Baylee Kinkade

Baylee Kinkade, 27, of Ypsilanti, passed away on July 15, 2024. She was born on April 6, 1997, in Kalamazoo. Baylee was a passionate advocate for both academia and altruism. She graduated from Portage Central in 2015, ranking among the top 25 in her class. She was currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Michigan, having earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Eastern Michigan University. Her academic achievements were marked by excellence and dedication, including writing her own grant for her master's program.

Outside of academia, Baylee was involved in Alpha Phi Omega, a sorority that promotes friendship and serving humanity. Athletics played a significant role in her life, from swimming and water polo in high school to rowing crew at Eastern Michigan University. She shared her passion for swimming by working as a lifeguard and teaching swimming lessons at the YMCA.

Baylee had a zest for life that extended beyond her academic and athletic pursuits. She adored animals, especially her golden retriever "Sunshine" and her cat. Her love for travel took her across Europe and to Japan, where she appreciated the cultural nuances such as the women's metro system in Japan that was one of the safest she had experienced. She found inspiration in the castles of Europe, creating art that captured her memories, which she shared on her Etsy site.

Known for her infectious smile and positive outlook on life, Baylee was a staunch advocate for fairness and treated everyone with humility, genuineness, patience, kindness, and tolerance. Every time we stand up for others, sing along to a favorite song on the radio, or share a new book with a special group of friends, we honor Baylee. In these ways, she will always be a part of us.

Baylee's memory will be cherished by her loving family, including her mom and stepdad, Jan (Joe) Fricko, as well as by her numerous friends.

A casual memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, October 6, from 2:15pm-3:45pm at Lakeshore Apartments Clubhouse. Please see Baylee Kinkade's Facebook page for more information. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Humane Society or SPCA of Southwest Michigan. Celebrate Baylee’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.