Tragic circumstances surrounded Kay in 2005 and 2006. While coping with
the March 2005 cancer death of their mother, actress
Sheila Gish, Kay was
preparing to go into rehearsals for "King Lear," in which she appeared
as Cordelia alongside sister
Lou Gish (as Goneril). During the run of
the production in June, Lou learned that her own cancer had returned
and she was forced to leave the production. Lou died in February
2006.