Published 4/24/02

SARANAC — On April 18, 2002, Victor Venne completed his journey here on earth. Victor, better known to all as Junior or Clem Hawkins, was born to Clara (Defayette) Venne and Victor Venne in Saranac on Feb. 6, 1924.

Victor worked for the Saranac Central school system from 1953 until his retirement in 1978. During this period he was also employed by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department as a part-time Deputy Sheriff.

It was, however, under the stage name of Clem Hawkins that he was best known. His love of people and music was apparent to all who went to see him play his guitar, pick a mandolin, call a square dance or sing country music, when it was country music. He and his wife June entertained in the local area from 1949 until illness robbed him of the ability to perform up to his standards. He passed his ability and love of music on to his children and performed for many years with his wife, sons, Roland and Tom and his daughter, Julie as the Clem Hawkins Family Band.

If anything came close to his love of music, it was his love for the outdoors. By the time he was six years old he had a double barreled shotgun and a fishing pole and was seldom far from either. He spent a great deal of time with good friends hunting and fishing. Work always seemed to be something he would squeeze in between fishing and hunting seasons.

He spent many happy hours playing pinochle with his family and friends.

If anything surpassed his love of music and the outdoors, it was his love for his family and friends. He was the most non-judgmental person we have ever known. He treated all people equally, regardless of social status or wealth. He was generous and loved to joke and entertain even when he struggled with pain. He will be sorely missed by everyone who truly knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, June S. (Desrocher) Venne; his daughters, Deborah C. Venne, Julie A. Hogan and her husband, Michael, and his son, Tom Venne. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Frank, Eric and Khristina Bretthauer, Tim Dufrane, Eldric, Jason and Roland Venne and Patrick, Anna and Colin Hogan. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his beloved son, Roland; his parents, brothers, Addison and Eldric; and his favorite cousin, Roland.

We are sure that he probably has already sung the Wabash Cannonball to St. Peter, put his boat in the water, checked the deer runs and has a pinochle game on tap.

We are glad that his pain has ended, but are very sad that he had to leave us behind. We love you "father" and will see you again some day.

At his request, there will be no calling hours. Services will be private.

SCHUYLER FALLS — Theresa M. Stone Blair, 70, of Shingle Street, died Monday, April 22, 2002, at her home.

She was born in Addison, VT., on Aug. 10, 1931, the daughter of John and Rosemarie (Bushey) Dennis.

Theresa worked as seamstress for many area companies and in several Troy, N.Y., mills. She enjoyed crafting and her family.

Theresa was the beloved wife of James Blair; beloved mother of John Dennis of Schenectady, Willard and Norma Stone Jr. of Plattsburgh, Joe and Tatum Stone of Keeseville, Doris and Bill Adams of Mountain Home, Idaho, Pearl and Tony Leyua of Porterville, Calif., Gloria and Dan LaBarge of Schuyler Falls, Eleanor and Ed Sears of Peru, Mary Neale and Chris Bazan of Schuyler Falls and Tina Stone of Schuyler Falls; 19 grandchildren; seven great-grand children; and several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Betty Spinner.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Laura Collins in 1980.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

Keeseville — Lance DeVaun LaRose, 19 months old, of Keeseville, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Keeseville.

He was born in Plattsburgh, Sept. 6, 2000, the son of Darrell Netters and Deanna LaRose.

Lance liked to play with balls, and his favorite color was red. He loved Winnie the Pooh and Blues Clues and he enjoyed walks outside and taking baths.

Survivors include his mother, Deanna J. LaRose and her companion, Robert Drinkwine of Keeseville; his father, Darrell Netters of Peoria, Ill.; maternal grandmother, Susan Betters of AuSable Forks; paternal grandparents, James Smith and Linda Netters of Peoria, Ill.; maternal great-grandparents, Carl and Joyce Phillips of Potsdam; adopted grandmother, Phyllis Provost of Willsboro; aunt, Patti Betters of AuSable Forks; and a cousin, Isaiah Bass of AuSable Forks.

A memorial service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville, with Rev. Robert Fry, pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in Plattsburgh, officiating.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Keeseville Fire Department.

