Kathleen (Kit) Dayton

Dayton Kathleen (Kit) Dayton died peacefully at her home in the presence of family and friends after a many year struggle with diabetes and its complications. She was 60. She was the daughter of William and Patricia Burnet and the former wife of Edward (Ned) Dayton of Wayzata. She was a graduate of Northrup School in 1959 and attended both the University of Washington and Boston University. Kit and her then husband, Ned, both native Minnesotans, raised their family in Aspen, Colorado. In those years she actively raised three children, Chris, Martha and Michael, often participating in their activities herself. She was an avid skier, hiker, horseback rider and early aerobics participant. At various times in her life she was an antique and rare book dealer, retail clothing buyer and salesperson, and a race secretary for the Aspen Ski Club. However, her lifelong passion was Lake Minnetonka. As a child she swam and sailed on the lake, and spent many summers teaching both. Her 60th birthday last summer was marked by a cruise with family and friends to visit her favorite coves and islands. Mrs. Dayton is preceded in death by her father, William Burnet. Survived by her children, Christopher B. Dayton (Rebecca) of Middlebury, VT, Martha B. Dayton (Thomas Nelson), of Minneapolis, MN, Michael K. Dayton (Pamela) of Berkeley, CA; grandchildren, Charlie and Grace Dayton, Lucy and Abigail Nelson, Addison Aranow and Draper Dayton; her mother, Patricia Burnet; sister, Susan Hartzell (Bob); her brother, Ralph Burnet (Peggy); and sister Julie Burnet, and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to Heartland Hospice Services- a special thanks to her very dear caregiver, friend and companion of two years, Janet Schmidt. Additional thanks are extended to Anne, Wendy, Aaron, Lola, Gina, Tammy, and Donna. Memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on Tuesday, June 10th at St. Martins by-the Lake Episcopal Church, 2801 Westwood Rd., Minnetonka Beach. (952) 471-8429. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor should be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 120 Wall St. NY, NY, 10005, Heartland Hospice, 2250 County Rd. C, Roseville, MN. 55113. (651) 633-6522. David Lee Funeral Home Wayzata 952-473-5577

Published on June 8, 2003