Published 3/15/02

Westport — Robert J. "The Turk" Merrow, 70, of Eagle Street, died Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown.

He was born in Westport, June 25, 1931, the son of Frank and Florence (Scott) Merrow.

Mr. Merrow served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He married the former Marlene E. Currier, April 28, 1957, in Vergennes, Vt.

Bob was employed for nearly 32 years at the Mohawk Paper Mill in Cohoes prior to retiring in 1993.

The Turk was a member of the Rod and Gun Club and the Polish Club both of Cohoes and enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing pool and cards.

Survivors include his wife, Marlene Merrow of Westport; two daughters, Roberta Castanzo of Rensselaer and Roxanne Merrow of Lewis; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert and Donnell Merrow of Waterford, John F. Merrow and companion, Yvonne of Troy, Rodney and Deborah Merrow of Troy and Ronald Merrow and fiancé, Lorrie of Latham; two step-sons, Karl Hart of Clifton Park and Donald Hart of Buffalo; nine grandchildren; one great - grandchild; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, twins, Margaret (Ralph) Atwell and Marjorie Garcia, Ruth (Arthur) Donaldson and Ellen LaMountain, all of Westport; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Francis and George.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, at 11 a.m. at the Westport Federated Church, with Rev. Evelyn P. Meredith, pastor, officiating.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Westport Emergency Squad.

Arrangements are with the Hamilton Funeral Home in Westport.

MORRISONVILLE — Mr. James J. McNamara, 65, of Morrisonville, N.Y., and formerly of Potsdam, N.Y., passed away at his private residence under the care of Hospice.

Mr. McNamara was born on Dec. 13, 1936, in Rutland, Vt., to John McNamara and Clara Gillespie.

He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Ogdensburg, graduating in 1956. He attended Mohawk Valley Community College for four years.

He then entered the U.S. Air Force in 1960, and served until his honorable discharge in 1964.

On July 2, 1966, at St. Mary’s Church in Ogdensburg, N.Y., he was married to Sally A. Cutway. Mr. and Mrs. McNamara lived in Ogdensburg after their marriage until moving to Potsdam in 1978.

Mr. McNamara was employed by Clarkson University for over 25 years as a bookkeeper, He retired in 1999.

He was Member of the Elks Lodge in Potsdam, N.Y., and a member of the Elks Golf League. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and had a camp on Leonard Pond in the town of Colton, N.Y., and was a former member of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad.

He is survived by one daughter and son- in- law, Mrs. Daniel and Kathleen Brown of Cadyville, N.Y.; three sons, James M. of Canton, N.Y., David A. of South Colton, N.Y., Matthew P. Of Phoenix, Ariz., all McNamara’s; three sisters, Doris Thabult of Burlington, Vt., Nancy Lenney of Florida and Martha Druke of Kirkville, N.Y.; five brothers, John McNamara of Ogdensburg, N.Y., Richard, Daniel and Donald of South Colton, N.Y., and Michael of Potsdam, N.Y.; two grandchildren, Ryan and Shannon Brown of Cadyville, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his wife, Sally McNamara who died in 1998; and two brothers, Bernard and Douglas McNamara.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2002, at 10 a.m. at the Garner Funeral Home in Potsdam, N.Y., with the Rev. Howard Vennette celebrant. Friends may call at the Garner Funeral Home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the spring at the Gale Cemetery in Colton, N.Y.

Local arrangements were with the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru, N.Y.

Contributions can be made in his memory to the Hospice of the North Country at Rugar Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

CHAMPLAIN — Beatrice Franklin, 79, formerly of Champlain, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2002, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

She was born Feb. 12, 1923, in Champlain, the daughter of Walter and Edith (Jennette) Durant.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxillary in Champlain and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Champlain.

Beatrice is predeceased by four brothers, Charles, Gerald, George and Arthur; and two sisters, Edna Donovan and Stella Wagner.

She is survived by two sons, James Franklin of Champlain and John Franklin of Rouses Point; one daughter, Judy Bordeau and her husband, Walter in Plattsburgh; one brother, Richard Durant of Rochester; one sister, Jennette LaGoy of Plattsburgh; one nephew, David Donovan; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Saturday, March 16, 2002, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with a funeral service following at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

BEEKMANTOWN — Bill J. Fagan, 75, of Rt. 22, died Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at Fletcher Allen Health Care.

He was born in Alvarado, Texas, on Jan. 14, 1927, the son of Willie Edmond and Willie (Gregory) Fagan.

Bill married Doris M. Sayah in 1967 at Holy Angel’s Church in Altona.

He served with the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, including Plattsburgh AFB from 1963 to 1965. Mr. Fagan retired from active duty at Plattsburgh AFB in 1969.

He then established "Bill Fagan’s Auto Repair", an automatic transmission repair shop and ran it for 13 years until he retired in 1982.

Bill was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy and the Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers Club.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; two daughters, Brenda Williams of Waco, Texas, and Mrs. Jeff (Susan) Kollar of Colchester, Vt.; one brother, John Alvin Fagan of Ocean Springs, Miss.; one sister, Mrs. William (Sonja) Barnard of Decatur, Texas; four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by one daughter, Sharon Allman; and two brothers, Roy Fagan and William Fagan.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 15, 2002, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at them R. W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 1 p.m. in St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh. Entombment will follow in Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens, Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh.

Memorial donations may be made, in his memory, to the Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers Club.

Saranac Lake, NY — Marie T. Bellinger, 84, died Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Mrs. Bellinger moved to Upper Jay, N.Y., one year ago from Rhinebeck, where she had been a resident since 1950. She had previously resided in Plattsburgh and Berlin, N.Y.

Mrs. Bellinger taught elementary school in the Rhinebeck Central School District until her retirement in 1976. She was very active in the NYSUT retirees, and had been a member of the Rhinecliff Unit of the Northern Dutchess Hospital Auxiliary as well as having volunteered with the Lutheran Braille group of Rhinebeck and at the Starr Library.

She was Born March 5, 1918, in Calstadt, N.J., the daughter of William P. and Minnie (Simkins) Thompson.

Mrs. Bellinger was predeceased on Nov. 1, 1991, by her husband, Francis "Bob" M Bellinger, whom she married Oct. 25, 1941, in Plattsburgh.

She is survived by a daughter, Jeanne Nichols of Upper Jay, N.Y., a daughter and son-in-law, Judith and James Sperling of Temecula, Calif.; three grandsons, Bradley and Carl Nichols and Matthew Sperling; two great - grandchildren, Jacob Thomas Nichols and Nina Isabella Nichols; three sisters, Anne Anderson of Medford, Ore., Joan Duquette of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Sue Ellen Gettens of Wilmington, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a brother, William Patrick Thompson.

Calling hours are Friday 3 to 6 p.m. at the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 W. Market St., Rhinebeck. Prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. during calling hours. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Mulberry St., Rhinebeck. Interment services will follow in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Rhinecliff.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rhinebeck Rescue Squad, 78 E. Market St. Rhinebeck, NY 12572, or Hospice Foundation, 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-1034.

C. GEORGE WALKER JR., 49, of Canandaigua, N.Y., died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002, at his home.

The son of Clarence George Walker Sr. Formerly of Mooers Forks, N.Y.

A memorial service was held Saturday, March 2, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 100 N. Main Street, in Canandaigua.

George H. Pratt, 69, of Boyce Street in Barre City, Vt., passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2002 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Oct. 9, 1932, the son of Francis and Edith (Basiliere) Pratt.

In accordance to George’s wishes there will no funeral services.