Ronald M. Purdy

January 1, 1939 - February 3, 2016

Ronald M. Purdy, 77, of Keene died Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at the UVM Health Network, CVPH Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. His was a long and valiant fight against breast cancer. He was born January 1, 1939, in Rochester, NY, the son of the late Wilmot “Monty” and Anna Lorraine (Burritt) Purdy. The family moved to Keene when Ron was six and he began his Adirondack trek. After graduating from Keene Central School in 1957, he served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1961. He returned home to join his father in the family business, Monty’s Elm Tree Inn. During his journey he was a Hurricane Club Bobsledder, a Jayceer, a former long time member of Saranac Lake Elks Lodge 1508, the Keene Fire Department and American Legion Post 504 in AuSable, and of course the president of the local Turtle Club. To quote a friend; “I’ve bounced around the world and the states, but you stand out as one of the finest people I’ve met. You led by example, did the right thing, always helped your friends and community and never said a word about any of it. The word “hero” is way overused these days, but you have always been a hero in my eyes- in the old fashioned sense. Wishing you Godspeed.” Survivors include his wife, Kathleen, his sons, Todd and Scott of Keene; his daughter, Stacey (Chadd) Martin, his grandson, Wyatt Martin of Keene Valley, his foster sons David LeClair of Elizabethtown, and Joseph O’Connor of Key West, FL; his sister, Beverly (Paul) Greenwood of Keene, his sister-in-laws Nancy (Baird) Edmonds of Moab, UT and Denise Purdy of Lewis; former sister-in-law Ginny Grimshaw, and many nieces and nephews and all the members of the large and loving Purdy clan. Ron was predeceased by his brother, Robert and infant sons, Sean and Ronnie. There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 13, at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Lake Placid, NY. Father John Yonkovig will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Keene Fire Department, PO Box 136, Keene, NY 12942. Arrangements have been entrusted to Marvin-Heald Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.