Published: 3/15/04

WEST CHAZY — Mr. Ralph D. O’Hearn, 72, of West Church Street, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. He was born in West Chazy on Jan. 5, 1932, the son of Neil A. and Kathryn (Burdo) O’Hearn.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean A. (Stone) O’Hearn of West Chazy; a son, Kenneth O’Hearn of West Chazy; a daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Dennis Relation of Beekmantown; three grandsons, Nicholas, Ryan and Shane; two great-granddaughters, Lia and Payten; a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Raymond Gagnier of West Chazy; a brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Rita O’Hearn of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Ralph was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Harold and Joseph; and a sister, Kathleen.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday from St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy. Burial will be later in the year in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Chazy.

Donations in his memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Church Altar Fund.

Arrangements are with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

CHATEAUGAY — Richard G. Ryan, 66, of Lake Street, Chateaugay, died Saturday, March 13, 2004, at Albany Medical Center in Albany where he had been a patient since Dec. 17, 2003.

Born in Edwards, N.Y., on March 11, 1938, he was the son of Thomas and Hilda (Jarvis) Ryan.

He was married to Linda Elliott on March 29, 1969, in St. Phillip and James Church, Lisbon, N.Y., by the Rev. William LaVallee.

Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife of 34 years; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Barbara Ryan of Albany and their son, Matthew; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Scott Barber of New York City; two sisters, Sister Anne Marie of Cornwall, N.Y., and Mary Ryan of Deposit, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his mother on Aug. 7, 1975, and his father on Sept. 13, 1981.

Mr. Ryan graduated from Chateaugay Central School in 1956. He attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont for two years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education from SUNY Albany. He received his administrator’s degree from St. Lawrence University. He retired in 1995 as consortium manager for BOCES in Malone after serving in a number of capacities. At the time of his retirement, he had completed 35 years in education. He was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Chateaugay, member of the Knights of Columbus Council 469, Augsbury Institute for Youth and Family serving on the board of directors and as past president, past member of the Malone Golf Club and past member of the Ogdensburg Lodge of Elks. Mr. Ryan also served as a town justice of peace in Chateaugay, mayor of the village of Chateaugay from 1991 to 1994, Chateaugay town supervisor for two years and Franklin County legislator, serving from 1998 to 2004.

Calling hours will be held at the Chateaugay Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Patrick’s Church with the Rev. John Demo officiating.

Spring burial will take place at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Chateaugay.

Donations in his memory may be made to Chateaugay Fire Department or the charity of one’s choice.

SARANAC LAKE — Robert A. LaFountain, 80, of 34 Forest Hill Ave., Saranac Lake, died Saturday, March 13, 2004 at his home surrounded by his family.

Born in Silver Lake, N.Y., on Nov. 10, 1923, he was the son of Edward and Mary (Buckley) LaFountain.

Mr. LaFountain was employed by Tom Norman farms for 21 years and Niagara Mohawk for 21 years, retiring in 1986. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge 1508 and was a communicant of St. Bernard’s Church.

He is survived by his wife, the former Louise Emmons of Saranac Lake, whom he married Oct. 31, 1953 in St. Bernard’s Church. Also surviving is a son, Tony and his wife Lynn of Penfield, N.Y.; a daughter, Lisa of Saranac Lake; three granddaughters, Jennifer, Stacey and Raenene; a great-granddaughter, Alexis Rae; and fourteen nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward LaFountain; his mother, Mary Buckley LaFountain; his brothers, James and Edmund; and his sisters, Gertrude Hogan and Anna Hough.

Visitation will be held at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. An Elks service will be held 8 p.m. tonight followed by a Bible vigil at 8:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. at St. Bernard’s Church with the Rev. Kevin McEwan officiating. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery in Redford in May.

Friends wishing to remember Mr. LaFountain may make memorial contributions to High Peaks Hospice in care of the funeral home.

MORRISONVILLE — Mildred Ruth Chase, 87, formerly of West Main Street, Morrisonville, died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, under the care of her family and Hospice of the North Country.

She was born in Saranac on July 15, 1916, the daughter of David G. and Anna (Swinyer) Davidson.

Mildred graduated from Cadyville High School in 1935. She married Leonard E. Chase Jr., Nov. 8, 1935. She retired following several years of service at the National Commercial Bank in Plattsburgh.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Leonard III and Betty Chase of Keeseville; one brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Naomi Davidson of Saranac; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Donna L. Plumadore; one granddaughter; one great-granddaughter; brothers Harold, Edward and David Davidson; and sisters Agnes Ormsby, Lillian LaMora and Phyllis Seymour.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A prayer service will follow at 8 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home with the Rev. Rodger White, pastor of the Peasleeville and Morrisonville Community Churches, officiating. Burial will be in the spring in the Independence Cemetery in Saranac.

Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

BARBARA FLYNN TOSH, 75 of Adirondack Lane, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at CVPH Medical in Plattsburgh.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

MARY ALYCE WASHBURN, 92, of the Franklin County Nursing Home, died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at that facility.

Born Oct. 1, 1911, in Chasm Falls, she was the daughter of Lorenzo and Agnes McDonald Purdy.

Calling hours will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home chapel. A Mass of Christian burial will take place 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Notre Dame Church. Spring burial will take place in Notre Dame Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are through St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home Inc.

JOHN JOSEPH PELKEY, 45, of 174 Thomas Road, North Bangor, died Thursday, March 11, 2004, at his home.

Born in Malone on June 29, 1958, he was the son of the late Kenneth R. and Mary A. (Perry) Pelkey.

Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A reflection of his life will take place at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Donations may be made in his memory to the North Bangor Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department or to the New York State Trooper Foundation.

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Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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