Published: 9/30/04

Willsboro — Milton Glen Dickerson, 85, of Willsboro, died Sept. 29, 2004 at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Reber, N.Y., on Dec. 14, 1918, the son of Clarence and Maude (Stranahan) Dickerson. He was the husband of Beverley Jean (Collins), whom he married on Aug. 31, 1946.

"Mike," as he was known, was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and spent more than four years in the South Pacific. He worked in the Wollastonite mines in Willsboro for 22 years, initially for Cabot, followed by Interpace and finally NYCO before retiring as a foreman in 1980. Prior to that, he worked at GE in Schenectady and for the Department of Conservation as a game warden. Mike loved to garden and shared the produce with many. For over 40 years, Mike and Bev have been avid supporters of interscholastic athletics in both Willsboro and Westport. They were honored as Willsboro’s "#1 Sports Fans" on several different occasions.

Mike is survived by his wife Beverley; two sisters, Audrey Dickerson and Doris and Ed Collins; two brothers, Claude and Joyce Dickerson and "Bub" and Edrie Dickerson, all of Willsboro; one son, Bill and Maura Dickerson of Fullerton, Calif., and their sons, Brian and Dawn Dickerson of San Diego, Calif., and Michael and Candace Dickerson of Long Beach, Calif., and three daughters, Wendy O’Hara of San Diego, Calif., her daughters, Mirabai Coburn and Willow Jay and Jason Sanders and great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Elijah Sanders of Santa Rosa, Calif., Debi and Jerry Sherman of Westport, N.Y., their children, Randy Sherman of Plattsburgh and Nanette Sherman and fiancé Patrick Polvinale and stepson Matthew of Perry Hall, Md., and Lori and Joe Walsh and their children, Victoria, Alexandra and Joseph, all of Willsboro; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike was predeceased by one sister, Vivian Morse; and three brothers, Loren, Don and Maitland Dickerson.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Reber Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the Reber Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mike’s memory may be made to the Willsboro Booster Club, c/o Mike St. Louis, Willsboro Central School, Willsboro, NY 12996.

AuSable Forks — Kathleen "Katy" Torrance, 86, died Sept. 28, 2004.

Katy was born in Jay, N.Y., on Nov. 10, 1917, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Geary) Wilkins.

Katy retired from Key Bank in the mid-1980s. She thoroughly enjoyed life and was a world traveler. In her younger years she was an avid bowler, enjoying many trips to state bowling tournaments.

Katy was predeceased by her husband, Edwin, in 1998; and a son Bruce in 1985.

Family members include a son, Lee and his wife Jackie (Hearn); two granddaughters, Meredith and Kallie Torrance; a brother-in-law, David Torrance; and a niece, Patty Coolidge.

Calling hours will be held at Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Jay Central Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the AuSable Forks Ambulance Service or the AuSable Forks Free Library.

Plattsburgh — Charles W. Tompkins, 79, of Plattsburgh, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1924, in Albany, N.Y., the son of Charles and Margaret (Mahar) Tompkins.

He graduated from Vincentian Institute and attended Siena College.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 as a machine gun commander with the 1st Infantry Division in Europe, earning five battle stars, the Purple Heart, Bronze Arrowhead and Presidential Citation for the Normandy Invasion and the Belgium Four-a-Buerre for the Battle of the Bulge from the King of Belgium.

He was a sales representative for Gillette Company for 15 years, then a manufacturer’s representative in the sporting goods industry, covering New York and the New England states. He then worked for Drew Buick until his retirement in 1986.

He was a lifetime member of the DAV and a member of the Elks Lodge 621 of Plattsburgh.

He has joined souls with his loving wife and partner of 30 years, Carolyn J. (Sweeney) Tompkins, who passed away on Feb. 21, 2004.

Survivors include one stepson and his wife, Michael and Marcie Tompkins of Plattsburgh; a stepdaughter, Penny Leonard of Plattsburgh; three daughters and sons-in-law, Patty and Joe O’Malley of Duanesburg, N.Y., Nancy and Ed Hoffman of Latham, N.Y., and Diane and Bill Murray of Westerlow, N.Y.; one brother-in-law, Thomas Sweeney and his wife Dorie of Morrisonville; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Reyell of Peru, N.Y., and Beverly Quante of Denver, Colo.

He had 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Dolores Martin; a sister-in-law, Barbara Cumm; and his mother-in-Iaw, Alvina Bill.

He was a communicant of St. Peter’s parish.

There will be no calling hours at Charlie’s request. A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh at 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial took place in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rensselaer, N.Y.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Church.

Mineville — Fredrick S. Finlay, 78, of 3 Liberty St., Mineville, N.Y., went home to the Lord Jesus Christ Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, from his home.

