Published: 06/20/03

Plattsburgh — Evelyn T. Smigiel, 85, died on June 17, 2003, in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

She was born on Nov. 30, 1917, in Saranac Lake, N.Y., the daughter of Gordon and Mabel (Stewart) Thompson.

Mrs. Smigiel retired from the General Electric Company in Ft. Edward with over 25 years of service.

She is predeceased by her husband, Bruno Smigiel; and one sister, Ruth LaBrake.

Survivors include a cousin, Freida LaMar and her husband Leander of Cadyville, N.Y., and many other cousins.

A graveside service will be conducted on Friday, June 20, 2003, at 1 p.m. at Glens Falls Cemetery. There are no calling hours scheduled.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Rd., Queensbury.

Loudonville, N.Y. — Jane F. King, of 21 St. Agnes Lane, Loudonville and Black Point Road, Ticonderoga, N.Y., died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany on Wednesday, June 18, 2003.

She was born and raised in Ridgewood Queens and graduated from Bayside High School.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, James P. King; three sons, Jim Jr. of Ticonderoga, David and his fiancé Kim of Albany and Glenn and his wife Theresa of Albany. Jane was the proud grandmother of Glenn and Theresa's triplets, nearly two-year-old children, John, Charlotte and Sally. Jane is also survived by two sisters, Doris Wilhem of Albuquerque, N.M., and Marjorie Thornton of Inverness, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Carolyn and her husband Frank Charlton and sister-in-law Ruth and her husband Dick Malaney, all of Putnam Station, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

Jane was a registered nurse, receiving her degree at Northern Virginia Community College. She served at Fairfax General Hospital in Virginia and Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga, N.Y., as both a surgical and floor nurse. She also took advanced training at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. After her retirement, she served for several years on the Board of Directors at Moses-Ludington Hospital and also served on the Board of Directors at North Country Hospice. She was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church in Putnam Station, N.Y., and was a gifted self-taught painter as well as an enthusiastic beginning golfer. Above all, she was a superb homemaker who brought warmth, love and laughter to her family, her relatives and many friends.

A memorial service celebrating Jane's life will be held at the United Presbyterian Church, Lower Road, Putnam Station, N.Y., on Monday, June 23, 2003, at 11 a.m. Friends of Jane and her husband are also invited to attend an informal gathering in her honor at the Albany Law School on Friday, June 27, 2003, from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call the Law School at 445-2311. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Jane may be made to the Community Hospice of Albany, 446 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205 or the United Presbyterian Church, Lower Road, Putnam Station, NY 12861.

Arrangements are by the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham, N.Y.

Redford — Susan S. Caron, 32, of Champlain Street, Redford, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 19, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in San Diego, Calif., on July 13, 1970, the daughter of Gerald Stewart and the former Bonnie Ashley.

Susan graduated from Peru Central School in 1988 and received her bachelors degree from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam. She recently graduated from Plattsburgh State with a masters degree.

She married Mark R. Caron on Aug. 8, 1992, at St. Patrick's Church in West Peru.

She had taught music at both Seton Catholic in Plattsburgh and Beekmantown Central School.

She was a member of the St. Augustine's Church Choir, the Peru/Keeseville Ecumenical Choir and the New York State School Music Association.

Susan had a true love of motherhood. She was an accomplished vocalist and enjoyed crafts, music of all kinds and her involvement in the Peru Music Theater.

Survivors include her husband, Mark R. Caron of Redford; her son, Benjamin Caron; her father, Gerald Stewart of Peru; her mother and stepfather, Bonnie and Jim Davidson of Austin, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, James and Viola Stewart of Peru; paternal grandmother, Ethel Stewart of Peru; maternal grandmother, Martha Ashley of Potsdam; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Sunday 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 Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Peru, with Rev. Vicente Jazmines, pastor, celebrating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to a scholarship fund to be established at the Peru Central School for a student pursuing a career in music.

Rhinebeck, N.Y. — Ken Gonyea, 57, Hudson Valley air personality and former talk show host, passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 18, 2003, following a brief illness.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on March 1, 1946, the son of the late Kenneth G. and Mary Elizabeth (Breen) Gonyea.

He graduated from Dannemora High School and attended Dutchess Community College. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Clinton Corners, N.Y.

A well-known broadcaster, musician, actor, writer and sportsman, Ken was best known for his warm and inviting radio style. More than just an announcer, Ken, a local resident most of his life, put his listeners first. He spoke from the heart and his audience sensed this. He was involved in the Dutchess County Fair, was a Rotarian and was involved in various community activities.

