Published: 10/30/04

Plattsburgh — Mr. Peter H. Mischler, 71, of Wall Street, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at the CVPH Medial Center in Plattsburgh after a long and courageous battle with heart disease, strokes and diabetes.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Nov. 12, 1932, son of the late Daniel and Bernice (Mason) Mischler.

Peter was a high school graduate. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. Peter worked as a mental heath therapy aid at the Harden Valley State Hospital in Wingdale for several years. He moved to New York City in 1957. Peter served as a clerk, airline steward, taxi driver, waiter and finally found his niche as a restaurant manager. As a restaurant manager, he worked first for the Proof of the Pudding at 63rd St. and 1st Ave. in Manhattan and then as night manager at the Howard Johnson Restaurant at 44th St. and Broadway near Times Square.

Peter was forced to retire in 1970 due to severe health problems. He enjoyed lively conversations, eating out at his favorite coffee shop in New York City and Lum's in Plattsburgh, walks with his dog and his friends in Riverside Park in Manhattan and the mall in Plattsburgh and long car rides.

Peter is survived by two brothers and a sister-in-law, Russell Mischler of Plattsburgh and Wesley and Rose Mischler of Schuyler Falls; one nephew, Phillip Mischler of Maine; two nieces, Dale Marie of North Carolina and Debbie Mischler of Peru; and his long time companion, Barton Feese of Plattsburgh; and a sister-in-law, Polly Mischler of North Carolina.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Aug. 15, 2004, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held Monday, Aug. 16, 2004, at 11 a.m. from the Brown Funeral Home Chapel in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in the St. Peter's Cemetery.

Port Henry — Roger M. Pratt, 78, of Stone Street, Port Henry, N.Y., died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, Elizabethtown, N.Y.

He was born in Port Henry on April 24, 1926, the son of Glenn and Ada (Randall) Pratt.

Roger was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II.

Together with his wife Alice, they owned and operated Bertrand Cleaners until their retirement. Roger enjoyed being at his camp on Lake Champlain and spending time with his family.

Survivors include two daughters, Linda Pratt and Sherry Pratt and her husband Bill; one son, Roger T. Pratt and his wife Denise, all of Port Henry; two grandchildren, Kelly (Pratt) Arnold and her husband Jim of Parkland, Fla., and Brandy (Pratt) Mitchell and her husband Dave of Glenville, N.Y.; six great-grandchildren, Connor, Logan, Arnold, Anna Shea, Sadie, Emmma Rose and Matthew David Mitchell; one stepgreat-grandchild, Nicole Mitchell; one brother, Robert Pratt of Glens Falls; and one sister, Rhoane Reeves of AuSable, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Alice; two brothers, Randall and Richard Pratt; and one sister, Rachel Abair.

In honor of Roger's wishes, there will be no calling hours. Burial will be in the Union Cemetery on Aug. 21, 2004, at 11 a.m. with a graveside service.

Friends and family wishing to remember Roger may make contributions to the Animal Shelter, SPCA, Lake Shore Road, Westport, N.Y., in memory of Shilo, Chester and Magnum.

The Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry, is in charge of arrangements.

AuSable Forks — Daniel G. Irwin, 56, of the Separator Road, passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh.

Danny was born Dec. 19, 1947, in AuSable Forks, the son of Robert and Eleanor (Denett) Irwin.

He was a heavy equipment operator for the Town of Black Brook from 1965 to 2000; at that time, he became disabled and could no longer continue with the job at which he was so efficient. His main interest was restoring cars and trucks. Dan was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He was a companion to his brother Robert after the death of their parents.

He is survived by two brothers and a sister-in-law, Wilfred and Sally Irwin of Winooski and Robert Irwin of AuSable Forks; a sister, Theresa Smith of Keeseville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Lloyd Irwin; and a sister, Esther Gifford.

Visitation hours will be Sunday, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home, AuSable Forks. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at the Holy Name Catholic Church in AuSable Forks. Burial will follow in the family plot at Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks.

Memorials to Dan may be made to the AuSable Forks Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Keeseville — John F. "Jack" Connell, 79, of the Connell Road, Keeseville, died accidentally Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, at his home as the result of a fire.

He was born in Keeseville, July 9, 1925, at the home where he died, the son of William and Elizabeth (Boyle) Connell.

He was a graduate of Keeseville High School in 1942 and was a track star.

Jack was the Town of AuSable Highway Superintendent for 35 years. He owned and operated a family dairy farm for many years. He was owner, trainer and driver at Jacsue Stable, having raised some of the top standard bred racehorses which still hold three track records in New York State. He was known as the flying Irishman in the racing circuit. He also coached girls softball, which won many league championships.

