Published: 4/2/05

Lewis — Betty Jean (Lytle) Wimett, 63, of Route 9, Lewis, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, following a valiant battle with cancer.

She was born in Rochester, N.Y., Dec. 14, 1941, the daughter of Harry R. and Ethel Beatrice (Pettinger) Lytle.

She graduated from Elizabethtown - Lewis Central School, Class of 1959.

She was a member of the high school band and orchestra and while she was still in high school, she was a member of the Plattsburgh State College and Community Symphony Orchestra.

Betty Jean spent her entire life entertaining, teaching and writing music. She began her musical career as a child and was seen regularly on WRGB Television in Schenectady. She was a member of the Lytle Family Band along with her parents and her sister. They appeared on WPTZ Channel 5 on a weekly television show, Lazy L Ranch from 1955 to 1965. The family played for dances and entertained throughout the North Country for many years. They taped radio shows aired out of Plattsburgh, Rutland and Ticonderoga daily.

Following her retirement from the band, Betty Jean gave guitar lessons, taught square dancing as well as line dancing. She formed a group with her children and her mother called, "Grandpa's Girls" and they entertained for several years. She also enjoyed accompanying area musicians at benefits and jam sessions.

She was an Avon representative for 26 years and won numerous awards for her high sales. She always said she valued the wonderful people she met and her customers knew her as a generous friend.

Betty Jean was an avid gardener and in the summer her home was surrounded by beautiful flowers. She was very much in tune with her natural surroundings, finding a great amount of joy in feeding the birds and spending time with her kitties.

She was a member of the St. Philip of Jesus Christ Church in Willsboro and was director of the Youth Choir for over 10 years. She wrote beautiful hymns for the children to sing. She was an accompanist for the adult choir.

Above all else, Betty Jean loved her family. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she spent many hours decorating for them, especially at Halloween and Christmas.

Survivors include her husband, John F. Wimett of Lewis, whom she married July 31, 1962, in Keeseville; three daughters and sons-in-law, Tina and Frank Bigelow of Lewis, Theresa and Paul White of Lewis and Tammy and Michael Brooks of Queensbury; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Kim Wimett of Lewis; ten grandchildren, Kevin, Kenneth, Christopher and Kyle Bigelow, Christan Carlson, Rebekah and Corinne White, Jacob Brooks and Conner and Sierra Wimett; one sister and brother-in-law, Anne Marie and William Denton of Elizabethtown; a sister-in-law and spouse, Beverly and William McCoy of Bennington, Vt.; a brother-in-law and spouse, Wendell and Mary Wimett of Middlebury, Vt.; a sister-in-law, Ann Pomainville of East Middlebury, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Calling hours will be held Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at the St. Philip of Jesus Christ Church in Willsboro with Rev. James A. Delbel, pastor, celebrating. Burial will be held at a later time in May in the Deerhead Cemetery in Lewis.

Donations in her memory may be made to the St. Philip of Jesus Christ Church in Willsboro.

Ticonderoga — Dorothy E. Strong, 88, of Street Road, Ticonderoga, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at the Moses-Ludington Nursing Home, Ticonderoga, N.Y.

She was born in Crown Point, N.Y., March 7, 1917, the daughter of Richard T. Blair and Eva Blair from Crown Point.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gordon Strong.

Mrs. Strong grew up in Crown Point and moved to Ticonderoga in 1948. She married her husband, Gordon Strong, on Dec. 23, 1941. Along with her husband and his nephew, Ray Strong, they owned and operated the Crown Point Sunoco for many years where she worked as a bookkeeper. She was also employed at the Ticonderoga Central School from September 1948 to 1976, first in the Streetroad school and then in Ticonderoga.

She had her own square dance band for many years, playing in many of the local areas. She was a member of the Ticonderoga Methodist Church and also the American Legion Auxiliary Post 224.

She is survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

Spring burial will be in the South Moriah Cemetery, Moriah, N.Y.

Malone — Miss Lillian M. Caron, 95, of 92 West Main St., Malone, N.Y., died Thursday evening, March 31, 2005, at the Clinton County Nursing Home in Plattsburgh, N.Y., where she has been a resident since Feb. 21, 2004.

Born in Churubusco, N.Y., July 6, 1909, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Celina (Peno) Caron. She graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in Malone and later from the Van Hotton Business School in Malone.

In 1945, Miss Caron entered into a partnership with Walsh Tierney and formed the Tierney-Caron Insurance Agency in Malone. She continued to operate the business until her retirement in 1981.

She was a communicant of Notre Dame Church and a life member of the Altar Rosary Society, a member of the Malone Catholic Daughters, Malone Lodge of Elks 1303 Auxiliary, a charter member of the Malone B.P.W. and was awarded B.P.W. Woman of the Year in 1963. She was also very active in the Malone Red Cross.

Survivors include one sister-in-law, Edith Caron of Keene Valley, N.Y.; one niece, Mrs. Carl Veronica Franklin of Churubusco; two nephews, Joseph Caron of Guangdong, China, and John Caron of Lancaster, Mass.; two great-nephews and their wives, Thomas and Brenda Franklin of Murrieta, Calif., and James and Laurie Franklin of Middletown, Md.

Along with her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Floyd and Elmer Caron; and one sister, Dora Patnode.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 9 until 10:45 a.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at Notre Dame Church in Malone. Burial will be in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Churubusco in the spring.

Donations may be made in her memory to either the Malone or Churubusco Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments.

Robert J. Ongradi, 59, of 57 Brown Rd., Malone, N.Y., died Thursday, March 31, 2005, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center.

He was born on April 30, 1945, in Trenton, N.J., the son of John and Alice (Astbury) Ongradi.

There will be no calling hours. A funeral service will take place Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family.

Beatrice Knuffke, 90, of Chenango Road, Plattsburgh, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born on May 27, 1914, daughter of the late Sydney and Anna (Hughes) Harris.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Elton B. Rising, 89, of Hague, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2005, in Edgewater, Fla.

He was born July 1, 1915, in Hague, N.Y.

There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will take place later in the spring.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga.

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