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Thelma A. Shaver
ONEONTA — On this date, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, a very special person, a very devoted wife, a great-great-grandmother, a great-grandmother, a grandmother and our mother, Thelma Adeline Shaver went to be with the Lord.
She was born July 12, 1908, in Harveys Lake, Pa., the daughter of Frank Benjamin and Margaret (Brace) Pelham.
Thelma worked at New Jersey Bell Telephone at Newark, N.J., and was sent to New York City to train for the first dial office in Newark, in 1925.
On Oct. 6, 1926, she married Arthur Fairbairn in Newark, N.J. Mr. Fairbairn passed away May 1932, after an extended illness. Mrs. Fairbairn married Charles Seymore Shaver on May 17, 1933, in Long Beach, N.J. Mr. Shaver predeceased her on Sept. 7, 1984, after 51 years and 4 months of marriage.
Thelma and Charles moved to Treadwell where they lived and operated a small dairy farm. They then moved to Franklin where they owned and operated a small department store on Main Street. She went to work at the Oneonta Dress Factory, and Homer Folks Hospital as a salad girl. She went to school at a beauty school in Binghamton, had a shop in Franklin.
They sold their home to the American Legion for their hall on Main Street and in 1966 moved to Winney Hill Road, Oneonta.
Thelma took pride in her family and loved each and everyone of them. She still at 95 years of age would send each and every one of them a card on their birthday.
As a hobby she made wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, crocheted baby blankets and large afghans. She also enjoyed cooking.
She had many good neighbors who were always ready to help, Mr. and Mrs. F. Vermilyea, Fred Ouimet and Shielene, The Stillson's, Mrs. A. Ulman, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sprague and Mr. Ken Carson.
She is survived by her four children, Thelma Denny of Franklin, Seymore C. Shaver of East Phasalia, Alfred Lee and Sandra Shaver of Goodyear Lake, and Betty and Robert Johnson of Savannah; 21 grandchildren; over 35 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; as well as two nieces, Loretta Bowman Wisniewski of Englewood, Colo., and Arletta House Dawdy of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Thelma was predeceased by one daughter, Margaret Lois Simonds of Oregon on Dec. 20, 2003; one son-in-law, Walter Denny on Nov. 13, 2002; one great-great-grandson, Seymore C. Shaver III on Sept. 19, 2003; two sisters, Faith Anderson and Elma L. Pelham; and one brother, George Pelham.
A Service to Celebrate the Life of Thelma Adeline Shaver will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, at 1 p.m. in the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Mel Farmer, pastor of the River Street Baptist Church, officiating. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Oneonta Salvation Army, 25 River St., Oneonta, NY 13820 in loving memory of Thelma Adeline Shaver.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Margarete Sullivan
FLEISCHMANNS — Margarete Helga Sullivan, 69, of Fleischmanns died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at her residence.
She was born on Oct. 15, 1934, in Germany, the daughter of William and Anna (Hirte) Mertens.
Margarete married John Sullivan on Nov. 22, 1968, in White Plains.
She started coming to Fleischmanns in 1973, and making Fleischmanns her permanent home in 1993.
Margarete was an avid tennis player and outstanding athlete. She won the Fleischmanns Tennis Open five times. She was known to be the official photographer of the tennis event.
She is survived by her husband, John Sullivan, Fleischmanns; two sons, Christopher and Douglas Sullivan; a daughter, Melissa Moore; and two sisters.
Calling hours are from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, at the Hynes Funeral Home in Margaretville.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at the funeral home with the Rev. John Priest officiating.
Committal services will be private.
Contributions may be made in memory of Margarete H. Sullivan to Muscular Dystrophy Association, ALS Research, 1249 Front St., No. 106, Binghamton, NY 13905, attention: Lynn Wells.
Arrangements are by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
Frank F. Selan
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Frank F. Selan, 94, of Zephyrhills, Fla., and formerly of Fly Creek, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2004, at the East Pasco Medical Center in Zephyrhills.
He was born on May 14, 1909, in West Mineral, Kan., a son of Michael and Mary (Remitz) Selan.
He married Pauline Mary Lacijan on July 27, 1935, in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.
At a very young age Frank and his family moved from Kansas to Wyoming and then at the age of 16 he and his family moved to Fly Creek Valley where they established a family farm.
For several years he worked for the Village of Cooperstown, however the majority of his working career was at Remington Arms in Ilion where he was employed for 31 years. Following his retirement, he and Polly enjoyed visiting Florida, moving there permanently in 1980.
Frank enjoyed many sports, most especially baseball and bowling. A devoted Yankee baseball fan, he played semi-pro baseball in the 1930s. At one time he served as president of the Monday Night Bowling League when it met at the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium on Main Street in Cooperstown.
Of the Catholic faith, Frank was of Slovenian descent and was a member and past president of the Farmers Independent Benevolent Society in Fly Creek.