He was born in Waltham, Mass., on June 4, 1926, the son of Fredrick and Ethel (Ray) Finlay.

His wife of 40 years, Mary, died in 1996. He leaves a stepson, Rev. Tom DeLaMater, Mineville, N.Y.; a brother, V. William Finlay of Martinez, Ga.; a sister, Etta M. Hemingway of Martinez, Ga.; a sister-in-law, Marion A. Finlay of West Groton, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews,

Fred worked hard his entire life, starting at a young age when his father died. Many times he worked when many would have given in to the physical hardships he overcame. He was in the U.S. Army and served in transportation in Japan at the end of World War II and then worked for R.E. Chapman Company for over 35 years. The last 15 years he mainly drove trucks and enjoyed his time on the road a lot.

Fred valued his family and several close friends, with whom he maintained close ties even after moving to Mineville after his retirement. He was a lifelong Red Sox fan and The Lord Jesus blessed him mightily by letting him know of the Red Sox soundly beating the Yankees the last two games they played while he was with us.

He had been given notice that he probably had a short time to live and faced death bravely, having made his wishes known well in advance that he wished to stay at home to the end.

During the last several years, Dr. Ron Malseptic was Fred’s doctor and gave him the best care possible, in a friendly manner that Fred appreciated immensely. There were too many other doctors to mention all of them, but they know who they are and they may rest well knowing they helped Fred have a much better quality of life during his final years than would have been possible without their wonderful care. During his last year, Fred received excellent and loving care at the Kidney Dialysis Unit (KDU) in Elizabethtown and occasionally in Plattsburgh, both from the nurses, the technicians and from the doctors. At the end, he was blessed to be helped by many fine people, including Tri-Lakes Home Medical Equipment (especially Jim and Wayne), Dr. Glen Chapman, Dr. Dennis Sanders and the fine people of High Peaks Hospice. His stepson, Rev. Tom DeLaMater, was honored to be with him and to serve him during his final years.

Respecting Fred’s wishes, there will be no viewing hours. The graveside service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the South Moriah cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to CVPH Medical Center, Kidney Dialysis, Freedman Renal Center, 91 Plaza Blvd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901, or to High Peaks Hospice, PO Box 195, Mineville, NY 12956.

Massena, N.Y. — Gertrude E. Horan, 80, of 247 Andrews St., Massena, N.Y., died Sept. 28, 2004, at her home under the care of her family and hospice.

She was born on Nov. 28, 1923, in Canton, the daughter of John Leonard and Bessie (Fitzgerald) Leonard.

Mrs. Horan was an elementary teacher, retiring from Nightengale School after teaching for 33 years.

She is survived by her husband, John W. "Jack"; a daughter, Mrs. Christopher (Ann) Mazzella of Peru, N.Y.; two sons, John J. and Gloria Horan of Massena, N.Y., and William P. and Ann Horan of Lavonia, N.Y.; a sister, Helen Leonard, of Stanford, Conn.; a brother, Walter Leonard of Canton, N.Y.; and 11 grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a son, Thomas in 1958; a brother, Maurice; and a sister, Margaret Sharkey.

She graduated from De Kalb High School as valedictorian. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in teaching from SUNY at Potsdam. She married John W. "Jack" Horan on April 7, 1947, at St. Henry’s Church in De Kalb Junction with the Rev. Parisian presiding.

She taught at Lincoln School, Washington Elementary and Madison School, retiring in 1981. She was a member of the NYS Retired Teachers Association, Massena Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and LCBA. She enjoyed quilting and made many quilts for all her family. She was a member of Calico Stitchers.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Phillips Memorial Home in Massena. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Sacred Heart with the Rev. Donald J. Manfred. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.

Geraldine R. Barber, 92, formerly of State Route 22, West Chazy, died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Chazy, N.Y., on Oct. 25, 1911, the daughter of John and Daisy (LaPlante) Luck.

There will be no public calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Rev. Harry Giroux, pastor, at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Nona M. Brown, 68, of Lakeview Towers, Plattsburgh, died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center with her family by her side.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Feb. 21, 1936, the daughter of Levi and Leona (Lucia) Sorrell.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at a time to be announced from St. Peter’s Church. Entombment will follow at the Whispering Maples Mausoleum.

A complete obituary will run in Friday’s Press-Republican.

Marvin R. Geno, 75, of Route 3, Plattsburgh, died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Plattsburgh on March 10, 1929, the son of William and Viola (Lashway) Geno.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday from St. Joseph’s Church in Treadwells Mills. Interment will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

A complete obituary will run in Friday’s Press-Republican.

John Stockwell, 17, of Standish Road, Lyon Mountain, died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at his home.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

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