Published:  11/18/02

WILLSBORO — Leonard "Mac" McClure, 64, of 16 George St., died unexpectedly on Nov. 16, 2002.

He was born in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 23, 1938, to Leonard and Muriel (Wilson) McClure.

"Mac" served his country proudly as a U.S. Marine from January 1946 to his honorable discharge in 1959. He continued to serve in the New York State National Guard from 1974 to his retirement as first sergeant in 1991.

His career spanned 37 years as a sales representative for several national food chains. He was an active and creative member of the Willsboro Fish and Game Club; he enjoyed woodcarving, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

"Mac" is survived by his wife, Barbara (Ruggeri) of Willsboro; a daughter, Sue McClure of Sugarbush, N.Y.; a daughter, Beth, and her husband, Jeff Hayes, and their sons Jason, Jordan and Evan of Texas; and a son, David Christensen, and his wife, Laura, of Charlotte, N.C. Also surviving are a brother, Dennis McClure, and his wife, Phyllis, of Arizona; a sister, Vicki, and her husband, Bud Conklin, of Willsboro; a brother-in-law, Peter Ruggeri, and his wife, Wendy; and a sister-in-law Janice LaCharity of Conn.; several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, also at the funeral home.

Friends wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the Willsboro War Memorial in care of Mike Lindsay, P.O. Box 292, Willsboro, NY 12996 or the Willsboro-Reber Rescue Squad, Willsboro, NY.

KEENE — Marion Wells, 95, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Wilmington on June 23, 1907, the daughter of Abram and Lillian (Hughes) Kilburn. She was the widow of Aubrey Wells, who predeceased her in 1973.

She was the mother of three children, Mrs. Richard Van Wormer (Diane) of Albany, and Wendell and Kent Wells, both of Keene; grandmother of ten, Margaret M. (Van Wormer) Wisnewski of Albany, Richard R. Van Wormer of Jay, Edward T. Van Wormer and Robert A. Van Wormer, both of Guilderland, Amy D. (Van Wormer) Wood of Esperance, Rose M. Van Wormer of Keene, Robert A. Wells of Webster, Leona M. (Wells) Rapelye of South Windsor, Conn., Adam J. Wells of Plattsburgh, and Eric T. Wells of Keene. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

She is survived by three sisters and one brother, Susan (Kilburn) Doyle of Harrisburgh, Pa., Lillian G. Kilburn of Elizabethtown, Hughes Kilburn of Wilmington and Kathleen (Kilburn) LeClair of Upper Jay.

Six siblings predeceased her: Irene Kilburn, Ulyssys Kilburn, R. Basil Kilburn, Veryl (Kilburn) Wells, Roosevelt Kilburn and George Kilburn. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

There will be no calling hours. Graveside services will be held at the Norton Cemetery, Keene, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, with the Rev. Joyce Bruce officiating. Memorial to her may be made to the Keene Volunteer Ambulance Service or the Keene United Methodist Church. Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CADYVILLE — Mrs. Della Louise Charette, 73, of Rabideau Street, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at her home. She was born in Ellenburg on Feb. 23, 1929, the daughter of the late Thomas Francis and Armeda (LaBombard) Boadway.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She worked for many years as a Home Health Aid for Evergreen Valley Home Care.

She is survived by four sons and four daughters-in-law, Leonard and Christine Charette of Olympia, Wash., Ronald and Suzanne Charette of Cadyville, Marshall Charette of Chateaugay, Anthony and Heidi Charette of Peru, and Ann Charette of Churubusco; four daughters and four sons-in-law, Maureen and Anthony McPherson of Chicopee, Mass., Angela and Joseph McPherson of Moira, Joanne and Kevin Goodman of Binghamton, and Roseanne and Louis Clark of Waterford; five sisters and five brothers-in-law, Joyce and Robert Hough of Mooers Forks, Eleanor and Charles Clynes of Maryland, Monica and Jerry Tarrent of Dallas, Texas, Sharon and Malcolm Jones of Malone, and Patricia and Steven Dubrey of Chazy; five brothers and four-sisters-in-law, Lloyd and Clarinda Boadway of Chateaugay, Walter and Marjorie Boadway of Chateaugay, Francis and Carol Boadway of Chateaugay, Richard and Lynn Boadway of Chateaugay, and Aldon Boadway of Massachusetts; 26 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Della was predeceased by her husband, Morris J. Charette; two sons, James and Arthur Charette; two grandchildren, Ronald Charette II and A.J. McPherson; and one great-grandchild, Matthew Stemmer.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2002, at the Brown Funeral Home in Cadyville. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at St. James Minor Church in Cadyville. Burial will be next year in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Churubusco. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Hospice of the North Country.

KEESEVILLE — Kathleen Ford, 82, of Mace Chasm Road, died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, at her home.

She was born on Trout Pond, May 26, 1920, the daughter of Sidnen J. and Inez (McCann) Ford.

She worked many years at Prescott’s Mill in Keeseville and was a member of the Keeseville United Methodist Church for over 60 years.

She enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens, bird watching, and taking walks outside with her dogs and cats.

