June 22, 1950 – October 11, 2024
Randolph –
Kathleen “Kathy” B. (Brown) Root, 74, of Randolph, New York, passed away Friday, (October 11, 2024) at the Heritage Village Rehab and Skilled Nursing in facility in Gerry, NY. She was born June 22, 1950 in Philadelphia, PA., the second daughter of the late Clifford and Catherine (Lautenbach) Brown.
Kathy was a 1968 graduate of Everman High School in Everman, Texas.
Upon moving to Randolph, she worked at the former Borden, Inc. She (ignored the advice of her sister) met and (with everyone’s blessing) married Garry G. Root. Their adventure began then and went on for 54 years of marriage. A proud mother of three sons, she was the epitome of a home maker. Her job was to make everything her boys and husband were involved in better. She worked with her husband at their Garry’s Quaker State service station in Randolph and was a co-founder of Garry’s race car team. Kathy was a Sunday school teacher and co-administrator for the Pre-K program at the Randolph United Presbyterian Church. She was a Den mother with the Randolph Boy Scout Troop 603, a member of Randolph Central School’s PTA and she helped to establish a successful youth soccer program in Randolph. She was proud to have founded the Randolph Veterans Parade with her husband, held each August where participants pass by their prized 30×50 foot American flag. She retired after 30 years of service as an Executive Administrator with the Boy Scouts of America in Falconer. To say Kathy was creative, organized and resourceful would be an understatement. She made clothes, costumes, cookies, food, created parties and sent cards for every occasion. She loved a theme, holidays (especially Christmas), car shows, visiting with her sisters and their families, traveling and researching attractions. She was essential in helping to solidify the annual B Company Veterans reunions and created the ladies ‘get together’ for veteran spouses. She gave an extra special touch to everything. When her beloved grandchildren came along, she really thrived…there are hundreds of scrapbook pages to prove it. She relished every detail shared with her and documenting memories was her specialty- including albums and home video archives for each of her three sons.
She is survived by her husband; Garry G. Root, whom she married on October 10, 1970 in Randolph, three sons; Garry Douglas and Katie Root of Oxford, NY, Matthew Wayne and Edith Root of Rocklin, CA. and Steven Edward and Megan Root of Brunswick, MD. She was blessed with seven grandchildren, Delaney, Sophia, Spencer, Layla, Michael, Elisabeth and Gus; two sisters, Bettyann (Bill) Prather of NC and Evelyn (David) Edwards of TX, many nieces and nephews, best friends Vikki (Frank) Fowler and Dianne (Martin) Sheffield, and close family friend Mike Culver, her beloved B Company family and countless friends who became family to Kathy-you know who you are. The family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Village for their excellent care and compassion, as well her in-laws Darlene and Dennis and the rest of her extended family for their help, love and concern. She was preceded by her parents Clifford and Catherine Brown and her stepmother Phyllis Brown.
As per her wishes, there will be no visitation held. A graveside service will be held at the East Randolph Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2024. The family will be hosting a celebration of life at their home 4354 RT 241, Randolph NY 14772 on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 1-5 p.m. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Van Rensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church Street, Randolph, New York 14772
To send a condolence log onto www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com In Lieu of Flowers; Memorials may be sent to the Randolph Rescue Squad Regional EMS, 70 Main Street, Randolph, NY 14772 or to the Allegheny Highlands Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 50 Hough Hill Road, Falconer, NY 14733.
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