Kathryn Louise Stock Burgess was born May 25, 1920 in the Town of Hancock, New York to the late Edwin Christian Stock and Katherine VanAken. As an infant, she moved to Richmond Hill, Queens. She graduated from PS53 in Richmond Hill where she received the American Legion Medal of History and then Richmond Hill High School from which she graduated with Honors, and along with her later-to-become husband, Douglas, gave the Valedictory Speeches. They both matriculated in the second class at the then new Queens College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English and History. World War II intervened and Douglas went off to the Navy and Kathryn to the Defense Plant, Sperry Gyroscope Corporation in Lakeville, New York, to work in Director Test for the Gun Directors being built for Great Britain. Following World War II Kathryn and Douglas were married on August 25, 1946, at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, Richmond Hill, NY afterwards residing in New Hyde Park, NY, Hempstead, L.I., Metuchen, New Jersey, Flemington, New Jersey, West Caldwell, New Jersey and for the last 43 years in Old Chatham, NY. During those years she was a substitute teacher in all these school systems, teaching English, History and sometimes French. Her passion was History, and upon the recommendation of retiring Town Historian, Earl Wixon, was appointed Town of Chatham Historian by the Town Supervisor, Fran Blake. She served in this capacity for a remarkable 35 years. During those years, Kathryn learned the history of the area and its inhabitants and began an extensive investigation into the genealogy and movements of the people through the "Funnel of Chatham" from East and South and into the middle of the country beginning during the formative years of the colonies and the migrations westward into the great country which it became. She learned that many of her forbears were among the many settlers of the Kings District as it was called at that time. Kathryn concluded that History was people and without people, there was no history. Only geology and plate techtonics. Her survivors include her husband, of 63 years and 11-1/2 months, Douglas Lincoln Burgess., their children, Stephen Richard (Gail Sanderson), Elizabeth Jane Burgess (Elliot Galanter), John Douglas (Victoria Hawkins), David Lincoln (Jennifer VanAmburgh) and grandchildren, Christopher Morgan Burgess, Charles Douglas Burgess, Thomas Allen Burgess, Dr. Meredith Katherine Galanter (Eric Hastings), Joshua John Galanter, and Cassandra Nell Galanter (Lenny Judice), Benjamin Avery Burgess, Evan Meade Burgess, Lucy Anne Burgess, and Kristin Emily Burgess, nieces, Jean Auserehl (Paul Soper), Sandra Auserehl (Scott Lundstedt) and Wendy Auserehl (Lance Manus) and grand –nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends Wednesday, August 18th from 4 to 8 pm at the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl funeral home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Religious services will be Thursday at The United Methodist Church, Malden Bridge, NY, at 2pm. Interment will follow at the Old Chatham Union Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the United Methodist Church Community Center Inc., Malden Bridge, NY 12115. For directions or to send an online condolence visit, www.frenchblasl.com.