Kathleen Joyce (Downs) Moody

Her passing came as a shock as she had fought and overcame incredible odds for the past seven years. Her strength and will to carry on for her family had defied numerous medical prognoses.

Kathleen was born on Nov. 30, 1948, the daughter of Paul and Norma (Downs) Williams of Upper Jay. She is survived by her ex-husband Wesley Moody of Saranac Lake; her brother Burt Williams and sister Bonnie Lawrence of Upper Jay; and her two daughters, Kathy Ann Woodruff (Scott) of Saranac Lake and Jaquelyn (Stephen) Niederbuhl of Bloomingdale; her step-children, Dorothy and Larry Norton of Peru, Alan and Debbie Moody of Saranac Lake, and Patrick and Sami Dupree of Bloomingdale.

Kathleen was predeceased by her step son Richard Moody of Saranac Lake. Kathleen’s pride and joy were her grandchildren: Holley McCormick and Lillian (Linda) Niederbuhl, Alex Chirlin and Sara Vacks of Boston, Mass, Cameron and Erika Moody of Bloomingdale, Ryan and Jackie Moody of Albany, Ashley and Larry Norton, Megan and Mellisa Moody of Bloomingdale and several beautiful great grandchildren whom she adored.

Originally from Upper Jay, her roots had been planted in several places like Lake Placid, Harrisville, Saranac Lake and Edison, New Jersey, where she and Wes owned and ran a garden center.

Her final residence was Bloomingdale at the Overlook Apartments, where she had made some great friends and neighbors.

Kathleen’s life revolved around racing for many years as she worked as track accountant and manager for Airborne Speedway, Albany Saratoga Speedway and Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Vermont, under CJ Richards and the Champlain Valley Racing Association. Thereafter, she adored following the career of her favorite driver, Patrick Dupree. She then spent the remainder of her working career at Cornell Uihlein Farm in Lake Placid where she got to work with her brother, Burt, and several cousins for many years.

Competitive in her nature, she loved playing pool, softball, and was relentless in rummy. She was strong-willed, quick-witted and always up for a heated debate with her smart-alec nephews.

A beautiful person through and through, she took care of everyone she could. The shirt off her back or the food on her plate.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. Services will be Thursday, July 28 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the funeral home with formal graveside services held at Jay Central Cemetery following at 3 p.m.