Published 3/13/02

PLATTSBURGH — Mary Mae Ducatte, 98, of Cornelia Street, died Tuesday, March 12, 2002, at Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Cadyville on Jan. 8, 1904, the daughter of Peter and Suzanne (Mumblo) Giguere.

Mae attended Cadyville School. She had been employed by Diamond Paper Mill in Plattsburgh for 35 years, retiring in 1967.

Mae enjoyed dining out, flower gardening and her cat, Sparky.

She was a member of St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh.

Mae is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Clara and Maynard Senecal of Plattsburgh; a son, George "Bud" Wilson of Phoenix, Ariz., a son and daughter-in-law, Gerald and Flora Wilson of Boston, Mass.; a son-in- law, James Ryan of Plattsburgh, a son-in-law, Milton Webb of Pinetops, N.C.; a daughter-in-law, Lucille Wilson of Plattsburgh; many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great- grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and her loving friends and neighbors.

Mae was predeceased by her parent; four brothers; and one sister; three sons, Milton Clifford Jabaut, Melvin "Lefty" Wilson and Floyd Wilson; two daughters, Patricia Ryan and Lois Webb; and husbands, George Wilson and Orville Ducatte.

Calling hours will be Thursday, March 14, 2002, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, March 15, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. from St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh.

PLATTSBURGH — Ruth M. LaBarre, 72, of Sailly Avenue, died Tuesday, March 12, 2002, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

She was born in Plattsburgh on June 28, 1929, the daughter of Howard and Winifred (Myers) Pelkey.

She was raised, from a young age, by her stepfather, Floyd Blanchard.

Mrs. LaBarre was an avid bingo player and organized bingo at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home.

She was also a former member of American Legion Post 20 Ladies Auxiliary.

Mrs. LaBarre was a member of St. Peter’s Church, where she married Louis LaBarre in 1954.

She worked as a waitress at the Stonehelm Restaurant from 1962 until 1969. In 1969 she purchased Lena’s Market on Sailly Avenue, renaming it Lou’s Market and managed it until retiring in 1983.

Survivors include her husband, Louis; two sons, Raymond LaBarre and his wife, Kathryn of Spring, Texas and Glenn LaBarre and his wife, Debbie of Plattsburgh; two daughters, Lois Putnam and Linda Baughn and her husband, Stephen both of Plattsburgh; one brother, Carl Blanchard of Plattsburgh; two sisters, Calla London of Beekmantown and Florence Ormsby and her husband, James of Plattsburgh; eight grandchildren, Chantel Stevens of Saranac, Joshua Putnam of Raleigh, N.C., Lucas LaBarre of Keeseville, John Davis LaBarre of Spring, Texas, Trista and Travis Baughn of Plattsburgh, Korinne and Heather LaBarre of Plattsburgh; and one great-grandchild, Cameron Putnam of Plattsburgh.

She was predeceased by her son, Clifford LaBarre; a sister, Lettie Blanchard; and two grandchildren, Erica and Jeremy Putnam.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church. Burial will be in St. Edmund’s Cemetery in the spring.

Donations may be made to the American Lung Association or the Arthritis Foundation in her memory.

Dannemora — Francis E. Smith, 81, of Dannemora, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2002.

He was born in Chateaugay, N.Y., on June 10, 1920, the son of Clarence and Marguerite (Wright) Smith of Merrill.

Mr. Smith graduated from Lyon Mountain High School in 1938 and worked for Republic Steel and the Dannemora State Hospital until called to service.

In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army and served with the famed Devil’s Brigade. Known officially as the First Special Service Force, the Brigade was a joint American-Canadian elite unit that served with distinction in the Aleutians Campaign in 1943 and the mountains of Italy in 1943-44. During the Allied drive toward Rome in May 1944, Mr. Smith’s squad was captured by German. forces and taken prisoner. He was imprisoned in Stalag 7A south of Nuremberg until April, 1945. Mr. Smith’s wartime decorations include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

He was also a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

After the war, Mr. Smith raised a family and worked at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora until his retirement in 1977.

An avid outdoorsman and sportsman, Mr. Smith was a member of the Siberian Rod and Gun Club, the Dannemora Beagle Club and the prison golf and bowling leagues.

