Kathryn "Katy" L. Forry

Mrs. Kathryn L. “Katy” Forry died on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, surrounded by her family at home in Delaware, after a well-fought battle with gallbladder cancer.  She was 76 years old.

Katy is survived by her husband, Rev. Dr. David L. Forry of Delaware; sons Erik Forry (Anne) and Karl Forry of Delaware.  She is also survived by siblings Richard Christensen (Tina) and Linda Regan (Jeffrey) of  Michigan, and Laura Christensen (Mark) of New Mexico.  Katy was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Esther Christensen.

Katy graduated from Redford Union High School in 1959.  In 1963 she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Monteith College in Detroit.  In 1964 she obtained a Master of Arts in Teaching from Wayne State University and in 2000 Katy earned a Masters of Education Degree from Keene State College. 

In 1964 Katy married David Forry, a Methodist minister. Katy and Dave moved to New Hampshire in 1969 where they raised two sons, Erik and Karl, who remember their mother as a dedicated parent and advocate, who taught them to be engaged in their community and encouraged them to pursue their goals.

In 1975, Katy went to enroll her son Karl, who has Down Syndrome, in kindergarten at the public school and found that there were no services offered for disabled children like Karl.  This denial of a  public school education inspired Katy to become a passionate advocate for the handicapped.  Katy took a leading role in the movement to compel New Hampshire’s public schools to comply with Federal special education laws, ensuring that New Hampshire's special needs children could go to public school. Katy continued to advocate for the handicapped in many venues: she was a past President of the New Hampshire Association for Retarded Citizens; the Monadnock Association for Retarded Citizens; and the New Hampshire Coalition for Handicapped Citizens, and she was active with the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council. 

Katy also offered to serve the citizens of New Hampshire as a candidate for public office.  In 2006 she ran for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and in 2008 she was a candidate in New Hampshire Governor's race.  In both elections Katy ran on a platform of reforming New Hampshire's  property tax – based system for funding public schools.

In addition to her advocacy for the handicapped and political activities, Katy’s professional career included teaching high school history in Maryland; serving as Title 1 Director for the Jaffrey-Rindge and ConVal School Districts; reporting as Jaffrey – Rindge newspaper correspondent for the Keene Sentinel; as a Real Estate Broker and owner of Liberty Real Estate in Peterborough, New Hampshire; before retiring as a Special Education Aide in the Jaffrey-Rindge and ConVal School Districts.

Katy was a talented photographer and artist, and was a member of the Monadnock Writer's Group.  In 1976 Katy published King Empty's Secret, a satire of New Hampshire politics in the guise of an illustrated children's book.

A private service for family was held at Melvin Funeral Home in Harrington, DE.  Interment will be at a later date with family in Michigan.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Arc of the United States, 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20006, www.thearc.org. 

Arrangements are by the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, Inc., Harrington. Visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to sign the online condolence book.

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