Long hours of rehearsals and auditions paid off for Sue Kays. She overcame childhood polio to become one of the world famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. When she was just 7 years old, her parents enrolled her in dance classes to help strech her muscles. By age 14, she was proficient in tap, jazz and ballet dancing, according to her daughter Betty Jane Netherton of Dunwoody. In 1938, with just $200 in her pocket, Mrs Kays traveled from her home in West Palm Beach, FL to New York city to chase her dream of becoming a professional dancer. "When she was with the New York City Ballet, her toes would bleed from practicing for so many long hours," said Mrs. Netherton. After dancing with the New York City Ballet for a short time and traveling throughout the country with another dance troupe, Mrs. Kays' big break finally came in 1942 when she was selected as a Rockette. "You had to be a great dancer in order to be picked as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall." said her friend and former Rockette Viola Varble of St. Louis. Sue Kays danced with the Rockettes for 3 1/2 years. In 1951 she moved with her husband, Marion, to Atlanta. She continued to be a member of the Rockette Alumnae. Sue Kays died at 83 years old of complications from heart failure. She is survived by three sons, Marion Reed Kays III of Atlanta, Dale Blandford Kays of Marietta and Wiliam Earnest Kays of Lawrenceville, two daughters, Lucy Jordan of Doraville and Betty Jane Netherton, 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. | ||