Kay Tibbetts Cramer, affectionately known to family and close friends as “Sugar,” passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 73 after a short illness.
Kay had a personality that filled every room she entered. She was famously friendly and always greeted people with a big smile, an enthusiastic wave, or a warm hug. Her laugh was unforgettable—infectious and nearly always the loudest in the room. She was the kind of person who complimented strangers in the grocery checkout line, carried hard candies in her purse for the kids at church, and always had a few good jokes ready to share. That was our Kay, our Sugar, our Mom, our Mimi.
Emma Kay Tibbetts was born on October 16, 1952, to Jason Alva and Myra Claire Tibbetts, immigrants who came to Port Arthur, TX from the Cayman Islands in search of opportunity beyond their small island home of Cayman Brac. She was her daddy’s sweet girl, and he gave her the lifelong nickname “Sugar.” It’s unclear when she discovered her given name was actually Emma, but it was never a secret that she disliked it. She much preferred to go by Kay—her grandmother’s name—to the outside world.
Kay carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone raised to know she was loved. She often joked about being her mother’s favorite daughter, a title she embraced with equal parts princess-like flair and playful humility.
Kay graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1971. She was a good student who especially enjoyed literature and history, though mathematics proved more challenging. Her fondest memories of high school involved time spent with friends and her dreamy boyfriend, Roger. While she wasn’t active in clubs or sports, she remembered those years warmly—and the school’s color, purple, remained her favorite for the rest of her life.
After graduation, Kay began nursing school at Lamar University. There, her attention was captured by a handsome and intelligent teaching assistant in the Chemistry department named Charlie Cramer. After dating a short time, Charlie asked for Kay’s hand in marriage, and the two were wed in 1973. They soon moved to the Chicago suburbs to begin their life together.
Kay transferred to Elmhurst College, where she continued her nursing studies while working part time. She began attending Downers Grove Church of Christ, where she quickly found a welcoming community—and, most importantly, met her treasured lifelong friend, Nancy Dunn.
Although Kay missed her Texas family, life in Illinois moved quickly. In the spring of 1978, she discovered that the persistent heartburn she had been experiencing was not a stomach ulcer, but the miracle of new life. Soon after, the couple welcomed their daughter, Caroline. Their family grew again in 1981 with the arrival of their son, Jason.
For the next several years, Kay devoted herself fully to motherhood as a stay-at-home mom. She was active in church, the Kingsley Elementary PTA, and Girl Scouts, embracing the everyday joys and busy rhythms of raising young children.
Life eventually brought challenges, and after a difficult divorce, Kay gathered the determination to define a new path for her life. She returned home to Texas, completed her education, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lamar University in 1990.
Nursing became her true calling. She found her passion in cardiovascular critical care and went on to work at some of the country’s most respected hospitals, including Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The Methodist Hospital in Houston. Eventually she settled back in Southeast Texas to be closer to her aging mother and built a long and meaningful career in the intensive care unit at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.
There, she became known as both a trusted resource for physicians and a mentor to young nurses. She served as a preceptor, guiding and encouraging the next generation of caregivers.
Her love of teaching eventually led her back to Lamar, where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2007 while tutoring undergraduate students in the Caring Place. She later taught at Lamar State College Port Arthur and Vista College, continuing to share her knowledge and passion for nursing with future healthcare professionals.
During these years, her children began raising families of their own, and Kay joyfully entered her “Mimi era.” She loved her grandchildren with boundless and enthusiastic devotion. Each grandchild lit up her smile in a unique way—and each was convinced they were her favorite.
Mimi listened patiently to their stories, laughed at the crumbs they left in her bed, and brought bedtime stories to life with dramatic voices and sound effects. Making Mimi laugh became something of a sport among the grandchildren, with fierce competition for the top spot. To date, no clear winner has been declared.
Throughout her life, Kay’s faith remained a constant source of strength. As a devoted member of Memorial Church of Christ, she approached Bible study with dedication and discipline. Over the years, she filled numerous binders with careful notes from sermons and lessons, even when she attended online. It was not unusual for visitors to find her at her computer, singing hymns along with the congregation she so deeply cherished. Her thoughtful study reflected both the seriousness of her faith and the comfort she found in it.
Kay also had a deep love for travel and history. With an impressive memory for dates and places long forgotten by most, she delighted in exploring the world with her dear friend Nancy. Together they traveled to Alaska, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and many other beautiful places—collecting stories, making new friendships, and creating unforgettable memories along the way. Kay regarded her travels abroad as the highlight of her life.
Her personal style could best be described as “colorful casual.” Her favorite outfits often featured soft fabrics, vibrant colors, and bold geometric prints, always paired with perfectly coordinated shoes and earrings. At one point her shoe collection exceeded 100 pairs, a testament to her firm belief that Cinderella had it right: a new pair of shoes really can change your life.
When giving advice to family members, Kay often quoted the practical wisdom of her own mother, including sayings like, “If you lie down with dogs, you’ll come up with fleas.” Some interpreted this to mean choose your companions wisely; others believed it meant dogs shouldn’t sleep in the bed.
Kay also had an unmatched affection for pugs. Over the years she loved Milo, King Arthur, Guinevere, Gracie, Prissie, and finally Coco Chanel. Coco is currently grieving the loss of her bacon-based diet while adjusting to a somewhat more disciplined lifestyle with Kay’s granddaughter Claire and the Fells family.
Kay cherished the art of letter writing. She loved receiving mail from family and friends and took great care in sending thoughtful—often humorous—letters filled with updates about life and family.
While there is no question that Kay entered heaven with an exuberant “Hallelujah!”, she possibly left this world with one small regret. She was immensely looking forward to the upcoming wedding of her darling granddaughter Alessandra (Allie). Mimi often said that Cyle is Allie’s perfect match and her joyful spirit will surely be with them on their special day and always.
The family will receive friends and loved ones for visitation on the 12th of March from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches. A funeral service will be held on the following day, the 13th of March, at 10:00 AM, also at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches, Texas.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Jason Alva and Myra Claire Tibbetts. She is survived by her daughter, Caroline Sons; her son, Charles Jason Cramer; her brother, Jason Tibbetts Jr.; and her sisters, Carolyn Hamby and Joyce Tibbetts.
She also leaves behind a beloved group of grandchildren: Alessandra, Isabella, and Evan Sarles, and their father David Sarles; Jay Cramer, Claire Cramer, Caitlyn Palermo, and Jasmine Lindner. She was further blessed with four great-grandchildren—Chandler and Charleigh Palermo, Troy Thomas Jr., and Ember Mitchell—each carrying forward a piece of her spirit and the joy she found in family.
She is also survived by numerous cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
Those who knew her—whether as Kay, Sugar, Mom, or Mimi—will remember above all her unmistakable laugh. We will forever cherish her humor, colorful style, warm embrace, handwritten letters, and the way she never met a stranger. Though she will be deeply missed, the love she gave so freely will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
The family kindly asks that floral gifts be selected in light shades of purple or pink, so that our dearly departed diva may be surrounded by her favorite colors as we lay her to rest.