Kathleen Carley, a founding member of Concerned Citizens of Montauk and for many years a summer resident of East Lake Drive in that hamlet, died on Jan. 2. She was 97 and had dementia.
She loved Montauk, “which she always said was ‘God’s country,’ “ her daughter, Dr. Margaret Carley of Schenectady, N.Y., said. Her mother enjoyed gambling trips to Connecticut and playing the lottery, she said.
Mrs. Carley, who was called Kay, was born in Queens to Thomas Duffy and the former Rose Dinda and grew up there.
She and Thomas Carley were married in 1946 upon his return from World War II. The couple had two children, and Mrs. Carley devoted herself to raising them. When they were older, she returned to work as a secretary at United Nations Federal Credit Union.
The couple retired to Montauk 40 years ago, after spending every weekend and summer at the house Mrs. Carley’s parents had built in 1953. Together, they were founding members of C.C.O.M. Mrs. Carley became a regular at the hamlet’s post office, where she sold tickets for the group’s annual raffle, which she spent hours organizing.
She also did volunteer work for Meals on Wheels and with campaigns to the save the Montauk Lighthouse and build the gazebo downtown. She was a member of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church.
Mrs. Carley’s husband died before her, as did a son, James Carley, and a sister, Marge Vonah. In addition to her daughter and her husband, Dr. Harry Dunn, she is survived by three grandchildren, Meghan Dunn of Albany and Matthew Dunn and Maura Dunn, both of Boston, as well as a great-grandson, James Parker Dunn.
Mrs. Carley was cremated. A celebration of her life will be held later this year. Her family has suggested memorial contributions to Concerned Citizens of Montauk at preservemontauk.org/donate or P.O. Box 915, Montauk 11954, or Meals on Wheels America at mealsonwheelsamerica.org or P.O. Box 791568, Baltimore 21279-1568