CLAYTON, NY —Â Geraldine (Gerry) Kirkey of Clayton and Cape Vincent passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019.
Gerry was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to Walter and Hilda (Morrison) Lutz. She attended Buffalo State College majoring in Fine Arts. She worked for the Buffalo Courier Express in the art department.
Gerry used her artistic talents in many innovative and creative endeavors. She was the proprietor of the Greystone Inn, Clayton Center. It was one of the first Bed and Breakfast Inns in the area. The Inn hosted numerous musical artists when they traveled through the North Country. Many impromptu concerts were heard around the backyard campfire at the end of the day.
Gerry co-owned Clayton Harbour Wine and Gift Shop/Channel Marker 225 in Clayton. The shop featured Wagner Wines from the Finger Lakes, and was the first wine shop in the Thousand Islands. It was known for aged cheddar cheeses which were shipped around the country. The shop grew to become a very successful business until Gerry’s retirement.
In her spare time Gerry was the President of the T.I. Bluegrass Association. She was very active with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, and volunteered at the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce.
Gerry was loved and will be missed by her children Maureen Sharrer of Hamburg, NY, James Barnett, West Seneca, NY, Patty (Doug) McCullough, Prospect, PA, Matthew Kirkey, Hamlin, NJ, Karen Kirkey, Rochester, NY, and Peg Chaff, Butler; PA; four nieces and nephews; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a great- great-grandchild; a brother, Walter Lutz, Cape Vincent, and a sister, Linda (Vincent) Anello.
She was predeceased by her husband, Francis (Frank) Kirkey and her brother, Rollo Lutz.
Burial and services will be in Canada.
Arrangements are entrusted to Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton, NY.
Donations in Gerry’s memory may be made to Jefferson County SPCA, PO Box 531, Watertown, NY 13601, the Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS.
Online condolences to her family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com Â