Kay Arnold Catlin - Obituary

ay Arnold Catlin, 82, of Annapolis, died peacefully on the evening of Friday, October 18, 2024. She passed at home with dignity and grace after a long battle with skin cancer. She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren while she crossed into the gates of Heaven. Kay was born to the late Silas Keith and Francis Arnold in Bedford, Virginia, on February 26, 1942. She was known by most as Nee Nee. Kay attended public school and graduated from Bladensburg High School in 1960. She then enrolled in Lara Francs School of Cosmetology in Lanham, Maryland, and graduated in 3 ½ years. After graduating from beauty school in 1970, Kay landed a teaching job at Hollywood Beauty School, located in College Park, Maryland. This is where she met the love of her life, Carl Catlin. After a long courtship, they were married on April 22, 1984, and lived in the Annapolis area for 45 years. Kay thought very progressively about business and fashion; she was ahead of her time as a pioneer in the beauty industry. Her dream was to become a business owner and to open more cosmetology schools. In a short period of time, Kay and Carl bought Hollywood Beauty School thus capturing those dreams. Today, they are known as Hair Academy Inc. and Hair Academy II. Kay continued to hold a current Cosmetology license. For many years, she attended Riva Trace Baptist Church in Annapolis and then in Davidsonville. Over the last year and a half, Kay faithfully watched Dennis preach from her living room every Sunday via TV streaming. Nee Nee was a great cook for the five dishes she knew. The homemade chocolate pie was always a crowd favorite, so good that it ruined any other attempt at a chocolate pie from anywhere else. She found joy in landscaping her yard. In the spring, she would plant tulips and pansies, and throughout the summer, she added and added until, by Christmas, it looked like a national park Filled with decorations, ornaments, and lights everywhere. It became a yearly tradition- even for distant neighbors as they would drive up and down her driveway admiring in awe at the Christmas beauty around the yard. The visitors would leave thank you notes, small gifts, or cookies. Christmas was always a big deal for her…from the outside to the inside- she put a special loving touch on everything. The inside of her house was decorated as beautiful as the outside. She loved to be creative and change the theme- from elegant silver and blue to your classic Santa red and green. Kay traveled the world but quickly realized that the river sunsets from her own back deck are something out of a storybook. She took great pleasure in entertaining at her home, meticulously ensuring that every last detail was as perfect as those sunsets. Kay found bowling later in life. She not only loved the sport but met some great friends as well. It became a weekly Monday staple. In addition to her parents, Kay was preceded by her husband, Carl Catlin. She is survived by her children, Kevin and April, one brother, Larry, and her grandchildren, Travis, Macy and Keith. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Kay's life on Saturday, October 26, 202, from 10 am until her funeral service begins at 11 am at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037. Entombment will immediately follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, Davidsonville, MD. Please leave the family a condolence by using the memories tab on this page.