Published: 3/11/05

Altona — Mr. Newall Edward LaPier, 78, of Vassar Road, Altona, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center with his family by his side. He was born in West Chazy, N.Y., on Nov. 22, 1926, the son of Walter and Margaret (Lucia) LaPier.

Newall was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Japan and drove General Dwight D. Eisenhower around Japan when he visited the troops.

He had worked at Imperial Wallpaper Mill for 33 years as a ground runner and as a chief shop steward. Newall was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1466 Beekmantown. He had been a resident at Evergreen Valley Nursing Home for the past 8 1/2 years.

Newall was predeceased by his parents, Walter and Margaret LaPier; his brothers, Walter, Arthur, Bernard, Raymond, Francis, Gerald LaPier and Orville LaPierre; his sisters, Gertrude FyField and Margaret Hebert.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Vergilus (Rabideau) LaPier of Altona; five daughters and sons-in-law, Christine and Ron Smart of North Port, Fla., Diane and Dale Deso of Altona, Susan and Harry Todd of Altona, Cheryl and Duane Turner of West Chazy, Penny and John Aspiolea of Punta Gorda, Fla.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Lilly LaPier of Plattsburgh and Mark and Becky LaPier of Ozawkie, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Theodore and Margaret LaPier of Plattsburgh; his sisters, Eva Sheridan of Plattsburgh and Audrey Bulriss and her husband Willard of West Chazy; several nieces and nephews also survive him.

There will be no calling hours.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church with the Rev. Floyd "Jerry" Bleaux, pastor, celebrating.

Friends wishing may have Masses said in his memory or give to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh — Claris M. Norcross, 80, of Brinkerhoff Street, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. She was born on Oct. 26, 1924, in Plattsburgh, daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Gagnon) Tremblay.

Claris was a graduate of D'Youville Academy in Plattsburgh. She was a homemaker and owned rental property in Cadyville and Plattsburgh. Claris was a communicant of St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh, a charter member of the Fountain Brothers American Legion Post 1619 in West Plattsburgh, Forty and Eight, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 255 in Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh Ladies of the Elks and Plattsburgh Moose Lodge. She was a bingo worker at Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was a volunteer at FitzPatrick Cancer as a French translator.

Claris is survived by three sons, Ned C. Norcross of Reno, Nev., Terry C. Norcross of Saranac and Brent E. Norcross of Yucca Valley, Calif.; three grandchildren, Andrea C., Ethan E. and Kenia P. Norcross; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Claris was predeceased by her husband, Everest L. Norcross, in 1971; and her brother, Gerald W. Tremblay.

Calling hours will be Friday, March 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in Cadyville Protestant Cemetery in the family plot.

in lieu of flowers, donations in Claris' memory may be made to Behavorial Health Services North, Inc. 63 Broad St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Malone — Dennis L. Bigness, 62, of 15041 State Route 30, Malone, N.Y., died Wednesday night, March 9, 2005, at his home, while under the loving care of his family and Hospice of the North Country, Inc.

Born in Malone, Aug. 31, 1942, he was the son of Harold and Delia (Recore) Bigness. He graduated from Franklin Academy in Malone in 1960. He had served in the Malone National Guard.

On June 13, 1964, he was united in marriage to the former Linda Tatro at St. John Bosco Church in Malone. She survives.

Dennis was employed by Reynolds Metals in Massena, N.Y., from 1971 until 2003, when he retired because of his health.

He enjoyed fishing, playing the lottery, cooking, flower and vegetable gardening and spending time with his family. He was a well-known bass guitar player and played in several local country bands.

Along with his wife Linda, he is survived by his mother, Delia Bigness of Malone; one son, Dennis "DJ" Bigness of Keeseville, N.Y.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Lisa and Christopher Crossman of North Bangor, N.Y., Denise LaPage and her companion Thomas McLane of North Bangor and Stacy and Donald Quinn of Malone; one brother and sister-in-law, David and Emily Bigness of Malone; one sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Richard Wrisley of Elk Hart, Ind.; eight grandchildren, Jessica, Chelsea and Brianna Poupore, Victoria Crossman, William, Lindsay and Abbey LaPage and Brennan Gervais; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his father, Harold Bigness, he was predeceased by a son-in-law, Patrick J. Poupore.

There are no calling hours. He has made an anatomical gift to the University of Vermont, College of Medicine, in Burlington, Vt.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at St. John Bosco Church in Malone, with the Rev. Shane Lynch officiating.

Donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of the North Country, Inc. in Malone.

Arrangements are through the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Service, Inc. of Malone.

Willsboro — James E. Mero, 51, of Point Road in Willsboro, died unexpectedly at the scene of a fire investigation in Ticonderoga, Thursday, March 9, 2005. He was born in Mt. Clemons, Mich., on Nov. 14, 1953, the son of Norman (Jim) E. and Barbara (Lavarnway) Mero.

Jim loved and was very dedicated to fire service, serving in the Willsboro Fire Department for 35 years. He was a former fire chief, current Fire Commissioner, an Essex County Arson Investigator and Deputy Fire Coordinator, a NYS Fire Instructor (over 20 years) and belonged to the NYS Fire Investigators Association and the NYS Fire Chiefs Association.

He was the owner of Mero Trucking in Willsboro. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and following NASCAR racing.

He is survived by his wife, Shelly (Wrisley) Mero of Willsboro; parents Barb and Jim Mero of Willsboro; in-laws Ray and Valerie Wrisley of Whallonsburgh; a brother and his wife, John and Jill Mero of Jacksonville, Fla.; and a sister, Teresa Mero of Westport. He also survived by aunts Etta Huddleston, Enfield, Conn., Marilyn Beck, Santa Cruz, Calif., Mildred Wrisley, Whallonsburgh; uncles John Lavarnway, Wasilla, Alaska, William Lavarnway, Concord, N.C., and Donald (Sonny) Mero Jr., Willsboro; brother-in-law and wife, Kyle and Anne Wrisley of Whallonsburgh and their children, Brandon and Kasey.

Calling hours will be held at Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Philip's Church with Rev. James Delbel officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in his memory be made to the Willsboro Fire Department or the American Heart Association.

Clarence Lynch, 97, of Orange, Va., and formerly of South Catherine Street, Plattsburgh, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the Orange County Nursing Home in Orange, Va.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. from St. John's Church in Plattsburgh.

Burial will be at a later date in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Rena Brockney Pattison, 96, of Willsboro, died at the Evergreen Nursing Home in Plattsburgh Thursday, March 10, 2005.

She was born in Moriah, N.Y., on Feb. 21, 1909, the daughter of Lewis H. and Hattie (French) Culver.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Huestis Funeral Home and will be announced tomorrow.

Anthony Benard Cumm, 83, of Essex, N.Y., died at CVPH Medical Center Thursday, March 10, 2005.

He was born in Willsboro, N.Y., on June 1, 1921, the son of Ira and Philomen (Barcomb) Cumm.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Huestis Funeral Home and will be announced tomorrow.

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