He was also a past president of North Country Squares and was a past grandmaster of the Masonic Lodge, Mt. Herman Chapter, Ellenburg, as well as a member of the order of the Eastern Star, Mt. Herman Chapter.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 59 years, Audrey (Inglis) Smith of Dannemora; two sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Sylvia Smith of Columbus, Ind., and Tyler and Annette Smith of Dannemora; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Jim Reh of Plattsburgh and Rinda and Abbie Opp of Hazelton, N.D.; a sister, Althea Leach of Norfolk, Va.; a brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Gerda Smith of New Hartford, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, Shane Fellows of Fargo, N.D., Ryan Poissant of Plattsburgh; Steven, Eric and Brent Smith of Columbus, Ind., Alanna and Jacqueline Smith of Dannemora Kurt Reh of Plattsburgh; and one great-grandchild, Justin Fellows of Bismarck, N.D.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Mr. Smith will be held Thursday, March 14, 2002, at 7 p.m. at the Dannemora United Methodist Church.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Dannemora United Methodist Church or the Dannemora Emergency Squad.

Arrangements are by the O’Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home of Plattsburgh. For guestbook, please visit www.legacy. com.

LANTANA, FLA. AND PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — John J. "Jack" Harris, died on Thursday, March 7, 2002, in Lantana, Fla.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on October, 24, 1915.

Mr. Harris is the past department commander for the State of New York American Legion and the past commander of Floyd Bennett Post 1060 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

He is the beloved husband of Theresa; dearest father of Regina and John Harris, Jerry Wayne and James Alger and Charlene Kowalowski; and the cherished grandfather of 13.

Family received friends Sunday, March 10, 2002, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McManus Funeral Home, 4601 Ave N. (Corner of E. 46th Street), Brooklyn, N.Y. A funeral was held from the funeral home on Monday at 9 a.m. A Mass of Resurrection was held at 9:30 a.m. at Mary Queen of Heaven Church.

WILLSBORO — Robert George Hamms, 64, died peacefully at home on Monday, March 11, 2002, surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born in Willsboro and lived there all his life. On November 28, 1937, he married his beloved Marjorie LaBounty of Keeseville. Together they had four children, Bruce and Russell of Willsboro, Lisa of Cary, N.C., and Pamela of Glens Falls.

Bob will always be remembered for his commitment to his family, his generosity of spirit, his easy-going nature and his ever-present smile. He loved to travel and make frequent trips with family friends. No matter how difficult things in life might be Bob always approached each situation with a positive attitude and determination that he would make the very best of things, even when his own life was at stake. He was respected for his strong work ethic, his integrity and his honesty. Bob was dearly loved and greatly admired by those who were fortunate enough to know him and to be a part of his life.

Until his recent retirement Bob was the owner of Robert Hamms Building Contracting. Previously, he had worked at Cabot Minerals and then as a finish carpenter and cabinetmaker for R. Prescott & Son, for HHP Builders of Willsboro, Dan Summers and Elizabethtown Builders. In this profession, he won a reputation for professionalism and beautiful workmanship.

He also served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for 8 years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marjorie; and his four children, son Bruce and wife Sandy, daughter Lisa MacDougal, son Russell and his wife, Kathleen and daughter Pamela and her husband, Clifford Summers; as well as four grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Francis Hart of Plainfield, Conn.; his brother John "Jack" and sister-in-law, Judy, his sister, Joan and brother-in-law, Ronald Strong of Willsboro; as well as his aunts, Joy, Rona and Sadie Hams, as well as his wife’s sister Helen Blaise; brother and sister-in-law, Rufus and Margaret LaBounty, brother Sherman and sister-in-law, Beverly LaBounty, sister Patricia Loya and companion, Ted Clark, brother Philip and sister-in-law, Mary LaBounty; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roy and Norma (Mitchell) Hamms; and his uncles, Ray, Guy and Loren Hams.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2002, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Philip’s Church in Willsboro. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Memorial Cemetery, Willsboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at CVPH in Plattsburgh or to the American Cancer Society.

Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro is in charge of arrangements.

LESTER L. EZROW, 70, of Rochester, N.Y., died Feb. 28, 2002.

He was born in Churubusco on Dec. 26, 1931, the son of William and Emma (Parent) Ezrow.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church in Scottsville, N.Y. Burial was at Grove Place Cemetery.