Richmondville- Melodie “Dee” H. Neary, 72, of Richmondville, NY/Palm Harbor, FL/wherever planes fly and cruise ships float, left us on Monday, July 25, 2022, to embark on one final adventure.

Born May 2, 1950, in Cortland, she was the daughter of the late Jack Harmon and her mother, who survives, Ardeth (Busch) Harmon of Stamford.

Dee began what would become 48 years of dedication to Jefferson Central School in 1955 when she attended Kindergarten. She graduated from Jefferson Central School in 1968 and pursued an education degree at the State University of New York at Cortland which she obtained in 1972. In 1976, she was hired by Jefferson Central School as an elementary school teacher. She would serve 35 years in that position retiring in 2011.  She cherished her time at Jefferson and few things made her happier or prouder than meeting former students, sharing memories, and hearing about where life had taken them. While walking the hallways on the day of retirement, she remarked that she truly belonged there.

Dee was a devoted wife married to Kevin P. Neary on September 18, 1976, until his death on July 11, 2021, and her dedication to her three children knew no bounds. When not teaching or travelling the world, her world was her kids. She raised her children to have the same exuberance for travel that she had. Not many summers were spent at home. She traveled to Europe with each child, and the biggest adventure with her kids was putting them into the back of a van and taking a two-month cross country expedition. In total, Dee travelled to every state, three oceans, and four continents.

Cherishing their memories along with her mother are Dee’s children:  Eamonn (Jenny) Neary, Meghan Neary and Brendan Neary (Lauren Joaquin); two grandchildren: Ronan and Riley Neary and her brother, Jack (Pamela) Harmon, along with her extended Neary family.

Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held from 1PM to 4PM on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill.  A private graveside service for the family will be held at Richmondville Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cobleskill Community Library, 110 Union St., Cobleskill, NY 12043, Jefferson Historical Society, PO Box 143, Jefferson, NY 12093, or Richmondville Historical Society, PO Box 316, Richmondville, NY 12149.