Frank is survived by his wife of 68 years, Polly, of Zephyrhills; one daughter, Evelyn S. Davis of Herkimer; twin grandchildren, Jacqueline A. Chastang and her husband, Robert of Bloomfield, and James M. Davis of Canandaigua; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Albin (Barney) Selan and his wife, Bernice of Zephyrhills; a sister-in-law, Mary Ann Selan of Perry, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by three brothers, Roman Selan, who died Jan. 13, 1969, Michael Selan, who died July 15, 1993, and Edward J. (Ted) Selan, who died July 24, 2000.
A funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Catholic Church in Cooperstown, officiating.
Burial will be later this spring in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday afternoon from 2 to 4 and Friday evening from 7 until service time, when Frank's family will be in attendance.
Expressions of sympathy, in the form of memorial gifts may be made to American Heart Association, Northeastern Region, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Frederick McGown
COOPERSTOWN — Frederick Hamilton McGown Jr., of Cooperstown died in Vero Beach, Fla., on Jan. 16, 2004.
He was born at the Thanksgiving Hospital, Cooperstown, on Feb. 19, 1916. He was the only child of Frederick Hamilton McGown and Harriet Waller McGown. His mother died when he was 3 years old and his father later married Esther Seabury Conger.
He attended Cooperstown Central School, Andover Academy (1935) and Yale University (1939). He then taught at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pa., where he met his wife, Elizabeth Yeager Davies.
He entered the United States Army in 1943, where he served in the Army Air Corps. Following his discharge he taught at Cooperstown Academy and the Hyde Bay Camp. He returned to Wyoming Seminary until beginning his employment at Northrup Supply in Binghamton and Oneonta. He joined his father as a partner in the McGown Company which later became the Fred McGown Corp. After selling the Fred McGown Corp. to the Bruce Hall Corp., he was employed at the Bruce Hall Corp.
After he retired he became a New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technician, worked for Cooperstown Medical Transport Inc., and volunteered for the Cooperstown Emergency Squad.
For the past five summers, he worked with his daughter, Margaret at the Cooperstown Dreams Park.
Fred was an eagle scout. He served as Mayor of Cooperstown, was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, and was on several village committees throughout his lifetime.
He was a charter member of the Cooperstown Lions Club. He was a member of the Cooperstown Fire Department, the Cooperstown Emergency Squad, the Mohican Club, the Cooperstown Country Club, the Leatherstocking Twilight Golf League, the Forty and Eight, the American Legion, the Native Sons of Cooperstown and the Doubleday Dancers. He was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown and served on the Board of the Friends of Bassett.
Fred is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Davies McGown; his daughters and their husbands, Margaret McGown and Mark Zeek of Cooperstown, and Lenore and Philip Defliese of Mercer Island, Wash.; and his son, Frederick H. McGown III of Albany; his grandchildren, Elizabeth McGown, David McGown, Emma Zeek Slager, Stephen Zeek, Amanda McGown, William Defliese and Katherine Defliese; and his great-grandchildren, Emily McGown Carson, Tanner Colwell McGown, Sara Slager, and Duncan McGown Clark. He is also survived by his half brothers, David McGown and Seabury McGown.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Harriet Waller McGown.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in memory of Frederick H. McGown Jr. be made to the Friends of Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, or the First Presbyterian Church Building Maintenance Fund, Cooperstown.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Frederick H. McGown Jr. will be held on Feb. 21, 2004, at the First Presbyterian Church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
Patrick J. Joyce
SHERBURNE — Patrick J. Joyce, 77, a well-known attorney in Sherburne, died Dec. 25, 2003, while vacationing in Tampa, Fla.
Patrick was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on March 8, 1926. His parents were from Ireland, and living in Pennsylvania. Within one year after his birth, his father, who worked on the railroad, died in a train accident, and his mother, Mary Joyce, immediately returned to Ireland, with her 1 year old son, Patrick J. Joyce.
Patrick grew up in Tuam, Ireland, and dropped out of high school before graduating. During World War II, while still a teenager, Patrick worked for the American Merchant Marines while still an Irish citizen.
After World War II, Patrick was able to obtain American citizenship, as he was born in the United States, and was immediately drafted by the Navy for the Korean War and served as a medic. Following the Korean War, Patrick went to Providence College for three years and prior to graduating from college, went to St. John's Law School, where he graduated with a Doctor of Law degree.
In 1950, Patrick married Barbara Burrows from Boston, Mass., whom he met while they were both waiting tables in Cooperstown. Divorced in 1969, from Barbara, Patrick thereafter married Nan Bardshar. After her death, Patrick married an Irish woman, Anne St. John, to whom he was married at the time of his death.
For two years following his graduation from law school Patrick was an attorney on Wall Street in New York City. He then moved to Bainbridge, where he worked for Attorney Albert DeClue. He worked in Bainbridge for several years before starting his own practice in Sherburne. Patrick was elected Chenango County District Attorney and served in this capacity for nine years during the 1960s. He thereafter became well-known as a criminal defense attorney and later concentrated his practice on plaintiffs personal injury cases.
