Kathleen Tara McCurdy
December 28, 1935-October 8, 2012
Kathleen was firstborn to Donald Payson McCurdy and Mildred Annie (Larsen) McCurdy in Mason City, Washington. She was reared in the western states of the United States prior to and during the World War II years. Graduated from Medford High School, Medford, OR, Kathleen attended courses at Southern Oregon College and transferred to a business program in Spokane, WA. She worked in a variety of positions as executive secretary in California and Washington.
She entered Canada as an immigrant sponsored by her sister and brother-in-law, themselves immigrants, in 1971. After some years holding secretarial jobs, she started a program in education at University of Victoria, and earned her bachelors degree and teaching credentials in 1982. In 1985 she moved to Salt Spring Island and has lived here since. She married Ronald E. Stacey of Salt Spring Island on 8 August, 1988. For a number of years she taught at remote or isolated Native American communities, including Klemtu and the Queen Charlotte Islands.
As a child, Kathleen learned to play violin, to tap dance, to lead Girl Scouts on hikes and mountain climbing, sang in her high school a capella choir. During her adulthood, she has been a scholar, has learned to play piano and guitar, and has learned to sail. Throughout her life, Kathleen has been a writer, helping others learn to express themselves in writing.
Through her marriage to Ron, Kathleen became an active participant in the Royal Canadian Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary. She has been an active participant of the Salt Spring Sailing Club and the Salt Spring Island branch of the Canadian Sail and Power Squadrons, assisting in sailors to become safer, more adept on the water.
Kathleen is survived by her sister, Maureen (McCurdy) Haugen, her brother Donald Payson McCurdy, Jr., and their offspring: nephew Donald Payson McCurdy III, nieces Marnie (McCurdy) and her husband Chad Bidwell and their daughter Violet Bidwell, Inger (Haugen) Boyd and her daughter Margo, and Megan McCurdy. Additional survivors are Ron Stacey’s children, Kathleen’s beloved stepchildren, and their offspring: Linda (Stacey) and husband Jim Pringle with daughters Nicola and Angela Pringle; Ross and wife Cathy Stacey with daughters Jocelyn Stacey and husband Matt Mitchel, Michelle and Christine Stacey ; Alan Stacey and sons Christopher and Jordan Stacey; and Brian Stacey.
A Celebration of Life gathering for Kathleen will be held at Meadenhall at the Legion at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, 20 October, 2012. You are welcome to attend and share your memories of this member of the community.