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Marjorie LaValley
DELHI — Marjorie E. LaValley, 95, a resident at the Countryside Care Center, Delhi, and formerly of Sidney, passed away Friday evening, March 4, 2005, in Delhi.
She was born May 15, 1909, in Millerton, the daughter of the late Charles and Rose Ford Teater.
She married Floyd LaValley several years ago and he predeceased her March 23, 1969.
Marge was a retired 40-year employee of the Amphenol Corporation of Sidney. She was a former member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 502, Sidney.
She is survived by her son, David Moore of Stormville; daughter-in-law, Estella Moore of Unadilla; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Her three sons, Guy, Edward and Alan Moore; a daughter, Dorothy Moore; two brothers, Charles and John; and a sister, Marion predeceased Marjorie.
Funeral and committal services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2005, at the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney, with the Rev. Mary Ann Linder, pastor of the Mount Upton United Methodist Church, officiating. Friends are invited to call at their convenience, Thursday before the funeral service.
Burial will in the spring in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney.
Memorial gifts in her name may be directed to the Sidney Emergency Squad, if desired.
Fred Martindale
MILFORD — Fred Martindale passed away Sunday, March 6, 2005, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital
He was born Jan. 28, 1920, in Milford to Grace Brown Martindale and Fred Martindale Sr.
As dairy farmers, Fred and his father enjoyed being two of the earliest local farmers to replace their draft horses with rubber-tired tractors and thrashing machines.
He married Virginia Winsor on Sept. 26, 1943. Together, as lifelong residents of Milford, they raised seven children and successfully operated their dairy farm for 35 years. Fred continued to enjoy the machinery of farming, especially John Deere tractors. He took special pride in the John Deere that remains in his barn today.
Along with his wife, Fred is survived by children Jim and Sandy Martindale, Ron and Nancy Martindale, Sam and Jenny Martindale, Dennis and Joan Martindale, David Martindale, Elva and Chuck Manee and Rich and Ann Martindale. Loving grandchildren are Marcus, Lucas, Heather, Christian, Daniel, Nina, Joseph, Jennifer, Ryan, Lindsey, Cheryl, Rick, Miranda, Matt, Colin and Emily Martindale, Jasmine Purdy, Tyler and Samantha Manee, Carrie and David Wagner, Veronica and John Jacobs, Christie and Brian Layman, and Connie and Roger Wilms. Evan Wagner and Max Wilms are great-grandchildren. Loyal friends Gary Eichler, Kip Hasenkamp, Lynn Quackenbush and Bob Moore helped with chores and cheered Fred’s spirits.
Fred was predeceased by his parents and his seven sisters, Pauline Cougear, Marjorie Packer, Elizabeth Jorgensen, Francis Schrull, Ruth Evans, Lena Jorgensen and Faith Swartout.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Milford Emergency Squad or the Portlandville Methodist Church.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2005, at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home, Route 28, Milford.
A funeral service at the funeral home will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2005, with pastor Rob Kazinski officiating.
Nanna ’Ann’ Jakes
COLLIERSVILLE — Nanna "Ann" Jakes, 75, of Colliersville passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005, at her residence.
She was born March 11, 1929, in Babylon, the daughter of Alfred J. and Mary J. (Willmont) Van Dyne.
She married Richard Jakes on Nov. 17, 1951, in Huntington.
Ann enjoyed taking care of her home as well as bowling.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Jakes of Colliersville; a daughter, Judy (Christopher) Speckman of Allegany; her grandchildren, Peter Marciano II, Andrew Marciano and Emily Speckman, all of Allegany; and her brothers LeRoy Van Dyne and Eugene Van Dyne of Shirley.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Alfred Van Dyne of Islip and George Van Dyne of Riverhead.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 4, 2005, in the Noce Funeral Home, 189 Route 109, West Babylon, NY 11704-6211, with burial in Pinelawn Memorial Park.
Arrangements were made with the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Billie Jo Ratliff Honeywell
NEW BERLIN — Billie Jo Ratliff Honeywell passed away peacefully Monday morning, March 7, 2005, at her home surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born July 28, 1924, in Oak Hill, W.Va., to Basil and Tina Upton Ratliff.
Billie graduated from Hinton High School in Hinton, W.Va., class of 1942.
She made New Berlin her home in 1946 when she married Charles Brownell. She married James Honeywell in 1974 in Cooperstown. He died in 2000.
