Published 5/25/02

Plattsburgh — Mark Hubert Taft Jr., infant son of Mark Hubert and Johanne (Desautels) Taft, died at birth on Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Mark Jr. is survived by his parents of Morrisonville; four brothers, Adam, Eric, Peter and Philip; two sisters, Rachael and Mary-Ali; maternal grandparents, Rita and Richard Desautels of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; aunts and uncles, Richard Rene Desautels, Nicole and Yves LeCorre, Bernard Desautels and Paul Desautels, all of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and several cousins.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2002, at 11 a.m. from St. Augustine’s Church in Peru. Burial will follow in St. Augustine’s Cemetery in Peru.

Masses may be offered in his memory. Arrangements with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

CHATEAUGAY — Phyllis Sweet, 88, of River Street, Chateaugay, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Alice Hyde Medical Center, Malone, N.Y., where she had been a patient since May 20, 2002.

She was born in Burnley, England on Aug. 23, 1913, the daughter of Maurice and Harriette (Scaribrick) Egan.

She was married to Dr. J. Donald Sweet on July 14, 1934, in United Church, Valleyfield, Quebec. He predeceased her on Aug. 20, 1988.

Mrs. Sweet is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James Donald and Kathleen Sweet of Herkimer, N.Y.; two sisters, Eileen Nutter of Chester, England, and Stella McCann of Malone, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Eunice Vaugh of Burke, N.Y.

Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her parents; five sisters; and two brothers.

Calling hours will be held at the Chateaugay Funeral Home on Friday, May 24, 2002, from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2002, in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. David Stanton officiating. Burial will take place at Eastside Cemetery, Chateaugay.

Donations in her memory may be made to Chateaugay Fire Dept.

Rexford, NY — Howard J. Lawrence, 78, died peacefully May 23, 2002, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady with all of his family around him.

He was born in AuSable Forks, N.Y., on May 5, 1924, the son of the late Howard and Bessie Hopkins Lawrence.

He was graduate of AuSable Forks High school and Plattsburgh State, Oswego. He was the beloved husband of Patricia Rooney Lawrence, whom he married on Sept. 16, 1950.

Mr. Lawrence was a veteran of World War II, serving for 38 months in the U.S. Marine Corps, VMSB343 and VMF322. He participated in the Okinawa assault on April 1, 1945, and other South Pacific Campaigns.

Howard worked for GE in Schenectady a total of 25 years. He then taught machine trades at the former Linton High School and at BOCES, New Karner Rd., retiring in 1984. He was the owner of the Lawrence Christmas Tree Farm at his residence in Rexford, N.Y.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 0504, AuSable Forks, the National Eagle Scout Association, NYS Retired Teachers Association and a communicant of St. Edward the Confessor Church, Clifton Park.

Survivors in addition to his wife include his loving children, John Howard Lawrence of Overland Park, Kan., Keith and Sharon Lawrence of Montgomery, Ohio, Andrew and Gabriele Lawrence of Los Angelos, Calif.; his cherished grandchildren, Kristal, Michelle, Jenny and Ashley Lawrence, all of Montgomery, Ohio and Tristan Lawrence of Los Angelos, Calif. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Spring of Wilmington, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Francis and Robert Lawrence.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park. Calling hours will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Rt. 9, Clifton Park, NY. Interment will be in the Gerald BH Solomon National Cemetery, Schuylerville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Twin Rivers 364, 258 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12305 or to St. Clare’s Hospital Foundation, 600 McClellan St., Schenectady,, NY 12304.

TICONDEROGA — Cleo G. Beck, 90, formerly of Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga, died Friday, May 24, 2002, at the Moses Ludington Nursing Home in Ticonderoga following a brief illness.

She was born in Ticonderoga on Dec. 16, 1911, the daughter of Lewis and Louise Gonyea.

A long time resident of Ticonderoga, she was a former member of the Hague Home Bureau and a former member of the Ticonderoga Moses Ludington Ladies Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by one son, Robert Beck of Ticonderoga; two daughters, Joan Porter of Ticonderoga and Sandra Hurlburt of Ticonderoga; four sisters, Margaret Craig of Hudson Falls, Judy Wieboldt of Arizona, Eleanor Hozley of Schroon Lake and Blanche Ceasar of Plattsburgh; five grandchildren, Robert Porter, Joann Porter, Debbie Yaw, Brenda O'Hara and Tiffany Martineau; eight great - grandchildren; two great - great -grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

At Mrs. Beck’s request there will be no calling hours. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Connery & Gunning Funeral Home, 2 Father Joques Place, Ticonderoga

Plattsburgh — Donna I. McRae, 54, of Cornelia Street, died Saturday, May 18, 2002, as a result of an automobile accident.

She was born in Cortland, N.Y., on March 31, 1948, the daughter of Donald and Irene (Hughes) McRae.

She was employed at Behavioral Health Services North in Plattsburgh. Her love and compassion surpassed her immediate family carried over into her career. Donna enjoyed working with her clients as a family services aide.

Donna is survived by her children, Michael, Beth, Christopher, Irene, Chad, along with Christine, Erich, Edward, John. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Khloe, Madeline, Christopher, Adele, Brianna, Colton, Delaney, Kadie and Samantha; brothers and sister, James, Tommy, and Mary Ellen; and several nieces and nephews.

Donna’s children would like to recognize her friends in Plattsburgh as part of her extended family.

A memorial service was held Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the John XXIII Newman Center on Broad Street, with the Rev. J. Roger McGuiness officiating. A memorial service was also held at St. Mary’s Church in Cortland, N.Y., on Friday, May 24, 2002, at 2 p.m.

Donations in her memory may be made to Joint Council of Economic Opportunity.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Rosalie Monette, 92, of Meadowbrook Nursing Home and formerly of the Vilas Home, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Berlin, N.H., on Oct. 25, 1909, the daughter of Auile and Alexia (Brooks) Boulay.

Calling hours will be Sunday, May 26, 2002, at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh, from 7 to 9 p.m. only. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, May 27, 2002, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow the funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Janke — A brief memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 26, 2002, at 3 p.m. at the Gillilland Cemetery, Rt. 9 South, for Rev. Richard Janke, who died March 22, 2002. B. Janke, 563-7444 can be called for details.

HURLBURT — Graveside services for Christine E. Hurlburt who passed away on Feb. 14, 2002, will be held on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ticonderoga, the Deacon Elliot Shaw officiating.

Connery & Gunning Funeral Home, Ticonderoga.