Katherine (Kay) Snyder Shaw of St. Paul was a former Girl Scout who as an adult worked for the youth organization that helped shape her life.
Shaw, who also spent part of her career with the Campfire Girls, died Dec. 16 in Roseville, after a short illness.
She was 90.
"She represented what the Girl Scouts is all about, to teach women to be independent, to teach women to go after what they want in life," said Dawn Cwierley, media relations for the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys.
Born in Minneapolis, Shaw was put up for adoption after her mother was left destitute by the death of her husband, a railway worker, in a railroad accident.
She was adopted by Vee and Fred Snyder of St. Paul, and lived in her adoptive family's home until 2005.
After scouting and graduating from Minneapolis' University High School in 1935, she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology from St. Paul's Macalester College in 1940. During summers, she helped lead scout camps.
During World War II, she served in the Women's Army Corps, managing clerical and administrative personnel in New York.
"She was a very patriotic little gal," said her friend Cindy Guy of St. Paul. "She loved her country."
"She was a pistol. She was an independent woman," Guy said.
After the war, Shaw worked in various jobs, and in 1955, she got another bachelor's in home economics at the University of Minnesota.
From 1955 to 1978, she worked for the old Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis, rising to field director and director of Camp Greenwood, near Buffalo, Minn.
"She gave it her all," said Florence (Moxie) Moxham of St. Louis Park, a Girl Scout adult leader. "She worked long hours," helping scout troops at nighttime meetings after a full day's work.
Shaw was awarded Girl Scouting's Thanks Badge, the highest award for adults.
From 1967 to 1980, she served in management positions for the Minneapolis Council of Camp Fire, or Campfire Girls.
She was an avid volunteer: She was a PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) member since she was 18; volunteered at many seniors residences until recently; took in international students from Macalester College; supported scouting in the Twin Cities, and led a national veterans' group.
Shaw is a past president of the WAC Veterans Association, and has been the group's chaplain the past five years.
WAC veteran Doris Wilkins of Eagan said her friend was persistent and successful as a leader.
"She loved planning special events for large groups," said Wilkins, adding that Shaw co-organized a national convention for the veterans group held in Chicago in 1996.
She was married briefly in the 1960s, keeping the name of Shaw.
She is not survived by immediate family.
A memorial service is being planned for spring at St. Paul's University Club.
