Published: 06/18/03

PLANT CITY, FLA. — Luella "Lue" Light Whitacre Bastian, 75, of Plant City, Fla., died June 14, 2003.

She is survived by her son, Larry Whitacre of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; daughter, Wendy Henderson of Minden, Nev.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, two of whom we would like to recognize for their untiring help and kindness, Kathy Borman and Lorry Light.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Lewis Whitacre and Arthur Bastian; brother Joseph Light; sisters, Doris Mitchel, Erma McKinney and Jeannette Guerin.

"Lue" moved to Plant City from Orlando in 1980. She had been an administrator for Southern Bell Telephone Company. She was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church, St. Clement Guild and Daystar, Telephone Pioneers of America, VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 4590, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 0026, BPOE Lodge 1727 and Lions Club of Plant City.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 10 a.m. in St. Clement Catholic Church with Father Joe Collins as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 18, 2003, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with a liturgy service at 7 p.m. in Haught Funeral Home.

The family is accepting flowers, or donations to a charity of your choice.

Beekmantown — Lawrence George Rivers Sr., 75, of the Duquette Road, Beekmantown, died unexpectedly Sunday, June 15, 2003, at his home.

He was born in Plattsburgh on May 24, 1928, son of the late Henry Joseph and Mary (Scott) Rivers.

Lawrence was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Army. He worked at Imperial Wall Paper Mill until his retirement in 1990 after 38 years of service.

He was a life member of Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 1466 in Beekmantown and a member of the American Legion Post 20 in Plattsburgh. Lawrence was an avid big game hunter and ice fisherman. He was well known for installing cedar hedges and landscaping throughout the north country for 47 years.

Lawrence is survived by his wife, Delores C. (Bushey) Rivers of 50 years. They recently renewed their vows on Dec. 27, 2002, at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. He is also survived by eight children and their spouses, Lawrence Rivers Jr. and Beverly McPhail of Topsham, Maine, Julie Maxey and her husband Rick of Portales, N.M., Steven Rivers and his wife Cheryl of Beekmantown, Michael Rivers and his wife Gail of Beekmantown, Terry Rivers and his companion Pamela Schweitzer of Beekmantown, Glenn Rivers and his wife Laura of Morrisonville, Suzanne Kinter and her husband David of Beekmantown and Sherri LaDuke and her husband Clarence of Chazy; one brother, Robert Rivers and his wife Thelma of Beekmantown; 29 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Lawrence was predeceased by two brothers and six sisters.

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

Interment will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.

Family and friends wishing may make donations to the Third Age Adult Alzheimer's Program at Plattsburgh State University College.

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1466 and the American Legion Post 20 are asked to meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home for services.

WHALLONSBURG — Viola Palmer, 87, died at her home in Whallongsburg Monday, June 16, 2003, after a long illness.

She was born in Willsboro on July 8, 1915, the daughter of William and Mary (Dennette) LaMere.

She and her husband owned and ran a dairy farm in Whallonsburg for many years. Mrs. Palmer was a member of the Whallonsburg Methodist Church and Farm Bureau. She was also a collie breeder and belonged to the American Kennel Club. In recent years she enjoyed the company of her large family and watching the birds in her many feeders.

Mrs. Palmer is survived by her children, Joyce and Bob Bridge of Willsboro, Thelma Palmer of Whallonsburg, Joan and Otis Jones of Willsboro, Edith and Ron Tyrrell of Willsboro, Ethel and Marshall Hathaway of Willsboro, Mary Ann Crowningshield of Lewis, William Palmer and Annie of Whallonsburg, Betty and James Phillips of Westport; 36 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Harry, in 1980; her brothers, Ben Lambert, Nelson (Bud) LaMere, Sylvester (Bill) LaMere; her sisters, Irene Kneeland and Dorothy LaBounty; her sons, Orrin, David, James, and Thomas; a son-in-law, Russell Crowningshield; and a grandson, Neal Palmer.

Calling hours will be held at her home on Angier Hill Road, Whallonsburg, from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at her home at 2 p.m. Thursday, with burial to follow in the Memorial Cemetery, Lakeshore Road, Willsboro. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her memory may be made to the Whallonsburg-Essex Rescue Squad. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Huestis Funeral Home.

Alan V. Melville, 86, of River Road, Malone, and formerly of Whiting, N.J., died June 16, 2003, at the Farrar Home in Malone, where he had been a resident since November 2002.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 31, 1917, the son of the late Alexander and Eliza Jane Bell Melville.

There are no calling hours. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 20, 2003, at 10 a.m. in Whiting Memorial Park, Whiting, N.J.

Local arrangements are through the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone.

Scott W. Favaro, 49, of Norton, Mass., died Saturday, June 14, 2003, at the Boston Medical Center.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on May 13, 1954, the son of Eugene F. and Joyce W. (Witherbee) Favaro.

Calling hours will be Saturday, June 21, 2003, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery in Saranac.

GASPAR — A Mass and burial service will be held for Margaret (Maggie) Gaspar who passed away Oct. 11, 2002, in Naples, Fla.

The service will be held at St. John Bosco Church in Malone, N.Y. on June 21, 2003, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Thomas Moody officiating. A gathering for family and friends will be held at the American Legion after the burial.

LEWIS — A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, June 21, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at Norton Cemetery in Keene, N.Y., for Paul Steven Lewis, 86, who passed away on Friday, March 21, 2003 at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

W.M. Marvins Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown if in charge of arrangements.

CARSON — A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 26, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Lewis Cemetery for Harlan G. Carson, 84, formerly of Elizabethtown who died Dec. 17, 2002. He was born June 1, 1918 in Lewis, N.Y., the son of Ross and Cora Carson.

W.M. Marvins Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown if in charge of arrangements.

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

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