaches, swimming, birdwatching; and kayaking. She also loved her friends and neighbors and they loved her back. In 1983, Kay and Jay built a “home away from home” on Brewer’s Bay in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, where they spent many happy years with family and friends. Whether in New Canaan or Tortola, Kay and Jay opened their home and hearts to family and friends.

Her trail-blazing, long-lasting legal career began in 1971, when Kay chose to go to law school. She was one of five women in the first coed class at St. John’s University Law School and served on the St. John’s Law Review. After graduating in 1974, Kay began practicing with Pullman, Comely, Bradley and Reeves in Bridgeport, then joined Cummings and Lockwood in Stamford where she became the first woman partner in the firm’s history. Later, Kay founded the firm of Gruss, Jex and Kemp, and later formed a solo practice. She specialized in real estate, and trust and estate law. She was passionate about helping her clients obtain the results they desired. Kay could never have achieved all of this without the support of Loraine Hession, her devoted legal assistant for the last 35 years.

Kay was a member of the Connecticut and American Bar Associations and the Connecticut Bar Real Estate Executive Committee. She was admitted before all federal and state courts in Connecticut and before the U.S. Supreme Court. She has been recognized among The Top Attorneys of North America and as an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney with Martindale-Hubbell, for the Highest Level of Professional Excellence. She was also named to Super Lawyers in 2007, 2009, and 2019-2021, a peer designation awarded to only a select number of accomplished lawyers in each state.

Hundreds of clients and professional acquaintances, neighbors, and friends have been calling her office and her family to express their condolences and remark on Kay’s intelligence, kindness, generosity, and amazing life, describing her as a magnificent woman.

Kay was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jay. She is survived by her beloved children Jeff Jex (Jane), Janis Guyot (John), Elizabeth Jex (Donna), and John N. Jex (Sari), her brother Peter Parker, her sister Ann Miller, five grandchildren (Megan, Katie, Jenny, Parker, and John), great-grandchild (Guthrie) and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held on June 23, 2022 at Woodway Country Club, 540 Hoyt St, Darien, CT 06820 from 4-7 p.m. A private funeral will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, where she will join Jay in their final resting place. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages people to make donations in her memory to some of the charitable and civic organizations Kay supported, including The Schoolhouse Apartments in New Canaan, Lewisboro Public Library, The New Canaan Land Trust, or the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Service.

[Note: This obituary was published on Legacy.com.]