Kay S. Kuchan

Kay Sutherland Kuchan, 78, of Abingdon, Va., died Thursday, March 14, 2019, at her home.

She was born Oct. 10, 1940, in Richlands, Va., to the late Ralph and Leafy Kiser Sutherland and lived the first few months of her life in Haysi, Va. She moved to Michigan with her family and returned to Haysi for five years when she was 7 years old. After several years in Michigan, she returned to her beloved Dickenson County for her senior year at Haysi High School, graduating in the class of 1958.

She worked at Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan before meeting Robert J. Kuchan, whom she married in 1962.

In addition to her parents, Kay was predeceased by a daughter, Vicki Kuchan, and a son, Steven Kuchan.

She loved attending Haysi High ballgames, exploring her family history and genealogy and was proud of her Scottish and Irish roots.

Survivors include her husband, Robert J. Kuchan, Abingdon; one brother, Tim Sutherland and wife, Pat, Trevose, Pa.; one niece, Kristin Stipa and husband, Nick, and their baby daughter, Bella, Bensalem, Pa.; one nephew, Dr. Scott Sutherland, Philadelphia, Pa; one son, Eric Kuchan and wife, Pidge, Christiansburg, Va.; three grandchildren, Tyler Kuchan, a student at the College of William and Mary, Garrett Kuchan and Anna Kuchan, Christiansburg; two special cousins, Andra Taylor Eanes, Bristol, Va., and Frieda Sutherland, Abingdon; and many other cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at the Forest Hills Chapel, Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, with the Rev. George W. “Bill” Breeding officiating. Visitation with the family will be in the chapel one hour prior to services.  Entombment will be in the Serenity Gardens Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Harry Anderson, J.J. Jackson, David Taylor, Dean Sutherland, Mark Sutherland and Tim Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Rod Taylor, Rhett Sutherland, Denny Sutherland, Dennis Renneker and Edgar Rice.

Special thanks to Caris Hospice personnel for their care.

In lieu of flowers, Kay’s wish was that donations be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 2840 Electric Road, Suite 106A, Roanoke, VA 24018.            

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The family of Kay Sutherland Kuchan is being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.