Our Obituaries

Karen Ridley, 73, of Sparrowbush, NY, passed away February 3rd, 2018 at home surrounded by her family after 3 years of treatment for metastatic melanoma. She was born on June 9th, 1944 in Passaic, NJ. She graduated from Passaic High School and continued her education at Penn State University where she earned her BA in English. She first worked as a technical editor for Thiokol Chemical Co. in Elkton, MD, a defense contractor of rocket motors. After moving to Sparrowbush, she worked as office manager at Eddy Farm Resort Hotel. She went back to school and graduated from Mount Saint Mary College with her Master’s Degree in Education. Karen retired as a special education teacher at the Port Jervis Middle School after more than 15 years. In retirement, Karen enjoyed travelling extensively in her motor home and the dog sport of Nosework. She was a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association, former president of the Tri-State Chamber of Commerce, member and former chairperson of the Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council, and former president of the Tri-State Dog Obedience Club. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Edward Ridley, her mother Beulah Thornton Gammon, her son Douglas Ridley and his wife Ashley of Dover, NH, her daughter Deven Ridley Zahorsky and her husband Alex of Shohola, PA and their daughter Arya Zahorsky, her brother William B. Gammon III and his wife Karen of Clifton, VA, two brothers-in-law, Robert Ridley of Sparrowbush and Kenneth Ridley and his wife Jane of Ithaca, NY, several nieces, a nephew, cherished friends, and her beloved collies Trapper and Splenda. She was predeceased by her father, William B. Gammon Jr., and her older brother, Ronald Gammon. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 7th from 2 – 6 PM at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 8th at 11 AM at the funeral home. Rev. Christopher Boyd, Hospice Chaplain will officiate. Interment will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sparrowbush, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark, 202 Route 209, Port Jervis NY 12771 or to the Solar Panel Fund at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 31 W Main St, Port Jervis, NY 12771. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information, directions, or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com