Mrs. Kathleen M. Lockerby

ADAMS – Kathleen Marie (Flynn) Lockerby, 73, of 4 Cedar Lane, Adams passed away on March 10, 2016 at Berkshire Place in Pittsfield, MA. Kathy was born on July 14, 1942 in Boston, MA to John and Kathleen (Bowe) Flynn. She spent her adolescent years in the Roxbury section of Boston, graduating from Mission Church High School in 1960. Shortly thereafter, her parents moved to Concord, MA where the Flynn family resided for over 50 years. Kathy was very attached to her "Nana Bowe", and for several years would drive into Boston on Sundays to bring her "Nana" out to church and for visits to the family in Concord, returning her safely to her little apartment in Boston. Kathy was not a showy or ostentatious person, but instead was a very down to earth "people person". Because of her personality, she was a natural bank teller, thus making it her career. She took her first teller job at Harvard Trust Company in Concord, MA, and worked as a teller and head teller for over forty years in eastern Massachusetts, Manchester, NH, and Adams, MA. In 1968, Kathy met a soldier from Ft. Devens, MA, Robert Lockerby, and they were married at Our Lady of Help Church in West Concord, MA in 1969. They enjoyed 47 happy years of marriage, and raised two of the best daughters anyone could hope for, Kelly and Kimberly, as well as four grandchildren, who Kathy simply cherished, Kelsey, Karyssa, Noah and Luke. In 1982 Kathy and her family made an adventurous move to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they lived for 2 ½ years. Always adaptable, she blended into the Saudi Arabian environment, and worked as a mail distribution clerk at the Saudi Arabian National Guard complex. She became fast friends with many of her co-workers, and received an outstanding performance award from the Project Manager of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. During her time in Riyadh, Kathy enjoyed shopping at the gold "souks" (shops) in downtown Riyadh with her friends from the US Army Corps of Engineers compound. In the course of this overseas tour, and in the years since, Kathy has enjoyed visiting such historical sites as the salt mines of Austria, Hitler's Eagles Nest in Germany, the pyramids in Egypt, and the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Additionally, she visited several sites in Rome, Italy, such as the Vatican and Trevi Fountain. She kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, saw the sites of London, and even parasailed in Ft. Meyers, Florida. Although she greatly enjoyed all of these experiences, Kathy would tell you that none of them compared to her true passion in life, her family and her friends. Holidays with her family made Kathy the happiest, particularly Christmas. She loved making "Christmas Cookies", for her daughters to take home to their families. She was also passionate in making literally dozens of loaves of zucchini bread for family and friends over the years. Kathy and her family returned to the US from Saudi Arabia in 1985. At that time, Kathy had reservations about moving "out into the sticks" to the Berkshires. Not long after we settled in Adams however, Kathy embraced it wholeheartedly, particularly after being hired by the South Adams Savings Bank in 1986. Kathy being Kathy, she quickly developed lasting personal friendships with her co-workers and customers. One of Kathy's customers was a widow and lived alone. When that lady passed away, Kathy made it her personal obligation to plant a large flower arrangement at her gravesite each Memorial Day. Kathy said…….." no one else is doing it, so I want to do it". For some, success is measured by the size of bank accounts, the amount of wealth accumulated, or property owned. Kathy's success in life could instead by measured by a much higher and more noble bar, the number of friends she had, and the number of good deeds she did for others, unconditionally, and unselfishly. A few years ago, one of Kathy's co-workers gave her a little plaque with the inscription that said…."Be an original, not a copy." She was indeed an original, and most certainly not a copy. To the Flynn and Lockerby families, who have been so blessed to have had her as our guiding light for all these years, she is and always will be an absolute treasure. She is the closest thing there is to an Irish angel, and her Irish blue eyes are now brightening up the heavens. Kathy leaves her husband, Bob; Her daughters, Kelly Charon and her husband, Greg, and their daughters Kelsey and Karyssa, of Cheshire; and Kimberly Dix and her husband, Butch, and their sons Luke and Noah, of North Adams; Her brothers, John Flynn and his wife, Katie, of Concord, MA; and Joseph Flynn and his wife, Ann, of Daytona Beach, FL; Her sister, Helen Raftery and her husband, Bob, of Leominster, MA; Her uncle, William Flynn of North Carolina; and her aunt, Peggy Wilke of North Carolina; Brothers-in-law Richard and Charles Lockerby; sister-in-law Sally Delevan, and their spouses, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews throughout New England. Kathy was predeceased by her parents, John B. Flynn in 2007, and Kathleen T. Flynn in 2012. Kathy's funeral will be held on Monday, March 14th, at 10:00 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church, Adams, celebrated by Rev. Steven Montesanti, Pastor. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Sunday from 4 to 7 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Pop Cares, PO Box 482, Williamstown, MA 01267, as she was a 39 year cancer survivor; or to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave. Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451.

Mrs. Kathleen M. Lockerby

July 14, 1942 - March 10, 2016