As Fox 13 reported, Kathryn “Kay” Andrews died in 2019, and included on her headstone, on a plot shared with her husband, Wade, is the recipe for “Kay’s Fudge.” According to her daughter, Janice Johnson, it was a sweet treat that Andrews whipped up “whenever people got together.”
As the story goes, when Wade Andrews died in 2000, Kay chose the images that were included on his headstone. Her children reportedly wanted her to do the same for herself, prompting Kay to have the headstone engraved with her signature recipe.
In the years before her death, Kay’s headstone, situated next to her husband’s in Utah’s Logan Cemetery, had already gained internet fame in certain circles, including on Reddit.
The popularity of Andrews’ grave is a testament to her legacy.
“I knew that the headstone had been circulating on Pinterest for like a long time now. Since my grandpa passed away, when I was 8 years old, I knew it was kind of internet famous,” her grandchild, Emily Andrews, told ABC4, adding that her grandmother’s fudge was indeed “really good.”
Johnson explained to Fox 13 that her mother “really loved people” and shared an incredible bond with her husband, whom she met during World War II.
“She was crazy about him from the beginning,” said Johnson.
As Wade was stationed abroad, he and Kay—then known as Katie—exchanged countless letters. Once he was discharged from the service, he “took her to the Capitol steps and gave her the diamond and they were married 18 days later.”
Now, people online are once again remarking on the headstone’s recipe.
“Smart to include this recipe,” wrote Twitter user Laura L. Matthews. “In this way,” she said, “she is basically immortal.”
Meanwhile, @chefrocky wrote, “[It] makes me realize I’ve gotta start thinking about something CREATIVE for my headstone.”
“I hope to one day have a recipe so good they put it on my headstone,” wrote NYT food correspondent Kim Severson.
One of Andrews’ other grandchildren, Wall Street Journal reporter Natalie Andrews, also weighed in, tweeting, “The story behind the fudge recipe on my grandma’s headstone is a sweet one for Memorial Day—and the love story between her and my grandfather is one for the ages.”
Fellow grandchild Emily echoed that sentiment to ABC4: “I think she would be thrilled that people can have a taste of her recipe…That’s what she was all about, sharing with people, so I think she would love it.”
For anyone hoping to try the famed dessert at home, the recipe for Kay’s Fudge featured on the headstone reads as follows:
“2 SQ. CHOCOLATE 2 TBS BUTTER MELT ON LOW HEAT STIR IN 1 CUP MILK BRING TO BOIL 3 CUPS SUGAR 1 TBS VANILLA PINCH SALT COOK TO SOFTBALL STAGE POUR ON MARBLE SLAB COOL & BEAT & EAT”