Published 08/22/02

Rouses Point — Gerard R. "Ding" Gregoire, 79, of Rouses Point, passed away Friday, Aug. 16, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born Oct. 8, 1922, in Champlain, the son of Honorius and Flora (Bouchard) Gregoire.

He served in World War II as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and was wounded in southern France during the European - African campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, the Good Conduct Medal, the European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

"Ding" was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1418. He worked for Sheridan Iron Works for 31 years. He also was employed at General Services Administration for 15 years before retiring in January of 1985.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Faye (MacCallum) Gregoire; two sons, Warren Gregoire of Queensbury and Kyle Gregoire of Alburg Springs, Vt.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Steven and Ellen Boire of Chazy and Steven and Karina Barie of Norton, Mass.; five brothers, Maurice Gregoire of Ocala, Fla., Emile Gregoire of Champlain, N.Y., John Gregoire of Tacoma, Wash., Donald and Lynn Gregoire of Tribes Hill, N.Y., Dennis Gregoire of Colorado Springs, Colo.; four sisters, Gertrude O’Neil of Granville, N.Y., Pauline and James Lammers of Champlain, N.Y., Jeanne Brennan of Rouses Point, N.Y., Rita and Richard Johnson of Morrisonville, N.Y.; five grandsons; one granddaughter; and one great - granddaughter.

At "Ding’s" request there will be no calling hours or services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rouses Point Rescue Squad.

Military honors will be held at 1:30 Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002, at Maple Hill Cemetery in Rouses Point.

Arrangements are with the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point.

DANNEMORA — Virginia A. "Gin" Payne, 58, of Leroy Manor Road, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002.

She was born in Saranac, N.Y., on April 16, 1944, the daughter of Ernest and Catherine (Farr) Bosworth.

Virginia married Charles Payne in Dannemora on June 27, 1968.

Mrs. Payne was a member of the Dannemora United Methodist Church. She was very active in church functions and activities.

Virginia was very involved with her family, especially with her nieces and nephews.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Payne of Dannemora; her mother, Catherine Bosworth of Saranac; her mother-in-law, Treva Payne of Sebring, Fla.; five sisters, Nancy and Robert LaPierre of Canandaigue, N.Y., Sally and Richard Clapper of AuSable Forks, N.Y., Susan and Sydney Haley of Cadyville, N.Y., Betsy and Tom Terry of Schenectady, N.Y., and Kathy and John Donlick of Minoa, N.Y.; four brothers, Brent and Paulette Bosworth of Albany, N.Y., Clifton Bosworth and his close friend, Tina Beebie of Saranac, N.Y., Kevin and Jennifer Bosworth of Norwalk, Conn., and Scott and Andrea Bosworth of Dannemora, N.Y.; one aunt, Jane Gunther of Clinton, N.Y.; one uncle, Gerald Farr of Saranac Lake, N.Y.; ten nieces and nephews and one great-niece.

She was predeceased by her father, Ernest Bosworth; and a brother, Ethan Bosworth.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Dannemora. Burial will follow in the Mooers Forks Union Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dannemora United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

PORT HENRY — Thomas Leon Wheelock, 74, of Port Henry, N.Y., died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002, the Moses Ludington Hospital, Ticonderoga, N.Y.

Thomas was born May 28, 1928, in Port Henry, the son of Leon and Valeda (Carr) Wheelock.

Thomas owned and operated Wheelock’s Garage Inc., a family owned business since 1921. He was a member of Council 384, Knights of Columbus, Port Henry, N.Y.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Josephine (Pezzulo) Wheelock, whom he married at St. Mary’s Rectory, Ticonderoga, on Sept. 7, 1947; his son, James and daughter-in-law, Kathy Wheelock of Ticonderoga; daughter, Nancy and son-in-law, Thomas Rodick of Ballston Lake; daughter, Laura and son-in-law, Joseph Tromblee of Port Henry; son, Thomas and daughter-in-law, Kitty Wheelock of Port Henry; daughter, Mary Rodriguez of Port Henry; daughter, Elizabeth and son-in-law, Steven Montagnola of Oswego; daughter, Kathleen and son-in-law, David Tibbits of Syracuse; son, Rev. Joseph Wheelock of Ellenburg; 13 grandchildren, Adam, Monica, Matthew, Rebekah, Anthony, David, Thomas, Joseph, Michael, Daniel, Mary, Austin and Michael; and four great-grand-children, Jacob, Mary, Joseph and Justin. Tom is also survived by his sister, Barbara Catanzarita; and brother, Robert Wheelock; and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry, N.Y. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, Port Henry, with the Rev. Joseph Wheelock officiating. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery, Moriah, N.Y.

Memorial donations in Thomas Wheelock’s memory may be made to The Monastery of Poor Clares Building Fund, 28 Harpersville Road, Newport News, Virginia 23601.

PLATTSBURGH — Mary Elizabeth Demers, wife of Peter J. Demers, died Aug. 21, 2002, at Fletcher Allen Health Care Center in Burlington, Vt.

Mary suffered a brain aneurysm while riding a motorcycle, resulting in an accident causing sever head trauma. She died as a result of the injuries sustained from the accident.

Mary was born on March 30, 1950, in Ogdensburg, N.Y. She is the daughter of George and Therese Bruyere. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Ogdensburg and D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y.

Mary was very active in her community. She volunteered her time for organizing work place activities, her children’s sporting events and several other philanthropic and social events.

Mary is survived by her husband of 30 years, Peter J. Demers. She has three children, Aimee E. Demers, a doctor of physical therapy in Atlanta, Ga., Christopher A. Demers, a project manager in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Nicole M. Demers, a student of Architecture at Syracuse University. Also surviving Mary are her parents, George and Therese Bruyere of Ogdensburg, N.Y.; and three brothers, Paul Bruyere of Morristown, N.Y., and Tom and Bill Bruyere of Ogdensburg, N.Y.

Funeral services will be held at Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg, N.Y., on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002 at 10 a.m. Calling hours will be held at Frary Funeral Home in Ogdensburg, N.Y. on Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.