Published: 01/29/05

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — John Willard Prescott, 81, of South Burlington, Vt., died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005.

John was born June 10, 1923, in Glens Falls, N.Y.  He was the son of Margret R. and Rufus A. Prescott.  He was the youngest of five children:  Romeyn, Susan, Jane and Charles A.  He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, except for Charles, of North Brookfield, Mass.

John grew up in Keeseville, N.Y., and attended Keeseville Central School before graduating from Williston Academy (now Williston-Northampton School) in East Hampton, Mass.

He served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II, the last year and a half as a member of the 3101 Signal Service Battalion, operating in the China, Burma, India theatre.  After his discharge, he entered Princeton University.  He graduated after four years, in 1950, with a bachelor of arts in economics.

John then joined his family business in Keeseville.  After a business restructuring in 1958, he decided to strike out on his own.  After visiting northwest lumber producers from Medford, Ore., to Prince George, British Columbia, he started his own wholesale lumber sales business.  To his amazement, he was able to break even his first year sales estimate, with 25 car loads sold.

 He worked alone until 1968, when he joined a small northern New York lumber sales firm.  In 1978, he moved to Holbrook Lumber Company, based in Albany, N.Y.  A small firm, Holbrook was well managed, very smart and ahead of the curve.  After 10 interesting and rewarding years, John retired in 1988.

 John's life was in for a considerable change when he married Camoria Starbuck, April 30, 1972.  This was a package deal which included his wife Cami, two stepchildren, Patricia and James - plus a great dog, "Sporty".

In retirement, John kept busy with lots of golf, lawn work and the Literacy Volunteers of America.  Winters were spent at Amelia Island Plantation, on Amelia Island, Fla.  After many good years in Westport, N.Y., Cami and John moved to Burlington, Vt., to be near Jim Starbuck.

 John died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Pillsbury Manor South.  John's family is thankful for the loving and competent care provided John by the staff of Pillsbury Manor and caregivers of the hospice program.  Their skill and attention provided a gentle end to a long and happy life.  

He is survived by his wife, Camoria of South Burlington; stepdaughter Patricia Pelletier and her husband Joseph of Crestwood, Ky.; stepson James Starbuck and Carmone Austin of Colchester; step-grandchildren Matthew, Daniel and Katherine; nephew Peter Prescott and his wife Colleen of Keeseville, N.Y.; nieces, nephews; his extended family; and many friends.

A memorial service was held on Friday, Jan. 28th, at 10 a.m. in the Ready Funeral Home, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. Burial will be private in the spring. There were no visiting hours.

Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 1139, 338 River St., Montpelier, VT 05601.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service, South Chapel, Burlington.

Ticonderoga — Georgia M. Cawley, 86, of Lake George Avenue, passed away Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at the Moses-Ludington Hospital of Ticonderoga.

Born in Ticonderoga, Aug. 24, 1918, she was the daughter of the late George and Mable (LaBarge) Benway.

Mrs. Cawley was a lifetime resident of Ticonderoga and was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. She was a life member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court of St. Mary's 794 of Ticonderoga. She was an officer of the Court for many years, serving as Regent, Vice Regent and District Deputy.

Before her retirement she was employed as secretary and receptionist at the Telling & Potter Accounting Firm of Ticonderoga for 28 years.

Mrs. Cawley enjoyed crafts and was a member of the Mohican Home Bureau and served as Treasurer of the Bureau. She was also a member of the Carillon Garden Club.

She especially loved her family and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her husband, Gordon Cawley, passed away before her on June 9, 2003. She was also pre-deceased by her son, Robert Cawley Sr.; two brothers, Gordon Benway and Lawrence Benway; and three sisters, Hilda Russell, Constance Jaffe and Helen Porter.

Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Gilchrist of Shushan; one sister, Juanita Varmette of Ticonderoga; four grandsons, Robert Cawley Jr. and his wife Laurie of Ticonderoga, James Cawley of Ticonderoga, Jeffrey Gilchrist of Waterford and Brian Gilchrist of Cambridge; two granddaughters, Kelly Gilchrist and Amy Gilchrist, both of Shushan; one great - granddaughter, Samantha Cawley of
Ticonderoga; and one great-grandson, Caleb McWharten of Queensbury. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Relatives and friends may call on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga. The recitation of the rosary by the Catholic Daughters will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rev. Barry Lonergan will officiate.

The Rite of Committal will take place in the spring at the family plot of St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Mary’s School, Amherst Avenue, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Willsboro — Julia Kinley, 83, passed away suddenly at her home in Willsboro, N.Y., on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005. She was the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Bucinsky) Vagell, born on June 9, 1921, in Lodi, N.J.

She married Raymond George Kinley of Pearl River, N.Y., on Oct. 24, 1941, and moved there. After raising her family, she was employed by Marine Midland Bank as a bookkeeper and later by the Credit Union of Lederle Laboratories, where she administered their first college student loans.

Julie and her husband retired to Willsboro in 1976, where they enjoyed many activities and felt at home in their adopted community. They loved the country setting, the Town of Willsboro and the beautiful view of Lake Champlain from their porch. Julie was an avid bridge player, enjoyed many kinds of crafts and was active for many years in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at the Essex, N.Y., site. She particularly enjoyed dressing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny to entertain children and other visitors to the site.

She is survived by her sons, William R. Kinley and his wife Nancy A. of Hernando, Fla., and James A. Kinley and his wife Mary E. Bell of Willsboro; two beloved grandchildren, Julianne Kinley of San Francisco, Calif., and Andrew W. Kinley of Charlottesville, Va.; a niece, Marie C. Bilney, a nephew, Howard Collins and a niece, Valerie C. Daly, their spouses; and several grandnephews and nieces. She is also survived by her many devoted friends and neighbors, whose love and care she appreciated very much.

She was predeceased by her parents; two sisters; a brother; and her husband, Raymond.

She was a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church of Essex and donations may be made in her memory to the church at PO Box 262, Essex, NY 12936. A memorial service will be held there on June 9, 2005.

Plattsburgh — Aurella M. "Aunt Blondie" Dobbins, 79, of Plattsburgh, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in St. Paul, Quebec, on March 24, 1925, the daughter of Emile and Aurora (Fortin) Langlois.

She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church and was a baby-sitter for over 200 children in her lifetime.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas J. and Cindie Goodrow of West Chazy; three daughters, Mrs. Robert (Bernadette) Lewis of Plattsburgh, Jeannette Zorichak of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Gary (Elaine) Bezio of Plattsburgh; a brother, Francis Langlois of West Chazy; four sisters, Simone Kelley of Plattsburgh, Jeannette Kelley of Plattsburgh, Blanche Langlois of West Chazy and Loretta Forbes of Chicago; six grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Charles R. Dobbins, died on July 14, 1988. Two brothers, Aurelle and Lionel Langlois; and a sister, Mary Lamoy, also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on Monday from Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh. Interment will be in St. Augustine's Cemetery in Peru in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the CVPH Pediatric Unit.

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