Madeline Kay Kress

Madeline Kay Kress, 96, of Lynnwood, Washington, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022 of natural causes.

Madeline (known as Maddy to most) was born August 12, 1926, to Samuel and Anna George in Lexington, Nebraska. She was the second to the youngest of 9 brothers and one sister. After graduating high school, she moved 1400 miles away to Eugene, Oregon with her girlfriend in hopes of starting an exciting new life of independence!

Madeline worked in a clothing store and transitioned into waitressing at a local restaurant and lounge a year after moving to Eugene. It was there she met and married her first husband, Bill Chapman, a bartender. Together they had three daughters; Karolyn Kay, Lynda Lou, and Debra Dee, as well as a son, Samuel Guy, who sadly passed away at 4 months of age. 

Shortly after that, Madeline lost her mother and soon thereafter her father. Life was difficult for this young mother of three and she eventually divorced Bill. A few years later, she met and married Ron Kress, who stepped up as a young man and cared for her and her three daughters. Together, they successfully opened and managed their own beautiful restaurant and lounge, Ron and Maddy's Caravelle, from 1968 to 1977.

Ron and Maddy decided to sell their restaurant in 1977 and moved to Seattle, Washington to work for Stuart Anderson's Black Angus. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in 1985. Maddy continued working as a vibrant, cheerful, hardworking hostess until she finally decided to retire in 2008 at the age of 82.

Madeline spent her time in retirement with friends she worked with at the restaurant, neighbors, and her church group from Christian Faith Center in Everett. She had a knack for befriending just about anyone she would meet. She certainly took after her father, who often helped so many people in need, and always enjoyed big Sunday dinners.

Her favorite time spent was with her 9 grandchildren when she got the chance. Two favorite trips she enjoyed were travelling to California to be with all her grandchildren in 2010, and a trip to Lexington, Nebraska in 2012 to visit her two brothers, nieces, and nephews. She loved every minute of that trip; going back to see the home she grew up in, the location of her father's grocery and mercantile store, and sharing sentiments with her brother at the gravesite of her parents. 

Madeline is survived by her two daughters, Karolyn Kress of Lynnwood, WA and Debbie Standard of Mercer Island, WA; her nine grandchildren, Julia Thomas, Aron Von Ladau, Robert Edwards, Michael Edwards, Rahn Jackson, Maurice Jackson, Josiah Jackson, Tyler Standard, and Matthew Pittman, as well as 8 great grandchildren.