Barbara Davenport

Barbara Catherine Davenport, beloved mother, wife, and educator, tragically passed away due to complications from an emergency surgery on July 31st, 2025. She was 62 years old. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of more than 37 years Douglas, siblings Marybeth Rubin, Judith Isseks, and Thomas Reynolds, and children Trevor, Avery, Miranda, and Kyle.

Born in Kingston, New York in 1962 to the late William and Mary Reynolds, “Barb” as her family and friends called her, was a lifelong native of Ulster County. Growing up as the youngest of four in the tight knit community of Hurley, Barb’s creativity, curiosity, and nurturing spirit shone through from an early age. A lifelong learner who valued the pursuit of higher education, Barb received her Bachelors of Science from Cornell University, followed by a Masters in Education from Russell Sage College.

Barb’s eye for beauty and penchant for craftsmanship were immutable. As a mother, she would spend hours sewing custom Halloween costumes for her children, creating intricate bouquets of flowers, spearheading the design of her beloved family home, and sending Doug into the woods to forage natural materials for her elaborate Christmas decorations. Her hands never stopped moving, no matter the scale of her projects.

Barb was happiest when she was creating. Her culinary vigor peaked during the summer and fall when she had access to the wide variety of produce grown on the family farm. Barb’s home always had an open door policy, with a rotating cast of family and friends frequently gathering at the table to enjoy a good conversation and home cooked meal. This passion for food, nutrition, and empathy was shared with the hundreds of students she taught during her 23 year career as a Home Economics and Health Teacher. From taking her classes on trips to the Culinary Institute of America, to her Loaves of Love program that donated freshly baked bread in bulk to local food pantries, Barb touched countless lives through her educational initiatives.

Chief among Barb’s many hobbies and interests was her love for the outdoors. An avid skier, biker, backpacker, and hiker, she and Doug spent nearly four decades conquering ski slopes and trails all over the globe. While their love took many forms, their mutual admiration for the natural world and desire to explore grew to define it best. Together, they earned spots in the coveted Catskills 3500 Club after successfully summiting all 33 peaks on the list. Barb then shifted her focus to attempting to ascend all 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, often with family and friends in tow. In 2021 when many found themselves with additional free time, Barb and Doug threw their energy into building an adventure van, inspiring many of their close friends to follow suit. More than a vehicle, the van served as a tool to instigate, create, and embark on journeys across the Rockies, Little Cottonwood Canyon, coastal Maine, and the red sand beaches of Prince Edward island.

Barb’s untimely passing has left behind a void that will be impossible to fill. Her warmth, youthful outlook, and keen emotional intellect will be sorely missed by many, most intimately her children and husband. Calling hours will be held on August 22nd at Hurley Reformed Church from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at 11 Main St, Hurley, NY 12443. The funeral service will be at the same location on August 23rd from 12:00pm - 1:45pm followed immediately by a gathering at R.O. Davenport & Sons Farm at 2100 Hurley Mountain Rd, Kingston, NY 12401. Friends, family, former colleagues, and children are all welcome.