Jack was a lifetime Democrat. He was currently serving as a councilman for the Town of AuSable. He was a lifetime member of the Keeseville Elks Lodge, a member of the Keeseville Knights of Columbus and Clinton County Fair Director for many years and in 2004 was recognized and presented with an award for his many years of dedicated service. He was a member of the JCEO Board, past president of the NYS Highway Association and member of the U.S. and Canadian Trotting Associations. He was an active member of Durgan's Fitness Center.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Dan and Lucy Connell of Westport and Dennis and Sandi Connell of Schuyler Falls; seven daughters and five sons-in-law, Dianne Trowbridge and companion Joe Kwashnak of Plattsburgh, Jackie and Al Walker of Plattsburgh, Judy and Dale Baker of Morrisonville, Bonnie and Charles Jarvis of Keeseville, Becky Connell of Morrisonville, Amy and Perry Koehne of Alamogordo, N.M., and Marla and Paul Pendergast of Keeseville; 16 grandchildren; 16 great - grandchildren; a brother-in-law and his spouse, Ronald and Sally Ryan of Port Kent; many nieces and nephews; and friend Annette Clark.

He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Shirley M. Connell, Sept. 18, 1991, whom he married in 1944; brothers Leo and William Connell; and sisters Catherine Rabideau, Margaret Carillo and Helen Ashley.

Calling hours will be held Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. Members of the Keeseville Elks Lodge will meet at the funeral home at 5:30 p.m. and members of the Keeseville Knight of Columbus will meet at 5:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville with Rev. Peter Riani, pastor of St. Elizabeth's Church in Elizabethtown and St. Philip Neri Church in Westport, celebrating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to a scholarship fund to be established in his memory for a graduating athlete from AuSable Valley Central School.

Queensbury, N.Y. — Pearl (Tyler) LaVallee, 84, of Queensbury, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004. She was a lifetime resident of Saranac Lake until February 2003.

Born Dec. 31, 1919, in Saranac Lake, Pearl was the daughter of Martin A. and Edith (Pellerin) Tyler. She married Francis R. LaVallee on Dec. 25, 1942. He predeceased her on July 29, 1992.

Pearl was a 1942 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, where she received a bachelor of science in education and did graduate work at SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University.

Mrs. LaVallee first taught at the Wilmington public school from 1942 to 1943. Then, accompanying her husband to North Carolina, she taught junior high school courses from 1943 to 1944. From there, they traveled to Eglin Field, Fla., where he was stationed during World War II. There Pearl taught at the Crestview High School from 1944 to 1946.

Upon returning home after the war, she served as a substitute teacher in the local schools from 1946 to 1951. From 1951 to 1961, she taught grades 4, 5 and 6 in the Gabriels public school. Starting in September 1961, Mrs. LaVallee took a position as a sixth-grade teacher at Petrova Middle School and remained there until her retirement in 1980.

Mrs. LaVallee was a member of the New York State Teachers Association, the National Education Teachers Association and was an active member of the Saranac Lake Teachers Association, where she served as treasurer for five years, vice-president for two terms and was a member of the Executive Committee.

At the time of her death, Mrs. LaVallee was a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association, the Franklin County Association of Senior Citizens and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). She was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Daughters of America, where she had held offices of financial secretary, vice Grand Regent and Grand Regent. She was also a lifetime member of L.I.F.T.

In 1973, she was initiated into Beta Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for key women educators. With that group, she served as corresponding secretary from 1976 to 1978; president in charge of programs from 1978 to 1982; and has been chapter chairman for the Committee on Historical Records Scrapbooks since 1982. From 1987 to 1989, she also served as a member of the Pi State (NY) Committee on Historical Records and Scrapbook.

Mrs. LaVallee and her husband were 4-H leaders for 15 years, belonging to the 4-H Horseleaders Association, where she served as secretary for the group. She was also a member of the East Kiln chapter of the U.S. Pony Club and the National U.S. Pony Club.

Pearl did volunteer work with the Red Cross Cancer Fund, Heart Association and the American Lung Association.

Since 1993, Mrs. LaVallee has been an active member of the Saranac Lake Adult Center's Volunteer Program. In 1994, she was treasurer of the board of directors; she served as president of the board of directors from 1995 to 1997 and from 1999 through 2001 and served as vice-president from 1997 to 1999. In March 1996, she became a director representative and education advocate for Franklin County in the New York Statewide Senior Action Committee; she received an award for her long-term contributions to the Franklin County Association of Senior Citizens. In 2003, she was crowned Queen of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Mrs. LaVallee is survived by three daughters, Susan Benware of Plattsburgh, Frances Morrow of Queensbury and Karen Johns of Lake George; two brothers, Martin A. Tyler of Ocala, Fla., and Upper Saranac and William Tyler of Schuyler Falls; five grandchildren, Traci Passero and Michelle Passero-Chin of San Francisco, Anthony Johns of Melbourne, Fla., Tyler Johns of Lake George and Adam Benware of Plattsburgh; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by one daughter, Cheryl (LaVallee) Passero of Saranac Lake; and one brother, Leonard M. Tyler of Fairfax, Va.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, Aug. 19th, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. A Catholic Daughters' Bible vigil will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20th, at St. Bernard's Church. Burial will follow in St. Bernard's Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Saranac Lake Adult Center, the local Beta Mu chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society - Scholarship Fund for Educators or to Court St. Bernard 787, C.D.A.

Robert L. Clark, 82, of 8 Henry St., Port Henry, N.Y., died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born at Mineville, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 1921, the son of Selby and Louise (Potts) Clark.

There will be no calling hours or funeral services at this time.

Harland Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Loretta Blondo of Mooers died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

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