Kay Charlotte Hauenstein Kerins

Kay Charlotte Hauenstein Kerins, age 84, passed away peacefully, at home, on October 27, 2026. Born on February 1, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio, Kay married Daniel "Danny" Kerins, a career Navy man who retired as a Master Chief. Navy life took the family to Honolulu, Toledo, Cleveland, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Bossier City, Louisiana, before they settled in beautiful Palm Coast, Florida, which was home for nearly thirty years. Earlier this year Kay took up the offer to move to Asheville and live with her favorite (and only) daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law, Jay, in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina.

While Danny never met a stranger and would happily talk your ear off, Kay was always the steady one. She was the strong, grounding force behind the scenes and the glue that held the family together, first through Danny's deployments and later as her children made their way through high school and college.

Kay graduated from the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland and spent many years as a nurse. She knew Navy family life from the inside, and as a Navy Family Ombudsman she made sure other military families did not have to face it alone.

Kay was an active member of Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church in Palm Coast. Her father was one of its founding members, there from the days before the congregation had a building to call its own Kay found comfort in her Lutheran Faith and built lasting friendships through the Church where she was active in the choir and Bible study. Kay treasured her Girlfriends Group from Shepherd of the Coast and always looked forward to spending time together for connection and fellowship.

Kay cultivated beauty with her hands, whether in her vegetable and flower garden or through sewing, knitting and crocheting. She could look at a photograph of a finished piece and work out how to make it from scratch, no pattern needed. Her textiles and prayer shawls are spread across the country, still keeping veterans, friends and family warm today. Kay also enjoyed spending time with friends at Coquina Lanes, and she kept country music close, especially Alan Jackson, John Denver, and The Judds. She played the organ and the guitar.

Kay was predeceased by her parents, Conrad Theodore and Margaret Wollerman Hauenstein, and by Danny, her husband of 50 years.

She is survived by her daughter Kathy Sanders (Jay); her sons Conrad Kerins (Vanessa) and Danny Kerins (Angie); her grandchildren Benjamin, Emily, Samuel, and Annabelle, who were the light of her life; and her granddog Jimmy, who was as much family as anyone.

A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church, 101 Pine Lakes Parkway, Palm Coast, Florida, 32164, on a date to be announced. Inurnment will take place at Jacksonville National Cemetery.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to care for the Kerins family.