She leaves behind two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Andy Sherman of Barneveld and Betty and Mike Taranto of New Berlin; granddaughters, Christine Taranto of New Hartford and Sara Taranto of Boston, Mass.; stepchildren, Jim Honeywell of Silver Spring, Md., Marcia Foote of Morris, John Honeywell of Chestertown, Md., and Jeff Honeywell of California; many stepgrandchildren; special niece, Sheila Kuziak of Summerville, S.C.; nieces and nephews, Tom Hellems of Charleston, S.C., Gary Hellems of Clarksdale, Ariz., Joann Hellems of Charleston, S.C., Rob Ratliff and Nancy Stover, both of Hinton, W.Va.
Billie was predeceased by sisters, Virginia Hellems and Lucille Ratliff; and brother, John Ratliff.
She loved her family, genuine people and animals.
Visiting hours will take place between 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at Dakin Funeral Home in New Berlin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2005, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Berlin with Father Charles Taylor officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made in Billie’s name to the Chenango County SPCA, 6160 County Road 32, Norwich, NY 13815.
Burial will take place in the spring at St. Andrew’s Cemetery.
Leo Mestyanek
MARGARETVILLE — Leo Simon Mestyanek, 77, of Margaretville passed away March 7, 2005, at Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville.
Leo was born Dec. 19, 1927, in Halcott Center. His parents were Milos John Mestyanek and Ella Marie Deamer.
After growing up on the dairy farm in Halcott Center, Leo served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
He was married to Nedra Jean Dumond on Jan. 27, 1957. They were married until her recent death in October of 2004.
He worked as a Teamster for many years. He then worked at Margaretville Central School as a bus driver and custodian until retirement.
During his lifetime, he was a member of the Margaretville Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion Post 216 and the Masonic Lodge.
He enjoyed gardening, his model airplanes, model railroading, Citizens Band Radio and reloading ammunition.
Leo is survived by his brother, Gerald Mestyanek of Grand Gorge. He has three daughters, Laurie Helen Lutz, married to Thomas Lutz, originally from Roxbury, both of New Fairview, Texas; Sheryl Ella Cudmore of Arlington, Texas; and Sandra Marie Justice of Buffalo, S.C. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and cousins, nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Hynes Funeral Home in Margaretville. The Margaretville Masonic Lodge will conduct services at 7 p.m.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2005, with the Rev. Wm. Hawes officiating at the Hynes Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions in his memory may be given to the Margaretville Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion Post 216 or the Masonic Lodge.
James E. Smith
PALM HARBOR — James E. Smith, 63, of Palm Harbor died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, in Clearwater when the small plane he was in crashed shortly after takeoff from Clearwater Airpark.
James was born in Oneonta and moved to Palm Harbor in 1988 from Atlanta.
He worked 34 years as a mechanic for Delta Air Lines. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Dunedin.
James belonged to numerous aviator organizations and was an active member of Clearwater Airpark and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
He enjoyed flying and boating.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Myriam; a son, Michael A., Atlanta; a daughter, Ericka McGarity, Atlanta; a brother, John T., Roanoke, Va.; a sister, Carol Ann Squires, Norwich; and a grandson.
Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Dunedin Chapel.
Norman A. ’John’ Foret
DELHI — Norman A. "John" Foret, 77, a resident of the Delhi Senior Community, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon, March 8, 2005, at Countryside Care Center, where he was admitted three weeks ago.
The son of the late Walter John and Agnes (Williamson) Foret, he was born Feb. 10, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, and married the former Margaret Mowrey in 1951. The marriage later ended in divorce.
"John," as he was known by his friends, attended Malone College, a Christian school for the arts in Canton, Ohio, and Kent State University, where he received a master’s degree in education and served as a missionary for The Society of Pastoral Friends (Quaker) at The Little Buffalo Indian School, Little Buffalo Lake, Alberta, Canada, subsequently teaching six grades in a one-room schoolhouse near Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
In later years he was a social worker at the Cleveland (Ohio) Protestant Orphanage; a helper of Dorothy Day in the Catholic Worker movement; and the proprietor of "The Kaaba Magic Shop" in San Francisco (1970s-’80s), spending several years in solitude in the High Desert near Joshua Tree, Calif.
A Delaware County resident since 1988, John lived in Roxbury and Grand Gorge, moving to Delhi in July 2000; was of the Roman Catholic faith; a member of the Temple of the Knights of the Orient (OTO); and saw himself as a poet, realizing minor recognition for his poetry, which he wrote for the last 60 years of his life.
Surviving are his former wife, Margaret (Mowrey) Spanioli of Naples, Fla.; a half-brother, Peter B. Foret of Tampa, Fla.; nieces and nephews; and several close friends, including Barbara Geywits, Arlene Metrick and Linda Condon, all of Delhi, Andrew and Kimberly McArdle of Roxbury and Peter and Cara McArdle of the Bronx.
