Ky Putnam

Jere Ky Putnam died on September 15th, 2025 after a short battle with lung cancer. Ky was born on January 28th, 1947 in Portland, Oregon. He was adopted at birth by Phil and Daisy Maye Putnam. Ky began his childhood in Portland before moving to Southern California with his parents. He excelled in sports, playing a year of college basketball at Whittier College before being drafted into the US Army in 1966. While stationed in Honolulu, Ky met and married Susan Bliss. They had two boys, Rob and Matt, before divorcing in 1985. In 1986 he would meet the love of his life Maura Naughton at a gathering of friends. The two married in 1997, and remained together for the rest of his life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in Horticulture, Ky worked diligently to become a highly capable engineer. He had a type of technical genius that enabled him to complete complex technical projects across a variety of domains. He would master new disciplines through intense study, driven by an inquisitive mind able to easily learn new and complex topics. Ky worked for Corvallis School District for twenty years. As the District’s Energy Management Coordinator, one of his many successes was an effort to improve energy efficiency at Osborn Aquatic Center, earning an energy award from the State of Oregon. He would move on to Hewlett Packard in 1994 until his retirement. Ky will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Maura will miss his unwavering love, his sense of adventure and Irish humor, and his ability to fix anything. His sons will remember him as a rare blend of strength and emotional availability. They will miss the beauty of his vast intellect, his wicked sense of humor, and the calm warmth of his presence. As a father, they couldn’t have hoped for more. Ky was preceded in death by his father in 1966 and his mother in 1998. He is survived by his wife Maura, his two sons Rob (Sarah) and Matt Putnam, and his five grandchildren. A Wake celebrating his life will be held on 25 January 2026, 4:00-8:00pm @The Vue: 517 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis, OR. It is on the 6th floor and there is an elevator. Totally casual – just like him :) Please RSVP 541-231-0353

Tributes

Ky Putnam

January 28, 1947 - September 15, 2025