His contribution to radio extended beyond his on-air delivery. He was responsible for putting WRWD Thunder Country on the air. He started under the tutelage of the late Rafael Mark at radio station WEOK and during his career, worked at various local stations including WPDH, WHVW, WKIP, Q92 and 93.3 Hudson. Ken often served as an emcee for country music artists at the Civic Center and for many years at the talent search at the Dutchess County Fair.

Ken was also a talented musician, singer and songwriter. In the mid-60's, he was involved with the Hudson River Clearwater Revival and often performed with Pete Seeger and penned "The Hudson River Song" which was included on one of the Clearwater albums. In the early 1970's, he was a member of a local folk music group known as The Redstreet Band. Until his health would no longer permit, Ken was a member of a country band in the Mohawk Valley, The Mohawk Valley Boys. He played the role of a chorus master in "The Road To Wellville " with Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Ken was likewise a well known avid fisherman and hunter. He spent decades fishing and promoting fishing on the Hudson River and in resource conservation. At the time of his death, Ken was a feature writer for the popular "Boating on the Hudson" magazine.

But most important, Kenny was a brother, a husband and a friend. He leaves behind his wife of over 30 years, the former Regina Osterc of Fishkill, N.Y., whom he married on May 20, 1972, in Woodstock, N.Y.; and his only sister, Mary Bourdon (Gonyea) of Dannemora, who now resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He also leaves behind his two nieces, Roxsanna Catherine Gagnier and Sierra Rose Haro (Gagnier) of Benson, Ariz.

Besides his parents of Beacon, N.Y., he was predeceased by his older brother, John Joseph Gonyea, most recently of Benson, Ariz., on Oct. 18, 2002.

Calling hours will be held on June 20th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home, 16 So. Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 12603. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, Clinton Corners Rd., Clinton Corners, N.Y., on June 21, 2003, at 10 a.m. Burial will be private at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dannemora, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220.

Elizabethtown — Russell Dean Elethorp, 75, of the ARC in Elizabethtown, died on June 9, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, following a brief illness.

He was born in Crown Point on May 3, 1928, the son of Raymond and Irene Bell (Rafferty) Elethorp.

Dean lived in Ticonderoga many years and then moved to and lived at the ARC in Elizabethtown.

He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Grace Keast of Ticonderoga; one sister, Joyce Cruickshank of Ticonderoga; and he is also survived by several nieces and nephews and dozens of very good friends at ARC.

Besides his parents, he is predeceased by two sisters, June Lamb and Ruth Peters; and one brother, Paul Elethorp.

A memorial and graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2003, at the Valley View Cemetery in Ticonderoga, with Deacon Elliot Shaw of St. Mary's Church in Ticonderoga officiating.

Arrangements are with the Connery & Gunning Funeral Home in Ticonderoga.

Santa Barbara, Calif. — Carolyn (Gillespie) Gray, 85, of 229 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, Calif., died June 11, 2003, following a brief illness.

She was born in Troy, N.Y., on May 11, 1918, the daughter of Paul and Louise (Young) Gillespie.

Carolyn and her husband, Philip F. Gray Jr., summered at Lake George for many years, first at Glenburnie and later in Hague. She and Phil were happily married for 48 years, living and traveling throughout the United States. Her enthusiasm for life was contagious and she made lifelong friends wherever she lived. After Phil’s death in 1989, she moved to California to be near family.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Beverly Gray of Glasgow, Scotland; one daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Douglas Cumming of Los Angeles, Calif.; three grandchildren, Philip and his wife Saida Gray of Washington, D.C., India Cumming of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Joshua Cumming of Los Angeles, Calif.; and one brother, Paul D. Gillespie of Utah.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2003, in the Valley View Chapel on the Hague Road in Ticonderoga, with the Rev. Marjorie Floor of the Episcopal Church in Ticonderoga officiating.

Carolyn will be buried next to her husband in Valley View Cemetery immediately following the service.

Arrangements are with the Connery & Gunning Funeral Home in Ticonderoga.

Joyce Muriel Duval, 68, of Washington State, died May 15, 2003.

She was born in Goole, England, the daughter of the late Christopher R. and Jessie King.

Memorial services were held on May 25th at the Espanola Grange Hall, Espanola, Washington. Burial was at the Medical Lake Cemetery at Espanola.

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