Friends are invited to attend funeral services at 4 p.m. Friday, March 11, in the Community Center at the Delhi Senior Community. His friends, Thomas Briggs, director of the Delaware County Office for the Aging, and the Rev. Linda Wilson will officiate.
Final services will be held in San Francisco, an area that gave John consolation during his life, and where his remains will be returned to rest.
It was John’s request that memorial contributions be made to Delaware County Office for the Aging or the Humane Society of Central Delaware County, Delhi.
Arrangements are entrusted to Robert A. Peet, Hall & Peet Funeral Home, Delhi.
Rita Ryan
CHERRY VALLEY — Mrs. Rita Ryan, 89, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at Nathan Litteaur Nursing Home, where she had resided since 2002.
She was born July 29, 1915, in Brooklyn, the daughter of George and Helen (Duffy) Keller.
On Aug. 31, 1942, she married William L. Ryan of Kildare, Ireland, in Brooklyn. He predeceased her in 1993.
She worked for Lofts Candy Factory in Brooklyn. After moving to Cherry Valley in 1947, she worked as a cook for Cherry Valley Central School and then as a dietary cook for Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
She was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Cherry Valley.
Survivors include two daughters, Eileen Ferris of Syracuse and Virginia Dieterle of Camillus; a son, William T. Ryan and his wife, Pamela, of Cherry Valley; grandchildren, Nolan Ferris of Canistota, Colin Ferris of Syracuse, Kelly Ryan of Amherst, Heather Ryan of Cherry Valley, and Meegan and Jack Metallo of Bellingham, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Erin and Gloria Metallo of Bellingham, Mass.; a sister, Veronica Mulcan of Bay Shore, Long Island; and a niece and sister-in-law, Nancy and Agnes Morton of Cooperstown.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Kathleen Ryan in 1987; a grandson, Ryan Dieterle in 1999; and a son-in-law, Walter Dieterle in 1999.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2005, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Cherry Valley, with Father John Roos officiating.
Calling hours will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. preceding the funeral service at the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
Spring burial will take place in the Cherry Valley Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rita’s memory may be made to the Susquehanna SPCA.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
Martha Sansevere
COOPERSTOWN — Martha Sansevere, 78, of Cooperstown (formerly from Hoboken, N.J.) passed away at Bassett Hospital on Sunday, March 6, 2005.
Martha was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Hoboken, N.J., and lived there until she moved to Cooperstown in 1998 after her beloved husband, Samuel, passed away.
Before moving to Cooperstown, Martha was very active in St. Ann’s Church in Hoboken as a lector and also in political clubs. However, Martha did have a connection with Upstate New York because in her younger years she visited her parents, Otto and Martha Larsen, in Downsville.
The past seven years Martha lived at 76 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, with her son, John, daughter-in-law, Madeline, and grandchildren, Nancy Anne, Mary Jane and Sean.
Martha was a classy and insightful lady who loved to read and smoke. Her regular visits to the Cooperstown Diner, Willis Monie bookstore and CVS brought her much joy. Because she had difficulty walking, she was known to often ask any strong-looking man walking on Main Street if they would mind escorting her to one of these Main Street stores.
She is survived by her three sons, John and daughter-in-law Madeline of Cooperstown, David and his wife, Caroline, of Secaucus, N.J., and Eugene and his wife, Lois, of Hollywood, Fla. She was the proud grandmother of Samantha, Danielle, David Jr., Patrick, Nancy Anne, Mary Jane and Sean. Her other surviving family includes her brother Eddie Larsen and sister-in-law Elsie of South Plainfield, N.J.; her sister Jackie Amato and brother-in-law Charles Amato of Downsville; her beloved cat, "Petey"; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2005, at St. Mary’s Church in Cooperstown, where Martha will be waked.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at St. Mary’s Church in Cooperstown with Father John Rossen officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bassett Hospital, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326, in appreciation for the time and caring the staff consistently displayed over the years on her behalf.
Funeral arrangements are made under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Home, Pioneer Street, Cooperstown.
Raymond Higgins
FLY CREEK — Raymond Burton Higgins, 66, "The Mayor of Fly Creek," died Wednesday morning, March 9, 2005, at Otsego Manor.
Ray was born April 16, 1938, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, the son of Bert and Dorothy (Pomeroy) Higgins.
Raised in Fly Creek, he graduated from Cooperstown Central School with the class of 1958.
Following a brief period of service in the United States Navy, he received his honorable discharge and returned to Cooperstown.
