Agnes Kalakay

 Agnes Marie Mather Kalakay passed away on February 13, 2025, after living a long and full life of 96 years. She was born January 1, 1929 in Flint Michigan, the first baby born in the new year earning her a $25 savings bond and the title “Little Miss 1929”. She grew up in Flint, but spent summers “up the lake” near Hale, Michigan. There she honed her skills in being her father’s “boy” since she was one of four girls born to Agnes Louise and Leo Norman Mather. Those summers were spent fishing, swimming, and catching bugs and frogs to feed to her snakes that she kept buried in a box in the backyard. Agnes and her sisters Pat, Jane, and Mary Lou were musically talented. They often sang as a quartet and performed at a number of venues throughout the area.When Agnes was 14, she met Edward (Ed) Kalakay and they soon became inseparable. They spent a lot of time at “Johnny’s Place”, the ice cream shop owned by Ed’s grandfather. During their senior year, Ed and Agnes were known to occasionally sneak a little alcohol, but “only beer”, according to a later confession made by Agnes. Agnes graduated in 1947 as Valedictorian among a class of over four hundred students. She married Ed in 1948.

After their marriage, Agnes became busy by helping Ed with electrical engineering homework and starting to raise a family. After Ed’s graduation, with three kids in tow, they moved to Idaho in pursuit of mountains and outdoor opportunities. In Idaho, they had two more children and built their dream house on “the land”, a piece of property outside of Idaho Falls. At that location, Agnes raised her children along with many varieties of farm animals as one big family. She became a competent horse woman, but also enjoyed backpacking, camping, hunting, and canning vegetables that were grown in Ed’s HUGE garden. She was the workhorse of their country farm, as she could buck a bale of hay easier than most men. Ed passed away in 1983 and Agnes moved into a new phase of her life. She sold “the land” and bought a home in Swan Valley to enjoy living and riding her horses in a more remote area. She also knew that the beautiful setting and abundant wildlife would attract members of her expanding family.As she got into her 70’s, Agnes moved to property just outside Idaho Falls in order to be closer to her children and to be surrounded by neighbors that kept an eye on her (and she on them). Her life became more relaxed taking care of her horses and dogs and going for walks in the fields surrounding her home. She played the piano often and enjoyed luring friends and family into her home with frequent card games and warm food. For the last three years of her life, Agnes called Lincoln Court Assisted Living her home. Lincoln Court and Aspen Home Health and Hospice provided exceptional care and despite her obstinance, she developed a strong bond with many of her caregivers. Lincoln Court residents and staff will no doubt miss hearing Agnes play the piano, an activity that she continued to do just days before she passed.

Agnes is survived by her five children; Diana, Mark, Denise, Tom and Amy and a large extended family, comprised of many grand-children and great grand-children. All who knew Agnes will remember her as an independent, smart, sometimes opinionated, feisty woman that would welcome almost anyone into her home. She will be greatly missed.