Published: 8/17/05

ENGLEWOOD, FLA. — Donald F. Layman Sr., 88, of Cascade Court, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vt.

He was born in Dannemora on March 26, 1917, the son of Frank and Ida (McCorry) Layman.

Mr. Layman married Dorothy Vaughn in Plattsburgh in 1948. Dorothy died in 1995. He later married Clara Morgan in 1997 in Isle LaMotte, Vt.

He was a World War II Army veteran serving in the European Theatre in the 561st Field Artillery Unit and participated in five major battles and later received the Bronze Star and five Battle Stars. Donald was a correction officer for 31 years working at Clinton Correctional Facility. He retired in 1979. Donald was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Plattsburgh. He was also a member of the Elks Club in Englewood, Fla., and a lifelong member of the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge and the American Legion in Alburg, Vt.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Morgan Layman of Englewood, Fla.; one son, Donald F. Layman Jr. of Plattsburgh; one daughter, Jan Layman and her husband James LaFountain of Lake Placid; two stepsons, Steven Morgan Sr. and his wife Linda of Sterling, Mass., and Donald Morgan Jr. of Tupper Lake; six step-grandchildren, Tate and Paige LaFountain, Tana, Steven and Nicholas Morgan, Melissa Fuentes; one brother-in-law, Tony Schneider; two nephews, Gary Reynolds and Barry Kenyon; and three nieces, Katrina Kenya, Tami Reynolds and Bethanne Delgaudio.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Geraldine Kenyon and Ruth Reynolds.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the West Plattsburgh Union Cemetery in Morrisonville.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Kidney Foundation.

Ticonderoga — Elsie G. Bush, 87, of St. Clair Street, died peacefully on Aug. 16, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt., with her loving son, Richard at her side.

Born in Ticonderoga on Nov. 25, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Archibald A. and Corena P. "Queenie" (Garrow) Gallant.

Elsie was valedictorian of the Ticonderoga High School Class of 1935 and was a graduate of the College of New Rochelle.

During World War II, she worked at G.E. Broadcasting during the early years of television. Later she spent many years as a librarian at St. Paul's School in Garden City, N.Y. She retired in the early 1970s after teaching several years at St. Mary's School in Ticonderoga.

Elsie was predeceased by her husband, Walter J. (Tuffy) Bush.

Survivors include her son, Richard J. Bush and his wife Mary of Clifton Park; two grandchildren, Andrea Marie Biski and her husband Chad of Saratoga Springs, and Richard J. Bush Jr. and his wife Dana of Old Saybrook, Conn.; and a great-grandson, Ryan H. Bush.

Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wilcox and Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A funeral service will take place Friday, 10 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Mr. Elliott A. Shaw of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga, will officiate. The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of St. Mary's Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Plattsburgh — Margaret B. Kaska, 91, of Plattsburgh, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005 at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Standish on Feb. 23, 1914, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (LaDuke) Bourey.

She graduated from St. John’s High School and Plattsburgh Normal School. She taught for 33 years at Lyon Mountain School until her retirement.

She was a member of St. Peter’s Church and the Altar Rosary Society, the Court Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Daughters of America and was grand regent for 8 years, past choir director at St. Bernard’s Church, the Lyon Mountain American Legion Auxiliary and was a past president of the Teachers Supervisory District Association.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John Joseph and Nancy Kaska of Lyon Mountain; a brother, Arthur Bourey of Plattsburgh; two sisters, Helen Bourey of Plattsburgh and Elaine Norwalk of Ormond Beach, Fla.; three sisters-in-law, Mary Bourey of Lyon Mountain, Eileen Kaska of Lyon Mountain and Grace Bourey of Malone; a brother-in-law, Floyd Robinson of Moriah; a grandson, Jesse Kaska; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband, John Kaska, whom she married in 1936, died in 1969. Two brothers, Leo and Francis Bourey; and a sister, Agnes Robinson died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday from St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. Interment will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Lyon Mountain with a reception to follow at the Sorrell-Woodward American Legion.

NEW SCOTLAND, N.Y. — Gail Sue La Duke, 57, of New Scotland, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, surrounded by the loving comfort of her family, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Born in Peru, N.Y., she remained in her hometown throughout her youth, living the good life on her family's dairy farm.

Being raised on the farm with her four sisters and two brothers taught Gail the values of family, hard work, compassion, humor and empathy, all of which she held dear. After graduating from Peru High School in 1966, she began to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse at Albany Nursing School. She was a dedicated registered nurse working throughout the Capital District, including St. Clare's Hospital and Glendale Nursing Home until her retirement in 2002.

In 1967 she met and married Thomas H. La Duke. Together they made a happy home and raised three children. Gail was always very giving of her time. She and her husband were Boy Scout leaders and little league coaches. She always supported charitable causes including the MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation and the Center for the Disabled among many, many others. In addition to frequent traveling and day trips exploring the world with her best friend, Lottie Page of Schenectady, Gail attended an annual "girls only" vacation with her sisters, mother and other family. Time spent with any or all of her girls was so very precious to Gail. She was an avid gardener and bird lover, spending countless hours tending to her flowers and vegetables. Gail had a special fondness for hummingbirds, creating a sanctuary that attracted many to her back yard. She cherished good times, laughter and love she shared so frequently with her family and friends. Her greatest joy in life came from time spent with her beloved grandchildren, Tommy, Emily, Paige and her little boo bear, Frankie.

Gail is survived by her husband, Thomas H. La Duke. She is the beloved mother of Peter La Duke of Albany, Scott La Duke and his wife Geraldine Logrillo of Glenmont and Stacy La Duke and her husband Frank A. Palmeri Jr. of East Berne. She is the loving sister of Joan Ryan and her husband John, Janice Kennedy and her husband Richard, Jerry Thew and his wife Susan, Scott Thew and his wife Nancy, Charis Duffina and her husband Richard and Brenda Gushlaw and her husband Randy. She is the cherished grandmother of Thomas J. La Duke, Emily La Duke, Paige Palmeri and Frank T. Palmeri. Also surviving is her favorite feline companion, Mr. Z.

Gail was predeceased by her parents, Chester and Marion Thew; and her mother-in-law, Myrtle La Duke.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at New Comer-Cannon Family Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. I 55-south of Central Ave). Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Harkness Methodist Church in Harkness, N.Y. Interment will follow in West Peru Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Peru Cemetery Trust or the Center for the Disabled in memory of Gail S. La Duke.

IRENE E. SAVOIR, 75, of Tamarack Trail, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and formerly of Westville, N.Y., died Monday night, Aug. 15, 2005, at the Wesley Nursing Home in Saratoga Springs.

Born in Massena, N.Y., Sept. 28, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Ethel Perry Sweeney.

There are no calling hours.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the old St. Mary's Cemetery in Fort Covington, N.Y., with the Rev. Stephen Rocker officiating.

Arrangements are through the Cappiello-McKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington.

KATHERINE J. BUSHEY, 66, of Meadowbrook Nursing Home, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Plattsburgh on May 17, 1939, daughter of Maynard and Eva Daniels.

Calling hours will be Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, from 10 to noon at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at noon from Brown Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Chazy.