Keeseville — Lance Corporal Christopher Charles Drinkwine, 23, of Keeseville and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend, died Sunday, April 21, 2002 in Keeseville.

He was born in Plattsburgh, April 14, 1979, the son of Frank Drinkwine and Holly (Agnew) Douglas.

Chris graduated from AuSable Valley Central School in June of 1997 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Sept. 22, 1997. Following boot camp at Paris Island, Chris was sent to Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., of radio repair school. Upon completing the six-month training he was stationed at MARFORPAC in Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, as a radio repair technician.

He was on leave, visiting his family and friends, prior to reporting for duty at Marine Air Corps Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif. He was an avid Yankees and Green Bay Packers fan. He also loved to golf and spend time with his friends.

Chris was currently serving actively with the U.S. Marine Corps and was proud to serve his country and the Corps. and will be missed immensely.

Survivors include his wife, Rowena (Mata), whom he married March 26, 2000, in Pear City, Hawaii; his son, Blaine; his mother, Holly Douglas and her companion, Randy Alloggio of Keeseville; his father, Frank Drinkwine of Albuquerque, N.M.; brothers, Jonathan and Robert Drinkwine of Keeseville; maternal grandmother, Winola Agnew of Willsboro; maternal aunts and uncles, Joseph and Vicky Agnew of Schuylerville, Diane (Agnew) and Thomas Marble of Schuylerville, Patti (Agnew) and William Parmeter of Plattsburgh, Deborah (Agnew) Giddings of Keeseville, Ramond (Condit) and Mike Sprague of Bath, and Roberta (Condit) and Thomas Dragon of Morrisonville; his in-laws, Ray and Linda Mata of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother - in - law, and sister-in-law, Jena, both of LasVegas, Nev.; maternal aunts and uncles, Blanche Hathaway of Willsboro, Joseph Barnaby of Willsboro and Ronald and Ethel Barnaby of Essex; best friends, Matthew Rutkowski, Shannon McBride, Jerry Mace, Danielle Noval; and several cousins, and many other friends.

Calling hours will be held Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A funeral service will be held Friday, at 11 a.m. at the Bible Baptist Church in Plattsburgh, with Rev. Robert Fry, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville, with full U.S. Marine Corps Military Honors.

Donations in his memory may be made to the family of Holly Douglas.

Morrisonville — Mr. Stephen John "Smitty" Smith Jr., 68, of the Rand Hill Road, died Monday, April 22, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Perth Amboy, N.J., on June 18, 1933, the son of Stephen J. and Bella (Cadieux) Smith.

Stephen attended Plattsburgh High School and was an avid football player having played on the 1948, 1949 and 1950 football teams. In 1951, at the age of 17, he entered the U.S. Air Force at Sampson Air Force Base. Upon completing basic training he went to cooking school at Sampson AFB and completed training in 1951. He was transferred to Camp Stoneman at Pittsburg, Calif., where he was selected to work and train at the Officers Club.

He played semi-pro football for the Pittsburg Buccaneers, who compiled a 9 and 1 record and went on to win the CCSCL Championship of Northern California. In 1952, he played for both the Buccaneers and Camp Stoneman in 15 games. In that season, Stephen was selected to the All Army Team as first team middle line backer. He was transferred to Landstuhl, Germany in 1953 and played for the Landstuhl Raiders. In 1954 he played for the newly formed Ramstein Headquarters team that had an 11 and 1 record. That team traveled to Wheelus Field, Tripoli and played on Thanksgiving Day in the "Ghibli Bowl Game" defeating the Rheurman Rockets 19-12. Stephen was honorably discharged in March 1955 after serving during the Korean Conflict and Joined the Teamsters Local 648.

He started his career in construction at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, the missile sites and nine projects on the Adirondack Northway. In 1971, he went to work for Raymond R. Bushey’s Paving and Construction Company working there until his retirement in 1992 after thirty seven years with the Teamsters.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 125 and St. Alexander’s Church.

Stephen was predeceased by his father, Stephen J. Smith Sr. in September 1942 and his mother, Bella Cadieux Smith Lynch in January 1997.

