Kay Florence Hartge

Kay Florence Hartge, 85, of Satellite Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at Zon Beachside on August 29th, 2026, in the presence of her husband and son Jeremy. She was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Kay was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 26th, 1941, to Kenneth Smith and Eleanor Eurto Olson. She grew up in the then rural town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, a simple farm girl of immigrant parents. She went from being dragged through a corn field by her pet goat and selling family vegetables off a wagon, to eating in some of the world’s finest restaurants and proudly taking her convertible Jaguar out on special occasions. But she never forgot her humble origins.

She had the biggest, most beautiful heart and was always quick to help others. She never looked down on the less fortunate and taught her two beloved boys the principle of ‘there but by the grace of God.’

She was fun-loving and full of life. People would often remark upon her seemingly endless amount of energy. Bright blue eyes that sparkled with the sweetness of her soul and an unabashed, infectious laugh could make any setting warm and lively.

She was a ‘people person’ who, after ‘retiring’ to Florida in the late 1980s, grew a small handbag shop into two thriving boutiques in Cocoa Village. These shops were an adventurous joy to her where she would engage customers and fellow shop owners in traveling stories, cuisine, family histories, cheerful laughter, and most importantly-sales! “We do layaway!’

Besides the shops, she was first and foremost dedicated to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in her life and through her church, Riverside Baptist of Indialantic, Fl. She adored her Sunday school children, singing hymns, and contributing to church functions.

She proved it is never too late to fall in love again by marrying her sweetheart Don ‘Don-o’ Hartge, who helped shepherd her through her final years with Alzheimer’s disease. All in spite of her constant, playful teasing, and making him shave his lifelong beard.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Kay is survived by her devoted husband of 8 years, Donald Owen Hartge; her beloved sons, Brett (Rachel) Rugar of Port St. John, Florida; Jeremy (Megan) Rugar of Rockledge, Florida; her cherished grandchildren, Lily, Holly, and Wilamina; her stepchildren Gary O. Hartge (Erika), Heather D. Small (Jeffrey), Lisa M. Hartge; and her brother, Kenneth (Jo-ann) Smith of Cromwell, Connecticut. She is predeceased by her brother’s Terry Smith; John Smith; her sisters Lorraine Smith, and Darlene Smith Druin; as well as her husband of 26 years, Albert Henry Snow.

A celebration of Kay’s life will be held at Riverside Baptist Church, 333 N. Riverside Dr in Indialantic, Florida on September 19th, 2026. The viewing will be held at 11:00AM, with the service following at 12:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kay’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.