Historic Tyler on Tour, 2002
Luther Kay - Francis Kay House
321 W. Sixth Street
This genteel Georgian style home with its curved reception porch, Greek columns and prominent triple dormers is outlined with dentil ornamented eaves. Designed by architect Shirley Simons Sr., Luther Kay built the home in 1948/49. He and his wife, Mary Louise, moved in with their two young children. They remained at West Sixth Street until 1967. Their son, Francis Kay and his wife, Tana, recall happy memories from those days. They are the new owners of this property and are pleased that the home’s ownership has come full circle.
“In 1967, Mrs. Margaret Callender, a widow, remarked to my Dad at a party that if he ever wanted to sell this house she’d love to buy it. It was an offer that tempted my folks and they decided to sell the place to Mrs. Callender and to simply move back to their College Avenue home...which they had hung onto,” recalled Francis.
It was under Mrs. Callender’s ownership that the home had a master suite wing added. But the original design of the house was unchanged, with the spacious addition branching to the rear. The room Mrs. Kay always called “the back living room” was extended eight feet, its large paned glass windows replaced by triple French doors.
In 1983 Tyler lawyer Huey Keeney and his wife Sally, an interior designer, bought the property. The back living room was extended even more and the ceiling rose to accommodate the Keeney’s soaring carved wood mantel.
Champagne marble was added to the entry and black and white marble helped transform what was once Mr. and Mrs. Luther Kay’s bedroom on the east side of the house into an office.
But for Francis Kay it was always home. He and Tana had “courted” there and the early Christmases for their children were enjoyed in the big back living room. So, on Tana and Francis’ 40th wedding anniversary this past April they moved back in time after buying the house from Huey Keeney.
The focal point of the Kay’s living room is a sentimental favorite, a baby grand piano they bought many years ago from longtime Tyler piano teacher Jessie Dean Truelove. She told them her husband had selected it for her on their honeymoon in the 1920's. The black and white marble room is now the morning room with Tana’s black chandelier, animal print fabrics and gray-green chairs seemingly destined for this setting.
The Keeney’s 19th century Baccarat chandelier remains in the dining room, complimenting the antiques Tana Kay has accumulated and uses throughout their home. The kitchen is classic blue carried out with Italian talavera tiles and a bounty of the hunt mural over the range-top.
Last year the Kay’s three- and four-year-old grandchildren had their first Christmas in the house that was built by their great grandparents. Francis and Tana enjoy each new day in this home so full of their personal history.
