Published: 12/07/03

Keeseville — Margaret H. LeClair, 88, of the Port Douglas Road, Keeseville, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown with her son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Mercinda LeClair and grandson and spouse, Michael and Colleen LeClair and the caring staff of Horace Nye, all by her side.

She was born in Wadhams on Oct. 30, 1915, the daughter of Frank and Belle (James) Boyle.

She was a homemaker and especially enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family.

Mrs. LeClair was a communicant of St. John's Church in Keeseville.

Survivors include her children and spouses, Donald and Ramona LeClair of Keeseville, Betty and Ron Early of Ohio, Susan LeClair of Colorado, and Joseph and Mercinda LeClair of Keeseville; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sadie Belmore of Elizabethtown.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, A. Vernon LeClair; a son, Robert LeClair; and several brothers and sisters.

There will be no public calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church in Keeseville with Rev. Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, celebrating.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Keeseville Fire Department, the Keeseville Rescue Squad, or the Horace Nye Nursing Home.

The family would like to offer a sincere thank you to the staff at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown for the compassionate care given.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville.

Keene Valley — Alan John (Jack) Slater Jr., 70, of Reno, Nev., formerly of Keene Valley, N.Y., died Dec. 2, 2003, in Reno.

He was born March 11, 1933, in Keene Valley, N.Y., the son of Alan John and Elizabeth (Callahan) Slater.

Jack graduated from Keene Central School and attended college for one year before joining the U.S. Army, serving from 1952 to 1956. He received the National Defense Medal, Occupation Medal (Germany) and the Good Conduct Medal. After his discharge from the service, he lived in Phoenix, Ariz., Las Vegas, Nev., and for the last 30 years, in Reno.

His passions were mining, gardening and hunting. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many years camping in the Nevada desert.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Pauline McKinney, of Austin, Texas; a daughter, Daunalee; two sons, Gary and Gregory; two brothers, Malcolm of East Syracuse, N.Y., and Warren of Yardley, Pa.; two sisters, Sylvia Rupe of Wells, Vt., and Holly Auer of Keene, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

His mother and father died earlier.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, Dec. 13th, from 1 to 4 p.m. at W.M. Marvin's Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. There will a military service at the Upper Jay Cemetery in the spring.

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Lillian W. Casey, 95, of Beekman Towers, formerly of Morrison Avenue, Plattsburgh, passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center with her family by her side.

She was born in Montreal, Canada, on April 2, 1908, the daughter of Thomas H. and Catherine M. (Ryan) Weldon.

Lillian was a legal secretary for Feinberg, Jerry and Louis, attorneys in Plattsburgh. She was a member of St. John's Church and the Altar Rosary Society of St. John's Church.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents, Thomas H. and Catherine M. Weldon; her husband, Raymond Casey; two stepsons, Raymond Casey Jr., and Robert Casey; a sister, Mabel Weldon and a brother, Harold Weldon.

She is survived by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ella Mae Weldon of Plattsburgh; her stepsons, John "Jack" Casey and his wife Shauneen of Plattsburgh and Richard Casey and his wife Sandra of Glens Falls; her stepdaughter, JoAnne Clain and her husband Joseph of Rutland, Vt.; two stepdaughters-in-law, Hilda Casey Jenkins of Plattsburgh and Eleanor Casey of Glens Falls; one niece, Nola Quagliana and her husband Stephen of Marietta, Ga.; and several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat - grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Monday from noon until 2 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Kris Lauzon, pastor of St. John's Church in Plattsburgh, officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Morrisonville — Mr. Aird Dorrance, 77, of the Kent Falls Road, Morrisonville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center with his family at his side.

He was born in Montreal, Canada, on May 8, 1926, the son of Frank Young and Alice Edith (Aird) Dorrance. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy.

Aird was the founder of Aird Dorrance Plumbing & Heating on the Kent Falls Road in Morrisonville.

Aird is survived by his wife, Barbara Dorrance of Morrisonville; his son, Frank Dorrance and his wife Sheila and their children, Anna Nichole and Nicholas Aird of Morrisonville; his daughter, Lee Prochera and her husband John and their children Matthew Dorrance and Zac John of Averill Park, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

At Aird's request, there will be no calling hours.

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Friends wishing may make donations to the Morrisonville Community Church, 1944 Route 22B, Morrisonville, NY 12962.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh — Mr. John C. "Jack" Soper, 82, of South Catherine Street, passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Plattsburgh on July 9, 1921, the son of John H. and Henriette (Bourgerie) Soper.

Jack was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force he was stationed at Guam with the 315th Bomb Wing, 75th Air Service Group. He was a photography technician and equipped the planes that took reconnaissance aerial photos of Japan prior to and after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Jack was a well known photographer. He owned and operated Blair and Webber Studios until 1986 when he retired. He enjoyed classical music, Broadway theater, opera, old movies and traveling to Europe. Jack was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 125, the American Legion Post 20 and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 179.

Jack was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Clarence Soper and Harold Soper; and his sisters, Evangeline Braithwood and Marie Soper.

He is survived by two nephews, Richard Soper of Beekmantown and Clarence "C.J." Soper Jr. and his wife Barbara of Plattsburgh; two nieces, Nancy Faulkner and her husband Dennis of Lena, Miss., and Betty Quinley of Norco, Calif.; several great-nieces and great-nephews also survive him.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. only at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. Members of the VFW 125, American Legion Post 20 and the DAV 179 are to meet Sunday at 3 p.m. for services at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Church with the Rev. Msgr. Joseph Aubin as celebrant.

Interment will be in St. Peter's Cemetery.

George H. Cookman, 69, of Rouses Point, passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, Dec. 9th, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

A funeral service will be Wednesday at a time to be announced in Monday’s Press-Republican.

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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