Kelly C. McCarthy

Kelly Colleen McCarthy

Age 49, of Hector, NY, passed away after a brave and courageous fight with cancer on May 11, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, Christopher “Chip” Dunham, and is survived by her beloved sons, Jackson, Tanner and Finnegan; parents, Jerry and Lois McCarthy of Chestertown, MD; sister, Kate McCarthy of Arlington, VA; brother, Clete (Ashley) McCarthy and nephews, Brandon and Declan McCarthy, of Herndon, VA: father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Lynda Dunham of Lewes, DE; brother-in-law, Tim Dunham of Hector, NY.

Kelly was born and raised in Chestertown, MD, and attended Virginia Tech where she played the trumpet in the Marching Virginians and was a member of Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority. Shortly after graduation Kelly met the love of her life, Chip Dunham, and moved to Hector, NY. Along with Chip, Kelly was proud to live in and raise their family in Hector. Kelly had a passion for education, children, and empowering women, and gave back to her community in many ways. Her involvement included serving as past President and current VP of Southern Finger Lakes Women; Watkins Glen Central School District Board of Education where she was first elected in 2012, and serving her third term as the current VP (and past President); and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County, serving as a board member since 2016, on the Marketing and Executive Committees and as Vice President for 2019.

To know Kelly is to know that her family was her life. She was a Watkins Glen Cub and Boy Scout Mom for 14 years and, along with her husband, was a co-founder of the Watkins Glen Youth Lacrosse Program - bringing lacrosse to the Watkins Glen Central School District. When not volunteering or spending time with family, Kelly could be found with her nose in a book or her Kindle, listening to live music at many of the local Hector venues, enjoying wine at her favorite Hector vineyards, watching Hokie and Redskin football, hosting and attending book clubs, making her special Hector Fudge, and offering support to women and girls of all ages. Her favorite days were lakeside with friends and family on Seneca Lake.

Those wishing to honor and remember Kelly are invited to make donations to the Kelly C. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship fund. Checks can be made payable to Watkins Glen CSD, noting “scholarship” in the memo and mailed to 303 12th St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891.

You may express condolences to the family online in her obituary at www.RoyceChedzoy.com. Arrangements entrusted to Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, Watkins Glen.