Thomas Kady

1941 - 2025

Thomas Francis Kady, 84, of Middletown, Md., beloved husband of Travis Zeiler Kady for more than 60 years, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, after a cardiac event. Known by many names to his family and friends, he was born on January 23, 1941, in Wheeling, W.Va., and was called T.F. for all of his youth, a youth spent in Glendale, W.Va., as the son of the late John and Virginia Kady and the brother of the late John (Patricia) and David (Marion), and surviving Martin (Camille), James (Lynda), and Kevin (Diane).

T.F. told stories of spending his Glendale days playing games and sports with his brothers in the backyard of their home, competing in baseball and basketball with his late cousin Jim McElwee, running through neighbors' yards to make it to school on time, caddying at the nearby golf course, and safely hitchhiking in a town where everybody seemed to know the six Kady boys.

T.F. started his college career at West Virginia University and Tom finished it at George Washington University, earning a degree in political science. While in college, Tom, as he was then known, started work for the Central Intelligence Agency where, out of all the important things he did, meeting his future wife Travis was at the top of the list. Thus began their lifelong journey together and the raising of their four children, all of whom survive him: Noah and Nancy Kady, Pamela (Kady) and Edward Gurtis, Nicholas and Colleen Kady, and Angela (Kady) and Patrick Buckler.

His children called him Dad, and he and Travis raised them to always remember that family comes first. Dad did that. He was involved in everything his children cared about and was reliably there with support, advice, and love. He showed them the world and taught them the value of accepting and respecting all others.

A true patriot, he was loyal to his country, the United States of America, and proud of its role in the world. In 1972, he was assigned to work in Vietnam. He was there until just days before Saigon fell, wanting to stay until the end and serve his country. Assignments followed in Thailand, Indonesia, Thailand again, and the Philippines. He enjoyed being called Khun (Mr.) Tom during his time in Thailand and often referred to himself that way for years to come. After 32 years, he retired from the CIA in 1994 but continued for many more years to do contract work for the U.S. government, which took him to countries all over the world.

In his retirement, he embraced the name Grandad, as he poured his love and attention onto his grandchildren, all of whom survive him: Nathan Gurtis, Kady Gurtis, Spencer Buckler, Jake Gurtis, Margaret Kady, Aiken Buckler, Erin Kady, Logan Kady, Desmond Kady, and Cassius Kady. He never hesitated to attend his grandchildrens' events, games, performances, or competitions. No event was too small or distance too far. If it mattered to his grandchildren, it mattered to him.

He was a softball player for many years. He called the day his All-Star team won a regional tournament in Southeast Asia and he was named Most Valuable Player one of the "best days of my life." He also loved to watch sports and, if not at one of his grandchildrens' events, spent many evenings in the bleachers at Middletown High School rooting for the Knights football and basketball teams.

His favorite teams were the Orioles, the Commanders, the Mountaineers, the Terps, and any of his grandchildrens' high school or college teams, but he was just as quick to watch late into the night two random college basketball teams battling it out on the west coast. One of his favorite things was attending the first four days of March Madness in Las Vegas, which he called "his slice of heaven." In Las Vegas and family pools, he took on the name Khunchalk, a reference to his practice of picking the favorites or "the chalk." As patriarch of the family, he spent hours upon hours each year planning for the family golf tournament, the Kady Invitational Tournament (KIT), working on foursomes until the wee hours of the night, making sure it was fair and that everybody was happy. He played his last round of the KIT last summer in a foursome that included his three youngest grandsons, Logan, Desmond, and Cassius.

In addition to the love of his life Travis, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren, and three of his brothers and their spouses, he is survived by Godchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws too numerous to list. A viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Thompson Harman Funeral Home, 31 E Main St, Middletown, Md. The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 7321 Burkittsville Rd, Middletown, Md., followed by the burial at Christ Reformed Cemetery, 12 S. Church St. All are welcome to attend a reception at Holy Family Catholic Church directly after the burial, at which time his children will deliver a eulogy. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to a charity important to him, the Alzheimer's Association. Condolences to the family and more information available at www.harmanfunerals.com Thomas Kady