Published: 2/23/05

PLATTSBURGH — Mr. Ronald E. Fink, 66, of Crescent Drive, Plattsburgh, passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center with his family by his side.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Sept. 13, 1938, the son of Victor and Beatrice (Kelley) Fink.

Ronald retired from the NYS Department of Transportation. He was an avid golfer and was a member of Bluff Point Golf Resort.

Ronald was predeceased by his parents, Victor and Beatrice Fink; his wife, Linda Fink; and a brother, Victor Fink.

He is survived by a son, Randall Fink and his wife Julie of Saranac and their children Rachel, Allison and Mitchell; a daughter, Kelly Cooper and her husband Glen of Clifton Park, N.Y.; and daughter, Sarah; a sister, Beverly of California; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive guest on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow with the Rev. William G. Reamer, chaplain at CVPH Medical Center officiating. Interment will be at a later date at St. James Minor Cemetery in Cadyville.

Friends wishing may make donations to Hospice of the North Country.

WEST CHAZY — Donalda A. Barnard, 64, of Military Turnpike, West Chazy, peacefully passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at the home of her brother Timothy under the care of Hospice with her family by her side.

She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on July 26, 1940, the daughter of Joseph and Mabel (Macey) Barnard.

She had a zest for life. Her joys included gardening, fishing, reading and the New York Yankees. Her greatest joy was spending time with children. Donalda was a member of St. Alexander's Church in Morrisonville.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Mabel Barnard; and a brother, Joseph Barnard.

She is survived by three brothers and two daughters-in-law, Romeo C. and Joyce Barnard of Plattsburgh, Dennis and Diana Barnard of Plattsburgh and Timothy Barnard and his companion Gail Zimmerman of West Chazy; a nephew who was like a son to her, Timothy II; several aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews also survive her.

Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 2 p.m. from St. Alexander's Church in Morrisonville. Interment will be at a later date at St. Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Friends wishing may make donations to Hospice of the North Country.

Schuyler Falls — Sophie Miesak (Mesick), 92, of Peasleeville Road, Schuyler Falls, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Mooers Forks, June 17, 1912, the daughter of Amos and Anna (Roberts) Mesick.

Sophie was under The Family Care Program under the wonderful care of Carolyn Maicus of Peru and more recently, Kristine Johnston of Peasleeville.

Sophie was loved by all those that knew her. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include two nephews, Robert Mesick of Palatka, Fla., and James and Edith Mesick of Mooers Forks and Winter Haven, Fla.; two nieces, Mrs. Juanita and Wayne Hadley of Hemmingford, Quebec, and Mrs. Deborah and Terry Pinkerton of Alabama, N.Y.

She was predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, John and Andrew Mesick.

Services will be held in the spring at the Riverside Cemetery in Mooers.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

Ellenburg — Raymond G. Lagasse, 87, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Tupper Lake on Dec. 1, 1917, the son of Joseph and Lucy (Nichols) Lagasse.

Raymond was a member of St. Edmund's Church in Ellenburg. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of the 4th Degree. He took great pride in being the treasurer for the Knights of Columbus for many years. He also was the town appointed bingo inspector and a member of the Carpenters Union Local 1042.

Survivors include his wife, the former Hilda Carter of Ellenburg, whom he married on May 30, 1945; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Shirley Lagasse of Ellenburg Center; five daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne and Greg LaBarre of Ellenburg, Janet and Jack Dhaliwal of Ellenburg Center, Linda and Donald Decker of Ellenburg, Susan and David Smith of Plattsburgh and Karen and Rick Boutin of Mooers Forks; a brother, Lester Tourville of Batavia; three sisters, Leona Dupuis of Ellenburg Center, Doritha Fisher of Florida and Jeannette VanSlyke of Rochester; a sister-in-law, Frances Tourville of Ellenburg Center; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.

His parents; a grandson, Medric Boutin; a brother, Norman Tourville; two sisters, Ada Zangari and Evangeline Whalen; and three stepbrothers, Leo, Carl and Earl Tourville, died before him.

Raymond was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was our mentor and the foundation of our family. He had a wonderful sense of humor and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Ellenburg Depot. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11 a.m. from St. Edmund's Church in Ellenburg. Burial will follow at Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens in Ellenburg Depot.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Ellenburg Knights of Columbus Council #4441, Scholarship Fund, 7 Canaan Road, Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935, in loving memory of Raymond Lagasse.

Huntington, N.Y. — Diane Owen passed away on Feb. 13, 2005, at Hospice House in Northport, N.Y.

She was born in Plattsburgh on July 10, 1945, the daughter of Arnold and Hilda (Mason) Spierto.

Diane served as a teacher of art in the Mineola School District for 34 years and was a professor of art education at C.W. Post. She was a graduate of the University of Dayton.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Owen; daughter, Elizabeth; and son, David. Also by her mother Hilda Martin; sisters, Hilda Winkle, Pamela MacDougall and Candace Martin; and brother, James Martin.

The Rite of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Philip of Neri Church in Northport, N.Y., on Feb. 17. Interment was in the Northport Rural Cemetery.

ELIZABETHTOWN — Ernest R. Schultz Jr., 72, of Elizabethtown, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

He was born Dec. 7, 1932, in Norwalk, Conn., the son of Ernest R. and Florence C. (Cristel) Schultz.

After graduating from high school, Ernie enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served from 1951 to 1955 on the USS Taconic. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Occupation Service Medal. Ernie received his honorable discharge in 1959. He worked for the So. New England Telephone Co. for many years until his retirement. Ernie was a member and past commander of the American Legion Post #12 in Norwalk, and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, The Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the VFW of Keeseville, N.Y. and Elizabethtown Kiwanis Club.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Tully) Schultz of Elizabethtown; two daughters and one son-in-law, Donna and Joseph Renzulli of Westport, Conn., and Gail Hunt of Trumbull, Conn.; one sister, Crystal Christensen of Westport, Conn.; four grandchildren, Eric and Lauren Renzulli of Westport, Conn., and Deanna and Devin Hunt of Trumbull, Conn.

There will be a memorial service held in the spring. Memorial donations may be made in Ernie’s name to Elizabethtown-Lewis Ambulance Squad, Elizabethtown, NY 12932.

W.M. Marvin’s Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Helen A. "Tina" Mischler, 84, of Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at the Meadowbrook Health Care Facility under the care of Hospice with her friends by her side.

She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 1921, the daughter of David and Jessie (Burdo) Mischler.

At Tina's request, there will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. from St. John's Church. Interment will be at a later date at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Ethel R. Healey, 95, of Houston, Texas, died Dec. 27, 2004, in Houston.

She was born Feb. 25, 1909, in New York City.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held, Friday at St. Bernard's Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery in May.

The Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake is in charge of arrangements.

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