Published: 3/3/04

Putnam Station — George Robert (Bob) Best, 92, of Fire House Lane, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at the Moses-Ludington Nursing Home of Ticonderoga.

He was born in Putnam Station on Oct. 5, 1911, the son of the late George Roy and Hattie Hartley (Iles) Best.

Bob was a lifelong Putnam Station resident and was a lifetime dairy farmer in Putnam Station. He was also employed by the Putnam School System as a bus driver and custodian for many years.

He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Putnam and the Putnam Valley Grange. He also served as a board member for the Town of Putnam.

Mr. Best loved animals.

He was predeceased by his wife, Genevia F. Best on Sept. 24, 1996. He was also predeceased by one brother, Edward Best; and four sisters, Irene Peters, Margaret Paige, Ada Bales and Gertrude Caplan.

Survivors include two sisters, Maude I. Shackett and Ruth M. Best, both of Putnam Station; a special friend, Belva Blood; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A funeral service will take place Friday at 1 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church of Putnam Station. The Rev. Sharon K. Weber, pastor, will officiate.

Interment will take place at the family plot of the White Church Cemetery of Crown Point in the spring.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Putnam Fire Department, Putnam Station, NY 12861 or the Putnam United Presbyterian Church, 365 County Rte. 2, Putnam Station, NY 12861.

Rouses Point — Richard A. Martinez, 57, of Rouses Point, passed away Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, at his home.

He was born Jan. 20, 1947, in Oakland, Calif., the son of Able and Antonia Martinez.

Two sisters, Jeanne and Gloria, as well as one brother, Donald, predeceased him.

Richard is survived by his wife, Jackie Martinez of Rouses Point; two daughters, Kelsey Martinez and Ashley Martinez of Rouses Point; one son, Christopher Martinez of Chicago; one brother, Danny and his wife Marie of California; and six sisters, Fran, Dolores, Maxine, Minda, Joanne and Suzanne, all of California.

There will be no public calling hours.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point.

Plattsburgh — Tuffield N. Fountain, 84, of Johnson Avenue, died on Monday, March 1, 2004, at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Jan. 4, 1920, son of Paul T. and Catherine (Conway) Fountain.

Tuffield was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army in the European Theater. He had been employed and retired from NYSEG. Tuffield enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Tuffield is survived by his wife, Virginia M. (Bushery) Fountain of Evergreen Valley Nursing Home; three brothers, Herbert of West Chazy and Horace and Jack of Plattsburgh; three sisters, Catherine and her husband Stanley Kowaleski of Balston Lake, Joan T. Dignard of Lake Park, Fla., and Leonora M. Bushery of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Tuffield was predeceased by a son, James, in 1946; two brothers, Orville H. and Edward W. Fountain; two sisters, Mona LaPointe and Mary Bister, all of Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10 a.m. from Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in St. Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Champlain — John W. McMillan, 61, of Champlain, passed away Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

He was born in Montpelier, Vt., on March 8, 1942, the son of Ernest McMillan and Ruby Willey of Vermont.

John loved working in his woodshop and outside in his yard. He valued his family and friends. He was a veteran of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, serving during the Vietnam era.

His wife Maureen survives John. They were married for 23 beautiful years. He has four children: Jennie McMillan, Sandy Gallion with son-in-law Tom Gallion, who live in Florida. His son Michael McMillan lives in Anderson, S.C. His daughter Megan McMillan attends college at Potsdam. He has two grandchildren, Zachary and Taylor Gallion of Florida, who adored their grandfather.

He also has several brothers and sisters: brothers Wendell McMillan of White River Junction, Vt., Francis McMillan of Greenfield, Mass., Robert McMillan of Beekmantown, Patsyann Lucca of San Jose, Calif., Steven McMillan of Champlain, N.Y., Patrick McMillan of Bowlhead, Ariz.; and two sisters, Debra Deyo of Altona, N.Y., and Cecile Smail of Gill, Mass. He also has several nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial Mass will be held Wednesday at St. Mary's Church in Champlain at 10 a.m.

Memorial donations in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Luella M. LaVigne, 92, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, in Lancaster, Ohio.

She was born Nov. 8, 1912, the daughter of Hector and Elizabeth (Girard) Poissant.

Purdy W. Ledger, 82, of 69 Cedar St., Malone, N.Y., died Monday, March 1, 2004, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, where he had been admitted earlier in the day.

He was born in Chasm Falls, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 1921, the son of the late Elmer and Gladys (Wood) Ledger.

Calling hours will be Thursday from noon until 2 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home Chapel in Malone. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery in the spring.

Messenger Raymond Sr., 67, of the Wilfred King Road, Chazy Lake, died on Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements are incomplete with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home.

Katherine L. Shemet died Feb. 18, 2004.

She was born on July 18, 1921, the daughter of James L. O’Brien and Lillian Singer.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are with the Wages & Sons, Inc., Funeral Homes of Stone Mountain, Ga.

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