He is survived by his wife, Genevieve (Frenyea) Smith of Morrisonville they were married in Peru on Jan. 13, 1960; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Tracy Smith of Olen, Mich.; his stepdaughters, Linda Miller and her husband, George of Cadyville; Jeanne Owens and her husband, Richard Sr. of Nassau, N.Y.; a sister, Roberta Kidwilen of Clearfield, Utah; two grandchildren; five nieces; and seven cousins.

Calling hours will be private and at the convenience of the family. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Alexander’s Church, Morrisonville. Interment will be in St. Alexander’s Cemetery.

Friends wishing may make donations in his memory to American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Glens Falls — Helen Mary Davitt Ryan, 90, passed away Monday, April 22, 2002, at her home.

She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Sept. 2, 1911, the daughter of Hugh and Mabel (Davis) Davitt.

She was a graduate of Plattsburgh High School and Albany State Teachers College where she received her bachelor of arts degree in Business Education.

Helen married George D. Ryan on July 18, 1943. She and George owned and operated Quick Flame Gas and Ryan’s Liquor Store in Plattsburgh.

She taught commercial subjects for many years in Dexter High School, Massena High School, Champlain Valley College, Plattsburgh High School, and Clinton Essex BOCES. She retired in 1976 from John W. Harrold Educational Center.

Helen was a member of PEO Chapter CC, Retired Teachers Association, American Legion Auxiliary, St. John’s of Plattsburgh, St. Mary’s of Glens Falls and BPOE Elks Lodge 621 Auxiliary.

She moved to Glens Falls in 1988 to be with her daughter, Georgianna and her husband, Bill and her beloved grandchildren, whom she called affectionately "Her Little Ones."

In Glens Falls she enjoyed her grandchildren’s musical, school and sporting activities as well as her involvement in PEO.

She was an avid reader of mystery novels and enjoyed crocheting, knitting and making teddy bears.

Her home was always filled with thoughts for the day and words to the wise.

Beside her parents, Helen was predeceased by her husband, George D. Ryan in June of 1987; her son, Joseph Ryan; and her sisters, Mary Keenan, Jean Conti and Mabel Davitt.

Survivors include her daughter, Georgianna Ryan Montgomery and her husband, William E. Montgomery III; her grandchildren, William E. Montgomery IV, Brittany E. Montgomery and Ryan (Rhino) George Montgomery all of Glens Falls; her brother, Hugh "Bud" Davitt and his wife, Janet of West Covina, Calif., and her sister, Clare TenEyck and her husband, Stanley of Memphis, N.Y.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2002, at St. Mary’s Church, Warren Street, Glens Falls. There will be a graveside service at 2:30 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh followed by a reception at the home of Don and Kathy Duley, 40 Sandra Avenue, Plattsburgh, N.Y. Family and friends are invited and may call from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road, Queensbury.

Those who wish may send a remembrance in her name to "PEO NYS Security Fund", c/o Judy Walton, PEO CC Treasurer, 60 Crane Court, Queensbury, NY 12804.

PORT HENRY, N.Y. — Midge Lebrun Crandall, 93, of Port Henry, N.Y., died April 21, 2002.

She was born in Waterloo, Quebec, on Jan. 26, 1909.

Midge was predeceased by her first husband, Aime LeBrun (1959) and her second husband, Lawrence "Buster" Crandall (1994); and her son, Robert (2000).

She is survived by a son Ronald of Port Henry; a daughter, Louise Jones and a son-in-law, Charles Jones of Port Henry; five grandchildren; and eight great - grandchildren; stepmother of Gary (Bev) Crandall and Nancy MacDonald.

A memorial service will be held at Harland’s Funeral Home in Port Henry at a future date.

MARGUERITE M. McLaughlin, 86, of Brook Street, Port Henry, died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home Elizabethtown, N.Y.

She was born May 31, 1915, at Orwell, Vt., the daughter of Edward and May (Richards) Monty.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, April 25, 2002, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry. Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Father Michael Toth will officiate. Burial will follow in the Moriah Union Cemetery.