Published: 1/25/05

Keeseville — Oril T. "Tom" Nelson, 71, of Pine Street, Keeseville, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at his home.

He was born in AuSable Forks, April 7, 1933, the son of Henry and Martha (Nolan) Nelson.

He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.

He worked for J.J. Rogers in AuSable Forks for 12 years and then at New York State Department of Transportation in Keeseville for 30 years prior to retiring in 1994.

Tom was a former member of the American Legion Post 504 in AuSable Forks and the Keeseville Knights of Columbus Council 4689. He was also a former member of the Keeseville Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed bird watching, hunting, fishing, bingo and scratch-off lottery tickets, but his true love was being with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Marjorie C. (LaFountain) Nelson, whom he married Sept. 22, 1956; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Thomas R. and Shannon Nelson of Norfolk, Va., and Todd W. Nelson of Keeseville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Amy L. and Bill LeClair Sr. and Stacy A. and John Doner, all of Keeseville; five grandchildren, Eugene Nelson, Bill LeClair Jr. and Kyle, Katie and Kim Doner; one brother and sister-in-law, Frederick and Grace Nelson of AuSable Forks; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Mary Fournier, Sally and Louie Fournier and Linda and Walter Fournier, all of AuSable Forks; one sister-in-law and husband, Mary and Joe Correa of Watkins Glenn; two brothers-in-law and spouses, Michael and Jane LaFountain of Derry, N.H., and Dave and Melody LaFountain of Keeseville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, John Henry "Jack" Nelson; and a granddaughter, Rebecca A. LeClair, Nov. 18, 2001.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at St. John's Church in Keeseville with Rev. William Reamer, chaplain at the CVPH Medical Center, celebrating. Burial and full military honors will be in the spring in the parish cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Rebecca A. LeClair Scholarship Fund or the Keeseville Rescue Squad.

The family wishes to offer a special thank you to Hospice of the North Country, Dr. Collins, Dr. Bunn., Dr. Kabeli, Dr. Gulati and Dr. Wolkowicz.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville.

Northfield, Mass. — Wayne T. Finnell, 66, of East Street, Northfield, Mass., died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at the Holyoke Soldiers Home in Holyoke, Mass., with his loving wife at his side.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Oct. 6, 1939, the son of Ross and Evelyn (Jarvis) Finnell.

His early childhood was spent in Peru, N.Y., and he attended elementary and middle school in New York. After growing up on the family farm in New York, his family moved to Brattleboro, Vt., in 1960. He was a 1968 graduate of St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro, Vt. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1962. He went to work at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vt., from the inception of the facility. He spent two years on-loan assignment to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations in Atlanta, Ga., as an evaluator. During this time he traveled to several domestic and international power plants for evaluations and assist visits. He retired in 1998.

He was married on July 26, 1976, to the former Sharon "Sherry" St. Germain in Brattleboro, Vt.

He loved his family and grandchildren and enjoyed golf with the four amigo's, history, especially the Civil War, traveling, his land in New York, gardening, birds, wild animals, nature walks and Cape Ann.

With his wife, he is survived by three sons, Jefferson and his companion Heather of West Wardsboro, Vt., Joel and his wife Susan of Bernardston, Mass., and John and his wife Sara of Oakland, Ill.; two stepsons, Gary Bristol and his wife Mary of Nashua, N.H., and Spencer Bristol and his wife Michelle of Bernardston, Mass.; three brothers, Michael of Tucson, Ariz., Terrance of Kissimmee, Fla., and Stephen of Brattleboro, Vt.; four sisters, Janice Nichols of Kissimmee, Fla., Constance Covey, and Patricia Buzby of Brattleboro, Vt., and Cynthia Jacques of Keene, N.H.; and 10 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a stepdaughter, Bethany Bristol.

A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, at St. Patrick's Church, Main Street, Northfield, Mass., at 11 a.m. The Rev. Gerald Brady, pastor will officiate. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Northfield, will be in the spring.

Calling hours will be Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Avenue, Northfield, Mass.

Donations in his memory may be made to either Baystate Hospice, 45 Amherst Road, Sunderland, MA 01375-0482 or the Holyoke Soldiers Home, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.

Keene, N.Y. — Meta Rae (James) LeClair, 79, of Keene, N.Y., died on Jan. 22, 2005, at Uihlein Mercy Center, Lake Placid, N.Y.

Meta was born June 14, 1925, in Port Henry, N.Y., the daughter of the late W. Newton and Helen (LaBelle) James.

Meta is a 1943 graduate of Elizabethtown High School. She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother.

Meta is predeceased by her husband, Clifford A. LeClair; her children, twins Wilma and William LeClair, Earl (Skip) LeClair, Clifford (Joe) LeClair and Wanda LeClair; a sister, Joan Hauschild; and brother, William James.

Meta is survived by her daughters, Helen R. Luck and Beth A. LeClair; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kathy LeClair; daughter-in-law, Marcella LeClair; and 13 grandchildren, Curt LeClair, Heidi Huber, Todd LeClair, David LeClair, Joe O’Connor, Stephanie Sutton, Travis Luck, Tracy Johnson, Josh Feitshans, Jacob LeClair, James LeClair, Lance LeClair and Chad LeClair; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be at a later time.

Donations in Meta’s memory may be made to the Keene Fire Department, Keene, N.Y., or to High Peaks Hospice, PO Box 840, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

W.M. Marvins Sons in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.

Eva E. Palmer, 84, of Dopp Avenue, St. Regis Falls, N.Y., died unexpectedly, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at her home.

She was born in Deferiet, N.Y., March 21, 1920, the daughter of the late John and Blanch (LaGray) Servant.

Calling hours will be Friday from 9 until 11 a.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in St. Regis Falls. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Patricia Page officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in St. Regis Falls in the spring.

Margaret J. Archambault, 94, of Soper Road, Keeseville died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Paterson, N.J., April 7, 1910, the daughter of Francesco and Angelina (Goia) Savastano.

Arrangements were incomplete and will be announced by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville.

LEONARD WRYE, 73, of Champlain, N.Y., formerly of Weymouth, Mass., died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005.

He was born Feb. 2, 1931, in Weymouth, Mass.

Arrangements are incomplete with McDonalds Funeral Home, Weymouth, Mass.

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