HERKIMER-Kenneth H. Purdy age 87 of Sherwood Acres Drive passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening, August 20, 2009 in Little Falls Hospital. He had the comfort of his loving family at his side. He was born on October 12, 1921 in Ilion, son of the late Claude L. and Elsie Robertson Purdy. A lifelong area resident Ken was raised in Mohawk and at the age of seventeen was a graduate of Mohawk High School, class of 1939. On January 1, 1957 he was united in marriage with the former Annamae Mathis in the Turin Methodist Church. During his early years, he farmed in partnership with his parents. In 1940 he and his parents took over the McEvoy farm in Herkimer and distributed milk in the village for the next ten years. After his retirement from farming he owned and operated a heavy equipment business. In 1969 he was appointed to the Town of Herkimer Board of Assessors and in 1971 was appointed sole Assessor, a position which he held for a total of eighteen years. Mr. Purdy retired in 1987. Ken had a strong belief God and was a member of the First United Methodist Church Herkimer/Little Falls and a member of Herkimer Lodge # 423 Free and Accepted Masons for well over fifty years. In his leisure time he enjoyed his lifelong hobby of fishing, hunting, bowling and more recently playing golf. He will always be remembered as a soft spoken and kind gentleman. Any conversation was frank and to the point but you could always feel a sense of warmth and friendship whenever you were with him. He will be greatly missed. Surviving him are his wife of fifty-two years, Annamae, his in-laws, Clara and Joseph Vrubel of Turin, Fred and Mary Mathis of Boonville, Mary Mathis of Constableville, Edna Mathis, of Loweville, Edward and Mildred Hemak of GA, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. At Mr. Purdys request his funeral service and interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Herkimer County Humane Society, PO Box 73; Mohawk, New York 13407.