Published:  12/12/02

Malone — Phyllis Chauvin Betters, 74, of Malone, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.

She was born in Malone on March 14, 1928, a daughter of Maurice and Mina (Pelkey) Chauvin.

Mrs. Betters graduated from Franklin Academy in 1945 and was one of the top ten of her class. Following her graduation, she was an executive secretary for two years at Consolidated Footwear, Malone.

On July 19, 1947, she married Donald "Husky" Betters in Notre Dame Church. He predeceased her April 12, 2002.

Mrs. Betters was a devout mother who dedicated her life to her 11 children and grandchildren. In 1993 she received the Mother of the Year Award.

A member of St. Joseph Church, she also was a long time member and past president of the Amvets Auxiliary and was named Ladies Amvets Auxiliary Member of the Year. Mrs. Betters was also an active member of American Legion Post 219 Auxiliary and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. For several years, she was an examiner for the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Surviving are five sons and three daughters-in-law, Donald A. Scott and Gary and Monique Betters, all of Malone, Jerry and Lori Betters of Allentown, Pa., and William and Sharon Betters of Syracuse; five daughters and three sons-in-law, Connie Basta of Little York, N.Y., Dorothy Phelix, Stephanie and Bruce Bannon, Terry and Arlington Collins and Tracy and Allen Gravell, all of Malone; two foster brothers, Thomas and Danny Peckham of Florida; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Dorothy Guerin of Milford, Conn., and Edgar and Jeanne Lanctot of Chateaugay Lake, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Helen Mallette of Malone; 23 grandchildren, including Alison Brooks who assisted and often resided with her.

A son, Stephen Betters, predeceased her Nov. 1, 1973.

Calling hours were held at the Spaulding Funeral Home on Tuesday. A funeral service was held on Wednesday at St. Joseph Church, with interment in Notre Dame Cemetery.

Chateaugay — Doris H. Hammond, 95, formerly of Chateaugay, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2002, at the Franklin County Nursing Home, Malone, N.Y.

She was born in Canton, N.Y., on Aug. 21, 1907, the daughter of Frank and Josephine (Gilson) Hale.

She was married to J. Arthur Hammond on April 11, 1939, in St. Bernard's Rectory, Lyon Mountain. He predeceased her on December 1, 1971.

Mrs. Hammond is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Barbara and Ken Gadway of Chateaugay, N.Y., and Linda Poupore and friend Richard Walter of Malone, N.Y.; two granddaughters, Dawn Lewis and her husband Richard of Hiram, Ga., and Paula Poupore of Malone; and two great-grandsons, Nicholas Poupore of Malone and Zachery Lewis of Hiram, Ga.

Besides her husband, she was predeceased by two sisters, Evelyn Lyons and Eileen Gaffney; and two brothers, Donald and Raymond Hale.

Mrs. Hammond graduated from Watertown High School in 1925. She then graduated from Potsdam Normal School in 1928. She taught in Cranberry Lake, Lyon Mountain, Chateaugay and Malone, retiring from the Malone District in 1966. She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church, Chateaugay and a member of its Altar and Rosary Society. She was a former member of the Catholic Daughters and a member and past president of Franklin County Senior Citizens. She enjoyed bowling.

Mrs. Hammond's great love in life was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12th, in St. Patrick's Church with Rev. Ray Moreau officiating. Burial will take place in the spring at Eastside Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to Chateaugay Fire Department or St. Patrick's Church.

Arrangements are with the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

Rouses Point — Rita G. LeBlanc, 78, of Rouses Point, N.Y., entered into eternal rest with her family at her side on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002.

She was born in Rouses Point, N.Y., on Sept. 23, 1924, the daughter of Alfred and Delia (Menard) Bulriss.

She worked for Ayerst (Wyeth) Laboratories in Rouses Point, N.Y., for more than 40 years, retiring in 1986.

She was a member of the St. Patrick's Choir and the VFW Post 1418 Auxiliary.

She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend, who always had a pot of coffee brewing and something to eat for those who often stopped by to visit. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, crafts and most of all spending time with her family.

