Kathleen “Kathy” Louise Calligan Cohune Kelcey passed away after a brief and sudden illness in her home in McKinleyville on August 4, 2026. Kathy was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 7, 1942 and moved west with her family to Los Angeles at the age of six. There, she attended local public schools, culminating with her graduation from UCLA in 1962 with a degree in history, followed in 1963 by her teaching credential. Shortly thereafter, she began her decades-long elementary school teaching career in Los Angeles public schools. 

She married her late ex-husband, Robert V. Cohune in August of 1964 in Los Angeles. Together, they organized and ran a successful campaign to increase the number of public parks in their community, and were involved and concerned with local, state and national politics.

They had two children before moving to Chester, in rural northern California in 1979. Kathy immersed herself in her work teaching at Chester Elementary, as well as in attending her children’s many sporting and musical events. She made several life-long friends in Chester and hosted many holiday meals with neighbors and family. 

Kathy moved to Humboldt County in 1985 (first to Arcata and later, Eureka and McKinleyville) where she remained for the last 41 years of her life. There, she continued teaching at South Bay and Pine Hill Elementaries, obtaining her master’s degree from St. Mary’s College. She passionately served her fellow teachers as their union representative throughout her tenure as a teacher.

As Mrs. Cohune, and later as Ms. Kelcey, she was passionate about helping her students, hundreds of whom she taught to read. More importantly, she helped provide a safe and structured space for her students, providing food and books she purchased on her meager salary. Every day, her students recited the verse she wrote for them, “I am good, I am smart, every day I do my part.” A true educator, in her final weeks, she tearfully opened binders of class photographs she had on a bookshelf in her bedroom, recalling former students by name, vividly and fondly. On a family vacation to Washington D.C. in the early 1980’s, she cried at the Vietnam Memorial upon finding the names of a few of her first elementary students engraved in the cold, dark marble. 

Kathy had a life-long love of classical and choral music. She sang, played the french horn and piano as a child, and spent the last several decades singing in Humboldt Chorale, Christ Church Episcopal Choir, Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Choir and the McKinleyville Community Choir. She found joy in song and community with her fellow choir members. 

Kathy spent her last 14 years living happily in Ocean West senior park in McKinleyville, where she finally had plenty of time every day for reading books and listening to classical music. She was widely known in the park, a reliable visual presence during the five daily dog walks of her beloved Brownie. These walks often became social, involving spirited conversations with neighbors. She enjoyed a close circle of bright, caring friends at Ocean West. During these years, she had fun traveling with her dear friend and former teaching and union colleague, Jan Sorenson, to many tribal casinos throughout Northern California, where she played “the nickel slots.” To the delight of her family and friends, she once won a brand new Ford Mustang!

Kathy’s fierce intellect and strong sense of social justice, and knowledge of history, enlivened every conversation. This passion found expression not only in her teaching work, but also in her decades of volunteerism. Highlights of this work include service as: a Delegate to the California Teacher’s Association State Council; decades as her school site’s teacher’s union representative; membership on the board of the North Coast ACLU; a Hospice volunteer; and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in need. She was a monthly donor to Wounded Veterans of America, as well as to Bernie Sanders’ organization, among many others. She was outraged about the condition of the world and was proud that her children shared her passion for bettering it through their own careers.

Kathy was delighted by being a grandmother and adored her grandchildren. She was a consistent and reliable presence in their lives, driving to the Bay Area for countless school plays, bike races, graduations and holidays. Some of her final words were “proud, proud,” as she spoke to her granddaughter.

Kathy is survived by her children, Kirk Cohune (Jenner Cohune) of Bayside, Eileen Cohune Brown (Mitch Brown) of San Rafael, and her grandchildren, Finnegan Cohune-Brown of San Rafael, and Skylar Brown of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is also survived by her big brother, Michael Calligan of Palm Coast Florida, as well as her three nieces. 

The family wishes to thank: Joanne Grace for her skillful and kind care during the last several days of Kathy’s life; Dr Connie Basch and her staff at the Full Circle Center, who honored Kathy’s wishes with compassion and clarity; and Hospice of Humboldt.

Friends are invited to a celebration of her life, December 6 at 2 p.m. at the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bayside. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Kathy Kelcey’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.