Published: 5/30/05

PLATTSBURGH — Thomas Eldridge, 57, of Alford Boulevard and formerly of Indian Lake, died suddenly, Friday evening, May 27, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital.

Born on Aug. 15, 1947, in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Russell F. and Erma A (Blanchard) Eldridge. He was a graduate of Indian Lake Central School, where he played six-man football and basketball.

Tom served in the United States Navy during Vietnam aboard the USS America and USS Independence.

He married Martha Parker on Aug. 25, 1972, in North Creek.

Tom was employed as an aircraft mechanic at Plattsburgh Air Force Base for 19 years.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, camping, painting, bowling and fishing. He also enjoyed his four cats, Mittens, Boots, Socks and Slippers.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Martha Eldridge; one son, "Skip" Riley and his wife, Cindie, of Plattsburgh; one daughter, Mary Ann Eldridge and Mike Thomas of Plattsburgh; two grandsons, Derrick and Dylan Riley of Plattsburgh, two sisters, Janet Moulton and her husband, Wesley, of Indian Lake, Carol Wilson and her husband, Mark, of Brant Lake; one brother, Donald Eldridge and his wife, Bonnie, of Indian Lake; his sisters- and brothers-in-law George and Jeannie Puterko of Indian Lake and Glenn and Carol Kuzma of Erie, Pa.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Church, Indian Lake, with the Rev. Sony Pulickal, pastor, officiating, assisted by Deacons Gerry Gilner and Glenn Kuzma.

Friends may call today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home, 35 West Main St., Indian Lake, where members of Parker-Benton American Legion Post #1392 will conduct services at 8 p.m.

Burial will be in Cedar River Cemetery, Indian Lake.

Pallbearers will be Greg Puterko, Ben Eldridge, Jamie Roblee, Charlie Bruso, Tim Kuzma and Danny Kuzma.

Contributions in Tom’s memory may be directed to the Indian Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Indian Lake, N.Y. 12842.

SARANAC — Marguerite M. Dupraw, 89, formerly of Saranac, died Saturday, May 28, 2005, at Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Clayburg on May 20, 1916, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Buckley) Lafountain.

She was employed as a housekeeper at CVPH Medical Center for 12 years and was a member of the Church of the Assumption in Redford. She was an avid bingo player and enjoyed playing cards.

Marguerite is survived by three daughters and sons-in law, Winifred and George Sipe of Sewickley, Pa., Gail and Ronald Wood of Saranac and Mary Lou and Roy Dashnaw of Saranac; a son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Linda Dupraw of Redford; three sisters-in-law, Louise Lafountain of Saranac Lake, Blanche Dupraw of Standish, and Marjorie Dupraw of Saranac; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, Kyle, and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Roy E. Dupraw, died May 5, 1959. Three brothers, Jim, Edmund and Robert, and two sisters, Gertrude Hogan and Anna Hough, also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held today from 3 to 8 p.m. at the O’Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the Church of the Assumption in Redford.

Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country or Saranac American Legion Post 1618.

MORRISONVILLE — Harold J. Garrant Sr., 43, of Turner Road, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at his home.

He was born in Plattsburgh on July 24, 1961, the son of Louis and Peggy (Jabaut) Garrant. Harold married Gerri Warren in 1989 in Cadyville. He worked for Garrant Sanitation for 23 years and then started his own business, Harold’s Trucking, in 1986, retiring in 2004 due to illness.

Harold was an avid NASCAR fan, following especially the Earnhardts. He had taken part in the Clinton County and Essex County fairs’ demolition derbies for many years and enjoyed country and western music.

Survivors include his wife, Gerri, of Morrisonville; one son, Harold Garrant Jr., of Morrisonville; one daughter, Amelia Garrant, of Morrisonville; his parents, Louis and Peggy Garrant of Plattsburgh; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Louis W. and Robin Garrant of Plattsburgh, Christopher and Jennifer Garrant of Plattsburgh; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Lois and Scott Nichols of Plattsburgh, Lisa Garrant of Plattsburgh, Jessica Garrant of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Turnpike Wesleyan Church.

Donations in Harold’s memory may be made to the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh or Hospice of the North Country.

PLATTSBURGH — Margaret M. Cashman, 88, of Park Avenue, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 3, 1916, in Chateaugay, the daughter of Christian and Jessie (Duward) Miller. She attended grade school in District 16 and graduated from Chateaugay High School in 1933. She completed a three-year teacher training program at Plattsburgh Normal School and taught school in a rural school in Burke.

She and her husband Willard were married June 27, 1938, in the Presbyterian Manse on Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh by the Rev. Armstrong. Peg, as she was called, worked her way through school during the Great Depression. She did housework, worked at Phil’s Dry Cleaners at night and baby-sat. During World War II she followed her husband when he was in the Army Air Corps and enjoyed seeing our country.

Peg was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsburgh beginning in 1934. She served as an elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher and was active in the Womens Association.

She worked for 12 years in the accounting department of Clinton County Social Services, for many years at the food shelf at the Methodist Church, and she was a volunteer at RSVP.

Peg is survived by her husband, Willard Cashman of Plattsburgh; a son, Bruce, and his wife, Nancy, of Erie Pa., and their four children, Marcie, Thomas, Amy and Bradley.

She was predeceased by her parents and two sisters, Alice and Wilma.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh, with the funeral service at noon in the Funeral Home chapel.

Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Donations may be made to the mission work of the Womens Association of the Presbyterian Church.

EDWARD RYNKOWSKI, 87, of Lake Shore Road, Plattsburgh, died Saturday, May 28, 2005, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time with the Charles Meyer Funeral Home in Alden, N.Y. Local arrangements are under the direction of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

SCOTT JOSEPH "SCOTTY JO" LaMOUNTAIN, 44, of Highland Road, Keeseville, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Oct. 11, 1960, the son of Walter E. and Shirley A. (Blaise) LaMountain.

A Mass of the Angels will be celebrated at a later date at St. John’s Church in Keeseville.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville.

JULIA RYAN, 72, of Valcour Boulevard, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours and funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

RICHARD S. ‘GUY’ CONKLIN, 43, of 21 Wesvalley Road, Lake Placid, died Saturday, May 28, 2005, at his home.

Born in Weisbatten, West Germany, on Oct. 17, 1961, he was the son of Richard and Vernetta (Green) Conklin.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, with Father Robert Lawthers officiating. Burial will follow at North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid.

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