Rita is survived by her husband of 55 years, Roland LeBlanc, of Rouses Point, N.Y.; a son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Donna LeBlanc and their three children, Jason, Jennifer and Jared, of Colchester, Vt.; a daughter and son-in-law, Ronay and Melvin Bechard and their two children, Meagan and Nicholas, of Goshen, N.Y.; and a daughter, Risé Drake, of Burlington, Vt. She is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Omer and Kathleen Bulriss of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Joseph and Patricia Bulriss of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; ten brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Rejane Traynor of Las Vegas, Nev., Roger and Gemma LeBlanc of Varennes, Quebec, Florence LeBlanc of Berlin, N.H., Francis (Pete) and Theresa LeBlanc of Portland, Maine, Erwin and Marcel Johnson of Prescott, Ariz., Paul and Joyce LeBlanc of Hawthorne, Calif., George and Susan LeBlanc of Gardena, Calif., and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point, N.Y. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Church in Rouses Point with burial to follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita's memory to the H.K. Freedman Renal Center, 91 Plaza Blvd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901 or to the Rouses Point Rescue Squad.

WATERTOWN — Woodrow J "Woody" O'Neil, 85, a resident of Westmount Health Facility, passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, after a long illness.

Mr. O'Neil was born in Watertown N.Y. on Aug. 25, 1917, son of Edwin and Grace (Stitt) O'Neil.

He attended schools in Watertown and Carthage N.Y., and graduated with honors in 1935.

Mr. O'Neil was employed for 38 years with the New York Telephone Company and worked his way through the firm from custodian to division construction supervisor, he was in charge of the northeast section of the state.

Mr. O'Neil married Lucille (L'Huillier) on Feb. 4, 1939, in Carthage, N.Y., and was married for 58 years before her death in 1997. They spent most of there life in Northern New York State, including Plattsburgh, Watertown, New Hartford, Potsdam, Massena and Ogdensburg, as well as a three year stint in Albuquerque, N.M.

Woody was a former member of the Elk's Lodge 681 in Plattsburgh, and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Woody was an avid golfer and enjoyed following and talking about sports at every chance.

Mr. O'Neil retired from the Telephone Co. in 1975 to attend to his wife, Lucille, a stroke victim, who predeceased him in 1997. He cared for her for 18 years at their various residences, until her admittance into Westmount Health Facility in 1993.

Woody was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1994 and had been a resident of Westmount for the last 6 years. He battled his ailment courageously, leading up to the hours of his passing.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the staff at Westmount for the quality of care, attention and their personal involvement with both Woody and Lucille during their combined, 11˝ years at the facility. Each staff member from the administration to the nursing staff, aides, maintenance and cleaning staff, as well as, food service employees, all exhibited tremendous respect and a true sincerity for their well being on a daily basis. Their constant efforts and positive approach to all of the residents is always present and should be commended and recognized.

Besides his wife, Mr. O'Neil is predeceased by three brothers, Harold, Henry and Calvin; and a sister Betty, all from the Watertown/Carthage area.

He is survived by three sons, Michael and his wife Elizabeth of Queensbury, Gary, living in Albuquerque, N.M., and Ronald, who resides in Hudson Falls with his wife, Jean. Survivors also include several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as a sister, Musetta Beattie, living in Watertown, N.Y.

At Mr. O'Neil's request, there will be no calling hours or services, but a Mass and graveside service at Pineview Cemetery will take place at the convenience of the family

Hollis D. Musgrove, 80, of Jacobs Road, Owls Head, N.Y., died Tuesday evening, Dec. 10, 2002, at CVPH in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He had been a patient there since Dec. 8, 2002.

He was born in Piercefield, N.Y., June 15, 1922, son of the late John and Bertha (Woods) Musgrove.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Owls Head United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Neil McClain officiating. Burial will be in the Chasm Falls Protestant Cemetery in the Spring.

Ethel L. Kozma, 96, of Wadhams, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at her home.

She was born in Westport, April 22, 1916, the daughter of Harley and Lois (White) Lobdell. A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family at a later date W.M. Marvin's Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown in charge of arrangements.

FRANK A. NUTT, 81, died Dec. 10, 2002, at the Loma Linda University Hospital in Loma Linda, Calif.

He was born Aug. 23, 1921 in Rouses Point, son of Mr. And Mrs. Frank Nutt Sr.

To contact the Press-Republican, Phone: (518) 561-2300 or send mail to:
Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Copyright 2002, Plattsburgh Publishing Co., Plattsburgh, NY,  Division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., Campbell Hall, NY. The information you receive from Press-Republican Online is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.