He was employed for six years by Ambrose and Stephen Clark, doing maintenance work at their estate. He was then employed in the maintenance department of the former First National Bank on Main Street in Cooperstown. For 17 years he was employed in the same field at Woodside Hall before his retirement.
A frequent visitor to the Fly Creek General Store, Ray especially enjoyed playing the lottery and was very often a winner. He was also fond of visiting area yard sales and was often taken to them by his Hospice caregivers, whom he loved.
Affectionately known as "The Mayor of Fly Creek," Ray knew about all the local buildings and homes, and was able to tell about all the changes over the years. Ray was a member of the Fly Creek United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Pomeroy Higgins of Otsego Manor; an aunt, Ruth Weeks and her husband, Floyd, of Cooperstown; and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his father, Bert Higgins, on June 27, 1959.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2005, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted at a later date in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, with the Rev. Thomas Pullyblank, pastor of the Fly Creek United Methodist Church, officiating. The time and date of the service will be announced in The Daily Star.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Catskill Area Hospice Hope Foundation, 1 Birchwood Drive, Department FH, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
John M. Lawler
ALBANY — John M. Lawler, 78, of Albany died suddenly Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Albany Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Lawler was born in Oneonta but lived in the Albany area nearly all his life. He was a graduate of the New York State Teachers College in Albany and was employed for his entire career by the New York State Department of Civil Service.
He also was a communicant of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.
Mr. Lawler was the son of the late John T. Lawler and Florence Rose Lawler.
He is survived by his brothers, Msgr. Robert L. Lawler of Waddington and Richard T. Lawler of Baldwinsville; his nephews, Michael Lawler of Albany, Patrick Lawler of Cicero, John Adams of California, James Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas and William Adams of Florida; his niece, Bonnie Adams of Florida; and many great-nieces and -nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, James Lawler.
Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, on Friday morning at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Eagle Street, Albany.
Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Emmons.
Arlene Schmitt
NORTH FRANKLIN — Arlene Mae (Anderson) Schmitt, 77, of North Franklin went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital.
She was born Oct. 11, 1927, in Oneonta to Mabel (Baker) and Basil Anderson. She grew up with her five brothers on Telford Street, and graduated from Oneonta High School on Academy Street.
She married Werner Schmitt on Feb. 23, 1947, in Oneonta and moved to their North Franklin farm not long after. She was most at home in the kitchen and in the garden. She was famous for her "Blueberry Buckle," "poisons" and her green thumb with flowers and vegetables.
In addition to being a wife and mother, she also worked for Delaware County Home Bureau and as a floral designer at Coddington’s Florist for a number of years in the 1970s, and enjoyed being active in several organizations, including the North Franklin Women’s Club, the Onesiphorai Reading Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Oneonta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society and the Chenango Valley Doll Club.
Although her rheumatoid arthritis limited her recent activities, she enjoyed spending time with her family and tending to her doll collection.
She was a lifelong member of Main Street Baptist Church, actively sharing her faith and energy with others through Sunday School, Ladies’ Circle and other ministries. Her outlook on life and strong will to carry on with life despite the challenges of her disease proved to be a testament to all who know her.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Werner; her three sons and spouses, James and Kathy Schmitt of Edmeston, Peter and Ellen Schmitt of Emmons and Paul and Mary Schmitt "down the road" in North Franklin; and her daughter, Sarah Schmitt of North Franklin/Oneonta. Her granddaughters were her special favorites, Kristen Schmitt Lindner of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nicole Schmitt of Albany, Traci Schmitt of North Adams, Mass., Michelle Schmitt of Oneonta, Jennifer Schmitt of Boulder, Colo., and Lisa Schmitt and Emily Schmitt of Oneonta. She is also survived by her brothers, Karl Anderson of Sidney and Harold "Dick" and Joyce Anderson of Dillsburg, Pa.; a sister-in-law, Betty Anderson of Oxford; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Edgar and Vera Schmitt of Oneonta; as well as several cousins and dozens of nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by three brothers, Norman Anderson, Derwin and Grace Anderson, and Wesley and Agnes "Pat" Anderson; her sister-in-law, Shirley Anderson; and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Walter and Mary Schmitt.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Arlene’s name to the Franklin Emergency Squad, PO Box 8, Franklin, NY 13775 or to the Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern NY Chapter, 1717 Central Ave., Suite 105, Albany, NY 12205.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2005, at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Main Street Baptist Church, corner of Main and Maple streets in Oneonta, with Pastor Gary Bonebrake officiating.
Burial will take place later in the spring at Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.
