Mary-K Child

March 25, 1926 - December 17, 2017

Mary Kathryn “Balliett” Child, 91, died at her home in Aurora, Oregon Dec. 17, 2017. Prior to taking up residence in Oregon, Mary-K, lived 45 years in Honolulu. She also resided in Piedmont, CA. Mary K grew up in White Plains, and Scarsdale, New York. She was an alumna of Emma Willard School, a member of the Junior League and attended two years at Mount Holyoak College. She followed her passion for art and attended the Art Students League in New York City, where she studied under eminent instructors, Reginald Marsh, Kenneth Hayes Miller, Frank Reilly and Malcom Murley. In 1952, she met and married her first husband Letson Samuel Balliett, and shortly after marriage traveled to Thailand where they lived for two years. The couple later moved to the Bay Area of California, taking up residence in Sausalito, before locating to Hawaii. Her first husband “Sam” passed away in 1978. Later in life she married Vernon Child of Piedmont, California. They spent a number of years traveling together before his passing in 1999. Her paintings have been shown at various exhibits across the country, from New York to San Francisco and later in Honolulu. Many of the proceeds from sales were donated to charities. Her favorite medium was watercolor and she painted prolifically from scenes she sketched on her world travels. She was a life member of the American Watercolor Society as well as the Hawaii Watercolor Society. She was also a member of the Oahu Country Club in Honolulu, and the Clairmont Country Club in Piedmont, California. She is a descent of William and Sarah Wells Bull, first settlers from the Old World to reside in Orange County,New York. She was the daughter of Willard A. Kiggins of the Bull Line Steamship Company and wife Kathryn C (Schafer) Kiggins. She was preceded in death by both her parents, and both her first husband Letson Samuel Balliett and her second, Vernon B Child. Also preceding her in death is a brother, Gilbert McGillivray Kiggins and granddaughter, Latisha Fruhauf. She is survived by two daughters, Rene Sutton, of Xenia, Ohio, Barbara Osterud, Aurora, Oregon , grandchildren, Lee Mesaris, Arkansas, Nik Mesaris, Hemet, California, Samuel Osterud, Oregon, Laurie DeBoard, Canby, Oregon, Kathryn Durkee, Lake Stephens, WA, Matthew Sutton, Herndon, PA, Chris Sutton, Xenia, Ohio, Noell Sutton, Garland, TX, Marie Meyer, Oakwood, Ohio, Joshua Sutton, Xenia, Ohio, Sarah James, Xenia, Ohio, Hannah Sutton and William Sutton also of Xenia, Ohio . Also surviving is her cousin Robert K Schafer of Charleston, South Carolina as well as nieces Virginia Kiggins Moore, New York , N.Y., Constance Kiggins, Chevy Chase, Maryland and nephew Timothy Kiggins, Hoboken, New Jersey as well as 28 great grandchildren. Mary K was blessed to have lived a long and storied life and until the past decade had continued to travel extensively around the world as well as finding time to visit her many family members with whom she loved to keep in touch. In later life she returned often to Ohio especially in summers where she had first discovered a love of art as a young lady on visit with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. G.P. Schafer of Mentor, Ohio. It was this uncle, Gilbert P. Schafer, noted architect, who inspired and encouraged her to explore this talent. A memorial service will be held Dec 21, at Cornerstone Baptist Temple 1707 Ohmer Ave., Dayton Ohio at 2:30 PM. Her final resting place will be at The National Cemetery of the Pacific also known as Punchbowl Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii. Arrangements for internment are pending. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to either : The Bull Stone House 183 County Route 51, Campbell Hall, NY 10916, The Alzheimer's Foundation 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor New York, NY