Survivors include one sister, Rita Fieldson of Keeseville; a sister-in-law, Ruth Dobbs of Keeseville; two nephews, John Mark Ford and Keith Ford; one niece, Dolores Ford; and great-nieces and great nephews Rene Towers, Brooke Brown, John Mark Ford Jr., Jarrod Ford, Brianne Ford, Tabitha Martin and Seth Ford.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Glenn Ford in 1968 and Clair Ford in 1977.

Calling hours will be held 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. at the Keeseville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sally White, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Keeseville United Methodist Church Thrift Shop Building Fund.

KEESEVILLE — Frances Downs Dorr, 54, of Prospect Road, Keeseville, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at her home, surrounded by her loving family and close friends.

She was born Sept. 8, 1948, sharing her birthday with the Blessed Mother, whom she dearly loved and adored. Frances lived her life by the guidelines set forth in the Prayer of St. Francis. She was an instrument of peace who sowed love wherever she went.

As a nurse for 24 years, Frances offered compassion and caring to many residents of the North Country. She spent most of her nursing career as a nurse in the CVPH Medical Center emergency room and then became the manager of the EEG Lab at the hospital as well. Upon leaving the hospital, she enjoyed the rest of her career as a nurse at Associates in OB/GYN in Plattsburgh.

Frances found great pleasure in sewing, especially for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed gardening and bird watching in her front yard. She loved to dance, travel and play practical jokes on her family and friends.

Frances was a Eucharistic minister for the Catholic Community of Keeseville, where she also taught religion. She served as co-chair for the cancer drive on a few separate occasions. She and her daughter also made a commercial to make women more aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Survivors include her mother, Rita Boswell Downs of Peru; the love of her life, Roger Dorr, whom she married July 2, 1983. She had one daughter and son-in-law, Kelley Casey-Blaise and Russell Blaise. She is also survived by her three "Little Cherubs," Ellyn Frances, Eli Russell and Harrison Roger Blaise. Other survivors include her four sisters and their spouses, Mary and David Nisoff of Peru, Patricia and Jim Hamlin of Morrisonville, Jean and Jack Drown of Shelby, Montana, and Adele and Dave Rabideau of Morrisonville, as well as one brother, John Downs III of Peru. Frances is also survived by her mothers-in-law, Theresa Dorr and Hilda Casey-Jenkins. Frances felt she was truly blessed when she married into the Dorr family and is survived by many loving brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Mary Edna Mussen, Russell and Esther Dorr, George and Dianne Dorr, Maggie Dorr and George Stickle, Cathy and Tom Finnegan, Bobby and Judy Dorr and Barbara Dorr. During her illness, Frances was cared for by her very dear friend, Annette Werner and her husband, David, of Jackson, Mich. She also had one very special "surrogate" daughter, Brenda Fagan; many nieces and nephews and godchildren.

She was predeceased by her loving father, John Downs II.

Calling hours will be held today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Church in Keeseville with the Rev. Clyde A. Lewis, pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Rouses Point, celebrating, and Msgr. Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, concelebrating. Burial will follow in the Port Douglas Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Frances Downs Dorr Memorial Nursing Scholarship, High Peaks Hospice or the Mission of Hope Cancer Fund.

Essex — Gerald (Gerry) Leaning, 54, of Leaning Road, Essex, N.Y., died at his home Nov. 13, 2002.

He was born in Elizabethtown, N.Y., Feb. 1, 1948, the son of Harold and Arline (Gratto) Leaning.

He was a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College and was recognized in the community as an accomplished machinist and craftsman. His hobbies included woodworking and gardening. He worked for Richter Aero for a number of years.

He is survived by his mother, Arline Leaning of Essex; two brothers and their wives, Richard and Jacqueline Leaning of Delaware, William and Jeanne Leaning of Maryland; two sisters and their husbands, Marjorie and Richard Russell of Ohio, Betsy and Donald Whitlock of Altamont, N.Y.; cousins, Curt and Stella Leaning of Essex and their sons Garth of Essex and David and family of Connecticut; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at the Huestis Funeral Home, Maple Street, Willsboro, from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2002. Services will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Whallons Bay Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation., Eastern Regional Office, 50 Colvin Ave., Albany, N.Y., 12206-1106 or the North Country SPCA, P.O. Box 475, Westport, N.Y., 12993.

JEFFREY R. ASHLINE, 52, of Broad Street, Mineville, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Elizabethtown.

He was born in Ticonderoga on Nov. 21, 1949, the son of Rollin and Dorothy (Wells) Ashline. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

A memorial service will be conducted Monday, Nov. 18, 2002, at 7 p.m. at Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry.

ROBERT C. ‘BOB’ BERG, 54, of Wood Manor Drive, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center as a result of a motor-vehicle accident. He was born in Gowanda, N.Y., on Feb. 2, 1948, the son of Leland and C. Claire (Parkinson) Berg.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter’s Church. Interment will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

A full obituary will appear in Tuesday’s newspaper.

DEFOREST C. PETERS, 97, died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, at the Franklin County Nursing Home in Malone, where he had been a patient since January 1998.

Born in Chasm Falls on Dec. 15, 1904, he was the son of the late Charles and Prudence (Nelson) Peters.

Calling hours will be held 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

JAMES LEWIS, 62, of Malone died Nov. 16, 2002, at the Franklin County Nursing Home in Malone, where he had been a patient since Oct. 26, 2002.

There are no calling hours. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

A full obituary will be published at a later date.

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