Patrick was active in the Sherburne Rotary and Chenango County Bar Association. He was also active in the Sherburne Community Players for several years.
Patrick is survived by his wife, Anne Joyce, of Tuam, Ireland; his three sons, Stephen P. Joyce, an attorney in Sherburne, Myel Joyce of San Diego, Calif., and Patrick A. Joyce of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; and his five daughters, Moira Joyce of Woodstock, Katie Joyce of AltaMonte Springs, Fla., Valerie Joyce of San Diego, Sheila Joyce of San Diego, and Bridget Joyce who is in law school in New York City. Also surviving are three stepchildren, Kathleen Dillon-Carroll, Elizabeth Dillon and Sarah Dillon. There are also eight grandchildren surviving.
A son, Robert Joyce, predeceased Patrick, as did both his parents.
Patrick Joyce was a generous, caring, fun-loving person and an asset to the community having helped thousands of people during his law career. He was the best father on the planet earth and will be missed by his family.
At the time of his death, Patrick was retired and enjoying life to the fullest with his painting and poetry.
Patrick had a great life. Before his death, he said he was excited because he knew he was going on a new adventurous journey.
An Irish Wake will be held for Patrick at The Joyce Law Firm, 26 North Main St., Sherburne, on Feb. 7, 2004, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Michele L. Barnett
HUBERT, N.C. — Michele Lisa Barnett, 36, died suddenly Jan. 11, 2004, in Marshallberg, N.C., after a car accident.
Michele was a loving, beloved mother and wife and beloved daughter, sister, niece and grandchild. She will be immensely missed by all. She will be in our hearts and minds forever.
Michele, formerly of Oneonta, is the daughter of Natasha and Leonard Singer, of Westford. Other survivors include her husband, Gerald Barnett; daughter, Tristan Danielle Barnett; and stepdaughter, Jaclyn Elizabeth Barnett, all of Hubert, N.C.; father, Val Burd of Roxboro, N.C.; four sisters, Tania Danielle Horton of Brooklyn, Maija Burd of Easton, Pa., Lisa Ecker of Alpha, N.J., and Jenny Singer of Brooklyn; paternal grandmother, Mabel Burd of Califon, N.J.; maternal grandparents, Elizabeth Peterson and David Dellinger of Montpelier, Vt.; father and mother-in-law, Robert and Janet Barnett of Lillington, N.C., and Thomas Barnett of Hubert, N.C.; sister-in-law, Krista Gibbs of Jacksonville, N.C.; aunts, uncles and many nephews, nieces and cousins from both sides of the family.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. Jan. 16, 2004, at St. Mildred Catholic Church with the Rev. Donald Baribeau officiating. Burial followed at Seaside Memorial Park in Swansboro, N.C.
The family suggests any donations could be made to Tristan's College Fund, in care of Natasha Singer at 149 Cronin Road, Schenevus, NY 12155.
Herbert Elsemore
RED HOOK — Herbert J. Elsemore, 57, a longtime Red Hook resident, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at the Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck.
Mr. Elsemore was a teacher for 34 years, having retired on June 30, 2002. He taught in the Red Hook Central School for 32 years, from 1970 until his retirement in 2002. While at Red Hook he taught Social Studies and Drivers Education.
Mr. Elsemore also coached Red Hook Lady Raiders volleyball team from 1977-1985, and Lady Raiders track team from 1973-1991.
He was a graduate of Peekskill High School and attained his Bachelors at SUNY Oneonta. He also attended SUNY New Paltz, Cortland and St. Lawrence Universities for graduate course work.
Mr. Elsemore was a member of United Methodist Church of Red Hook and the Red Hook Teacher Retirees. He was a past member of New York State Jaycees, where he was an Ambassador and JCI Senator.
Born in Peekskill, on April 3, 1946, he was the son of Dorothy Hill Elsemore Segnit, and the late Herbert Elsemore.
On Nov. 18, 1978, in East Guilford, Mr. Elsemore married June H. Elsemore. She survives at home. Along with his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Lisa M. Elsemore of Rochester; his mother, Dorothy Segnit of Red Hook; a stepbrother, William Segnit of Leesburg, Va.; and a stepsister, Carol Bradley of Madison, Ala.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at United Methodist Church of Red Hook, 4 Church St., Red Hook. The Rev. David Jolly will officiate.
Interment will be in the spring at East Guilford Cemetery, East Guilford.
Friends may call on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook.
Memorial donations may be made in Herb's memory to the Herbert Elsemore Scholarship, in care of Laurie McCarthy, Red Hook Central School, 7401 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 or the United Methodist Church of Red Hook, 4 Church St., Red Hook, NY 12571.
Arrangements are by Kenneth G. Giek, Burnett & White Funeral Homes, Red Hook. Please sign the online guest book at www.Burnett-White.com. Directions are also available.
