Kathleen A. Purdy

Kathleen lived most of her life in Keene, except 1949-1954, when her family lived in Miami, Florida. The family returned to Keene and Kathleen graduated with high honors from Keene Central School in 1957. She was accepted at SUNY Albany, though she returned home shortly after, to honor the request of her parents to help with the family business, The Village Snack Bar.

While working at the Snack Bar, Kathleen attended night school at Plattsburgh State and earned a bachelor’s degree in science and later earned her master’s degree in education with a concentration in science.

She started her teaching career at Elizabethtown Central School (now Bouquet Valley High School) as a long-term substitute for one year. She was then hired at her alma mater, Keene Central, where she was a dedicated high school math and science teacher for the next 50 years.

During her career as a teacher, Kathleen — otherwise known by her friends and former students as “Katy,” “Kate,” Mrs. Purdy and “Ma” — wore many hats at Keene Central School that included teacher, class advisor, member of the Teacher’s Association, helping with scheduling of classes and planning and overseeing the annual ADK suppers. She also spent numerous hours tutoring students at her home. To quote one of her former students: “Your stories, your lessons and your love are still very much alive. Thank you, Katy, for everything you and Ronnie gave so freely — to me and to so many others. For seeing me, for believing in me and for quietly shaping the person and teacher I became. Your lessons didn’t end when the bell rang or the restaurant closed for the night. They’re still alive, still working, still being passed on. I hope you know how deeply you are loved, how far your influence has reached, and how grateful I am to have been one of the many lucky people who got to learn from you.”

Katy also helped run her husband’s family restaurant, Monty’s Elm Tree Inn. She did most, if not all, of the behind-the-scenes work, which included scheduling, bookkeeping, payroll and doing all the restaurant’s laundry. During the summer months, she also worked as the hostess and cared for all the beautiful plants and flowers around the “Joint.”

When Kathleen was not teaching or at the restaurant, she could be found tending to one of her many flower gardens, or “doing paperwork.” In retirement, she found joy in writing about the history of the towns of Keene and Keene Valley.

Survivors include her loving sons Todd Purdy of Keene and Scott Purdy of Keene; her daughter Stacey (Chadd) Martin; the apple of her eye — her grandson, Wyatt Martin of Keene Valley; her foster son David (Ana) LeClair of Elizabethtown; her sister Nancy (Baird) Edmonds of Moab, Utah; her sister-in-law Denise Purdy of Lewis; and many nieces, nephews and all the members of the large and loving Purdy and McCourt clans. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Ronnie; foster son Joseph O’Connor; and infant sons Sean and Ronnie Jr.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of the M. B. Clark, Inc., Funeral Home in Lake Placid. A celebration of life will be held in late spring of 2026. Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories online at mbclarkfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Keene Fire Department or Keene EMS, PO Box 136, Keene, NY 12942.