Katherine “Kay” Deaver was born in Dayton, Ohio. She had no formal but was educated by a private tutor. She studied Math and Latin. Deaver moved to Cleveland where she worked in the fashion department of Halle Brother’s Department Store. She later became a buyer for the store, buying jewelry, neck ware, and other accessories in New York City. Deaver came to El Paso in 1945 with plans to move to California, but decided to remain in El Paso. Deaver also was hired by the Canton Chamber of Commerce in Ohio to put on some radio shows. In El Paso, she worked as scriptwriter for KSTM Radio Station. She was also experienced in newspaper writing and layout. From KTSM, she went to work for the advertising department at the Popular Department store.
Deavers won first place from the Texas Press Women for a fashion show script. She help organized the El Paso Chapter of Texas Press Woman and served as it’s secretary. At The Popular Department Store, she was involved in a group that met there, called Pad In Pencil group. The group provided scholarships to Nurses. She also headed a annual essay contest called “My Mother is Best Because.” She also wrote light verse. She was involved in the Maid of the Cotton Fashion show and pageant.
El Paso Times Reporter, Mary Goodwin called Deaver, “truly a career women in the fullest sense.” Deaver was also chair of the El Paso Writers League.
Sources: part of El Paso Times “South-Westerner in Focus” series, article by Mary Goodwin. I would also like to thank another researcher named Richard Field, who complied a lot of this information for me.
Joseph Longo
ECPHS Curator
