Kathleen Ann Geraty

COLUMBIA - A funeral service for Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Geraty, 76, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with burial to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Kathy died Saturday, November 4, 2023, after living for many years with dementia. Born in Herkimer, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Edward and Dorothy Geraty and grew up in Dolgeville N.Y. She graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in History from SUNY Albany, a Master’s in Education from the University of South Carolina, and completed post-graduate study in Educational Research at the University of South Carolina. She settled in Columbia, S.C. in the 1970’s and through work, met her husband, Clarence Edward “Ed” Taylor, Jr. Kathy and Ed married in 1984, had two children and were happily married until his death in 2016.

Kathy worked first as a Speech Therapist for many years before finding her passion as a Counselor. As a Counselor, she worked in crisis counseling and emergency intervention services, as well as led group counseling sessions for a variety of psychiatry and addictions populations, including geriatric, adult, adolescent, and families. She and Ed owned their own business for several years, the Atlantic Center for Training, that designed workshops and training seminars for staff of human service agencies.

Kathy was a free spirit and self-described “flower child”, living life to the beat of her own drum and never feeling the need to take a traditional path or have traditional views. She spoke her mind and made an impression on everyone she met. You could usually find her on her screened porch, and anyone who visited was treated to cocktails, lively conversation, and even impromptu therapy sessions—all on “the porch.” She and Ed had a close friend group in Columbia that became an extended family. The gang enjoyed regular trips to South Carolina State Parks—most frequently Barnwell and Santee. She and Ed had children later in life than was typical at the time, but once her children were born, she fell in love with being a mom and devoted her whole self to raising them. She taught her kids that there are many paths to success, to pursue what made them happy, to question convention and authority, and most importantly that they were loved unconditionally.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Tracy and Frank Smith; granddaughters, Taylor and Caroline Smith; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sue and Gregg Deluca, Nancy and Clinton Loren, Elizabeth Cramer and her partner, Ronnie, and Ann Marie Geraty and her partner, Lyle; sisters-in law, Maria Geraty and Elaine Brantley; a family friend who is considered a son and his wife, David and Abby Jones; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Adam Edward Taylor; her brothers, Richard and Daniel Geraty; her brothers-in-law, Rob Cramer and Joe Brantley; and a nephew, Ryan Cramer.

The family wishes to thank Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community for the excellent care she received during the last year of her life and especially in her final days. She was well loved by the staff and residents, developing a special relationship with many of the people on her care team, who all adored her big smile.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charitable Fund at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community https://bishopgadsden.givevirtuous.org/Donate.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedevine.com for the Geraty family.