Published 1/28/02

BRASHER FALLS — The Rev. Earl W. Nichols, 86, died at Massena Memorial Hospital in Massena on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002.

He had resided at LBSH Housing in Brasher Falls since 1995. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Name Church in Tupper Lake, where he served for 23 years. For the first five years of retirement, he served as administrator of St. Lawrence Church in North Lawrence. Most recently, he had assisted with Masses at St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Falls.

Father Nichols, son of the late Warren E. and Mary A. (Crowley) Nichols, was born in Portville, N.Y., on July 23, 1915. As a child, he moved with his family to Ogdensburg. He attended Holy Cross School and St. Mary’s Academy, graduating in 1934. Following graduations, he operated a service station on the corner of Ford and Rosseel streets for four years. He began studies for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall in February 1939. Father Nichols received his training in theology at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, N.Y. He was ordained a priest on Oct. 19, 1946, at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart.

Father Nichols served as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Massena, St. Joseph’s Church in Malone, and St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. After serving as temporary administrator of Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville, Father Nichols was named to his first pastorate at St. Mary’s Church in Copenhagen in 1955. In 1961, he became pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church in Elizabethtown. From 1968 until his retirement in 1990, Father Nichols was pastor of Holy Name Church in Tupper Lake. While pastor in Tupper Lake, he also served as the dean of Adirondack Deanery.

In addition to his parochial assignments, Father Nichols was deanery director of the Diocesan Development Fund and deanery moderator of the diocesan Councils of Catholic Men and Catholic Women for Essex Deanery. He served as a member of the senate of priests and the diocesan board of consultors. From 1980 until his death, Father Nichols served as an associate judge for the diocesan tribunal.

Father Nichols is survived by a sister, Helen Welsh, and a sister-in-law, Shirley Nichols, both of Ogdensburg. He is also survived by six nieces: Mary Muirhead, Mary Jane Nichols, Margaret Nichols, Elizabeth Kenealy, Ruth Wallace, and Grace Planck, and several cousins in the North Lawrence and Brasher Falls area. He was predeceased by a brother, James, and a sister, Ruth.

The Rev. Monsignor Robert L. Lawler, P.A., vicar general of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, will be the main celebrant at a Mass of Christian burial at noon Wednesday, Jan. 30 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. The preisets of the diocese will concelebrate the funeral Mass. The body will be waked at Fox-McLellan Funeral Home in Ogdensburg from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday. Father Nichol’s body will be transferred to the Cathedral 2 p.m. Tuesday and will lie in state until 9 p.m. The Rev. Monsignor Harry K. Snow, rector of the cathedral, will lead the Prayer of Transfer. The Rev. Clark S. White, Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Falls, will preside at a vigil service to be held at the cathedral at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Falls or to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

MORIAH — Ann E. Scott, 66, of Tarbell Hill Road, died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, at the Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y.

Ann was born April 28, 1935 at Mineville, the daughter of Arthur and Grace (Stevenson) Kelly.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Scott; her sons, Michael Wright and Thomas Wright of Moriah; her mother, Grace Kelly of Mineville; her sister, Grace Hyatt of Port Henry; her brothers, Richard Kelly of Florida, Arthur Kelly of Mineville, David Kelly of Oneida, Donald Kelly of Oneida and Thomas Kelly of Norwich; her grandchildren, John Stone of Crown Point and William Wright of Mineville.

She was predeceased by her father, Arthur Kelly, and her brother, Gary Kelly.

There will be no calling hours.

A funeral service will be conducted 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the First Methodist Church, Moriah.

Memorial donations in Ann’s memory may be made to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad, Moriah Center, N.Y. 12961.

W.E. "BILL" DUGAN, 82, of 70 Bloomingdale Ave., Saranac Lake, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at his home.

He was born Sept. 15, 1919 in Creek Locks, N.Y., the son of James A. and Winifred (Mowell) Dugan.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Bible Vigil will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday. A Memorial Mass will be held 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at St. Bernard’s Church with the Rev. Shane Lynch officiating and Father Carmen from St. Joseph’s, concelebrating. Interment will follow in May in St. Alphonsus Cemetery in Tupper Lake.

CLARENCE E. YANDO SR., 90, of 8 Barbara St., Malone, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at his home.

Born in Belmont, March 4, 1911, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Mamie King Yando.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at Notre Dame Church in Malone, with the Rev. Scott Seymour officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery on the Lake Titus Road in Malone.

Donations may be made in his memory to either the Malone Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department or to Hospice of the North Country, Inc. in Malone.

RICHARD R. AYOTTE SR., 75, of Stearns Apartments, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Park Row, Cadyville.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday from St. Joseph’s Church in Dannemora.

Interment will be at a later date in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.