S. Kay Burrus

December 19, 1937 - June 16, 2018

S. Kay Burrus, 80, of Bloomington, IN, passed away peacefully at IU Health Bloomington Hospice House on June 16, 2018. Kay, a twin, was born to Lanham J. and Faye (Hellrung) Burrus in Litchfield, IL, on December 19, 1937. Kay served Indiana University and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation with honor and distinction for over 39 years. She came to IU in 1962 as an instructor and coach in the Department of Physical Education for Women and, later, coached in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. She was an integral part of the exercise physiology faculty and program and taught an array of science-based courses. Her career culminated with a 14-year appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Program Administration. Kay chaired and served on numerous doctoral dissertation committees. Her research focused on physical-fitness levels of women and the physical and cardio-respiratory characteristics of women intercollegiate basketball players. She also was active in several higher education professional organizations, among them the Midwest Association for College and University Physical Education, where she held several elected positions, assuming the presidency from 1987-1990. In addition to teaching, Kay began the women’s field hockey team in 1962 and was first to coach the extramural women’s basketball team in 1963. She was highly successful with both, coaching field hockey until 1976 and women’s basketball until 1967. During summers, from 1966 to 1976, she traveled to the Nevada Desert Research Institute where she worked as a visiting and consulting scientist with renowned physiologist D. B. Dill in his Laboratory of Environmental and Patho-Physiology. Dill noted Kay was “one of the first women to become expert in the physiology of exercise at high altitudes.” On Kay’s retirement in 2002, Dean Gallahue wrote, “Her sensitivity and friendly accessibility to students, attention to detail, and quiet wisdom on matters of significant importance to the school made her a most valuable and respected administrator…. She will be missed.” She earned her Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Michigan in 1974. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees at Southern Illinois University in 1959 and 1962, respectively. She taught at Sterling High School in Sterling, Ill., from 1959 to 1961 and served as an associate instructor in the Department of Physical Education for Women at SIU from 1961 to 1962. In education and throughout life, Kay gave selflessly. Her greatest joy was helping and seeing students, faculty, staff and others succeed. One former hockey player said, “You were a tough coach, but even now, I’m 61, you make my heart shine.” She was dedicated to IU and adored her friends, but Kay was devoted to her family, and their love shows. A nephew wrote, “She could make you feel great or put you in your place, and still we knew she loved us all the same.” Kay is survived by her brother Dean and his wife, Jane, of Hamel, IL; their son Deron and his son, Eli, daughter Dena Jones and her husband, Raymond, daughter Lana Hassan and her daughters Olivia and Justine Marshall; her nephew Charles, his wife, Beth, of Roodhouse, IL, their sons Michael and Zach and daughters Mary, Annie Cullings, her husband, Chris, and their children Gavin, Gage and Kelby, and Elizabeth Mesta and her husband, Edgar; her niece Susan Guntren and her husband, John, of Eldred, IL, daughter Christina Schulze, her husband, Travis, and their child Ascher, and son Gregory and his wife, Erin, and their daughter Moira; and her long-time, cherished friend Gayle Hart. Kay is preceded in death by her loving parents, Lanham J. and Faye; her twin sister, Sharon Fay; and her brothers, Joseph, Roy and Cecil. Visitation is Sat., July 14, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., at Weber & Rodney Funeral Home, 304 N Main St., Edwardsville, IL, followed by a graveside service and burial in Valley View Cemetery with the Reverend Arnold Hoffman officiating. Online condolences may be left at www.weberfuneralhome.com. Suggested memorials: the Dorothy Davies Women’s Physical Education Scholarship, SIU Foundation, 1235 Douglas Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901, or a charity of choice.