Published: 10/14/04

ESSEX — Lester (Bud) Sweatt of Station Road, Essex, went forward into the arms of God at his home on Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bud was born Nov. 4, 1918, in Cornwall, Vt., the son of John and Mary (Davis) Sweatt.

He graduated from Essex High School in 1936, then proudly served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Canadian Northwest Territories, Europe and the Pacific during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1945.

Bud operated the local Dairyman's League milk plants before being appointed U.S. Postmaster in Essex by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, where he worked for 25 years until his retirement in 1978. Bud served two full terms as an Essex Town Councilman from January 1982 to December 1989. He was a faithful member of the Essex Community United Methodist Church and was the church finance treasurer for many years. He was a proud mason, past master and 50-year member of the Iroquois Masonic Lodge in Essex, a member of the Shrine Oriental Temple, Troy, N.Y., an active member of the B.P.O.E Keeseville, N.Y., for 15 years, a member of the Essex Volunteer Fire Company for approximately 50 years and was an active association member in The National Association of Postmasters.

Bud's love of sports led him from high-school athletics to town and country baseball, soccer and bowling leagues and then on to coaching the American Legion youth baseball league for many years. An avid outdoorsman, Bud enjoyed golf, fishing and hunting and was a lifelong member of "Camp Whippoorwill" hunting camp which he helped form in the 1950's. Bud and his wife, Phebe traveled throughout North America during their retirement and in April of 2004, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Bud made friends wherever he went and enjoyed the company of people from all walks of life. He was especially pleased with the caring visits by many of his friends who stopped in to see him during the past several weeks. He was a loyal and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bud was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Barbara (McCormick); brothers, Gordon, Harold and John; and sisters, Hilda Sausville and Bernice Mero.

He is survived by his wife, Phebe (Morse, MacDougal) Sweatt of Essex; his son, George (Bucky) and companion Karen Brown of Lewis; his daughter, Susie and husband John Drinkwine of Willsboro; stepsons, Gregory MacDougal and wife Nadine of Georgia, Bob MacDougal and wife Beth of North Carolina; stepdaughters, Cheryl Weston and husband Carl of Maine and Bonnie Coutant of Essex; sisters, Blanch Bruno and husband Joe of Willsboro and Dorothy Jacques and husband Herb of Willsboro. His spirit lives on in his grandchildren, Kenneth Sweatt and wife Lois, Korey Sweatt and wife Brandy, John, Justin, Jessica Drinkwine; and stepgrandchildren, Scott MacDougal, Rick and wife Kelly MacDougal, Tonya (MacDougal) Morgan and husband Tom, Heather (MacDougal) Abbot and husband Jeb, Darin Lindsay, Marc Hayward, Christi (Drinkwine) Thacker and husband Tom, Kate (Drinkwine) Layer and husband Shane, Nathan Drinkwine, Jennifer MacDougal, Emily MacDougal and Ian MacDougal; as well as 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours. A celebration for Bud’s life will be offered on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Essex Community United Methodist Church in Essex.

In lieu of flowers, memorials for Bud can be made to the Essex Community United Methodist Church, Essex Rescue Squad, High Peaks Hospice or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in care of the Huestis Funeral Home, 6 Maple Street, Willsboro, NY 12996.

WINGDALE, N.Y. — Jean S. Manor, 68, of Lake Ellis Road, Wingdale, N.Y., died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at her home.

She was born Aug. 6, 1936, in Beekmantown, N.Y., daughter of the late Loretta Brothers and Ernest Covey.

Jean was a lifelong resident of Wingdale. She was employed as a therapy aide at Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, where she worked for 22 years, retiring in 1984.

She married Charles M. Manor on Aug. 28, 1954, in West Chazy, N.Y. He predeceased her on Oct. 26, 1982.

She is survived by one son, Kevin C. Manor; three daughters, Sandra Manor and Shari Thiers, both of Wingdale, N.Y., and Tina Manor of Norwalk, Conn.; two brothers, Jack Covey of Beekmantown and Mahlon Covey of Morrisonville; and one grandchild, Chelsea Thiers of Wingdale, N.Y.

Besides her husband, she was predeceased three brothers, Pete, Duane and Gary Covey.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hufcut Funeral Home, Main Street, Dover Plains, N.Y. A funeral service will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Mills Street, Dover Plains, N.Y., with Father John Backes. Interment will follow at South Dover Rural Cemetery, Wingdale, N.Y. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m.

Hufcut Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Carroll B. Cook, 81, a lifetime resident of Chasm Road, Chateaugay, died at home on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, while in the care of his family and Hospice of the North Country.

He was born in Chateaugay, Jan. 13, 1923, the son of Kenneth and Margaret (Knight) Cook.

There are no calling hours. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Entombment will take place at Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens, Ellenburg Depot.

The family will gather at the Chateaugay American Legion to receive friends and acquaintances that would like to pay their respects on Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Helen J. Dudas, 66, of Kim Court, Plattsburgh, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at her residence.

She was born in New York City, N.Y., on April 22, 1938, the daughter of Charles and Helen (Balalba) Dudas.

There will be no public calling hours. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. in the R.W. Walker Funeral Home Chapel.

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

Copyright 2004, Plattsburgh Publishing Co., Plattsburgh, NY,  Division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., Campbell Hall, NY. The information you receive from Press-Republican Online is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.