Anita 'Kat' Baekey

Anita “Kat” Baekey moved to Fountain Hills in 1995 and opened her vocal studio helping people of all ages to “find their best voice.” She began her professional career at 16 with a Carnegie Hall debut as Gretel in the opera “Hansel and Gretel.”

At 18 she met, fell in love with and later married fellow actor/singer Ed Baekey while both were performing the leading roles in Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers.”

Kat continued performing leading roles in regional opera companies on the East Coast while raising two daughters until Ed’s acting career took the family to Southern California. There Kat founded and directed Desert Opera Theater for the next 25 years, while continuing to teach and perform.

While in Fountain Hills, Kat appeared in several local theater productions and also held her studio recitals twice a year. An avid bird watcher and animal welfare advocate, Kat volunteered for Liberty Wildlife and Fearless Kitty Rescue. She was also a professional level poker player, taking third place in the 1990 Las Vegas Hilton Ladies Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament.

Enjoying great health for most of her 87 years, Kat passed peacefully at home, with her daughters and son-in-law by her side. Kat wished any donations to be made to Fearless Kitty Rescue in Fountain Hills.

Kat loved her life in the arts as well as the beauty of her desert surroundings in Fountain Hills. Throughout her career she touched hundreds of lives, encouraging people to express themselves through the power of music. Her lifelong passion for family, teaching and music kept her life full of good health, good friends and good memories for which she was always grateful.

The ever-positive, lively and tenacious Kat was a role-model for all of us who were fortunate enough to have her in our lives.

Anita “Kat” Baekey is survived by her daughters, Win and Lew, and son-in-law, Tim Toettcher.

A private memorial celebration for family, friends and students will be at the Baekey home in Fountain Hills.