09/26/2005

Marjorie B. Stafford

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Marjorie B. Stafford, 93, formerly of Willsboro, died at the home of her daughter, Judith Doty, in St. Petersburg, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005.

She was born in Chateaugay on Oct. 11, 1911, the daughter of Elmer and Maude (Douglas) Barnes.

Marge, as she was known to all her many friends, was a very active member of the Willsboro United Methodist Church and the Willsboro United Methodist Women. She worked for many years in the Methodist Christian Education Programs and was known for her card and flower ministry.

She was a retired first-grade elementary school teacher, having attended Plattsburgh Normal School and taught in the Willsboro Central School system. She enjoyed summers at Chateaugay Lake and vacations on Cape Cod.

She married Vaughn Stafford on July 30, 1942. He predeceased her in 1995.

She is survived by her daughter, Judith; grandchildren Andrew, Jeffery, and Michelle Doty; great-grandchildren Ashlee and Robert Doty; a sister, Blanche Robinson of Plattsburgh; sisters-in-law Ruth Barnes and Margaret Barnes of Chateaugay; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at the Willsboro United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Cemetery in Willsboro. A reception will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall following the services. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Willsboro United Methodist Church.

Leo Collins

LOON LAKE -- Leo Collins, 98, formerly of Leo Collins Road, Old Route 99, passed away Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at Clinton County Nursing Home in Plattsburgh. He was born in Redford on Feb. 22, 1907, son of the late Samuel and Nathalie (Durocher) Collins.

Leo was employed at Loon Lake Golf Course for 72 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #7803 in Saranac Lake. Leo was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer.

Leo is survived by one daughter, Margaret Rascoe of Saranac; a sister, Mary Couture of Dannemora; five grandchildren, James and Eva Rascoe of Loon Lake, Donald and Vanessa Rascoe of Loon Lake, Eric and June Rascoe of Saranac, Danny and Janice Piller of Saranac, and Linda Parker of Saranac; seven great-grandchildren, Dennis Rascoe, Charissa Rascoe, Eric Rascoe, Jennifer Piller, Marci Parker, Shannon Parker, and Michelle Dashnaw; three great-great-grandchildren, Kayla Dashnaw, Vanessa Dashnaw and Kenneth Dashnaw.

Leo was predeceased by his wife, Myrtle (Abbott) Collins; two sisters, Lena Facteau and Anna Facteau; three brothers, Alie Collins, Clem Collins and Tom Collins; a son-in-law, Richard Rascoe; and a grandson, Kenneth Rascoe.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at Brown Funeral Home, Park Row, in Cadyville. Members of Knights of Columbus Council #7803 in Bloomingdale will meet at 7 p.m. tonight for services. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the Church of the Assumption in Redford. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Donations in Leo's memory may be made to the Saranac Lake Fire Department.

Deaths: 

GERARD J. MEAGHER, 89, of Pensacola, Fla., died June 29, 2005, in Pensacola.

He was born Oct. 1, 1916, in Brooklyn.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at St. Bernard's Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

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

REGINALD MERRILL, 80, of Mountaintop Housing, Lyon Mountain, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at his home.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Bernard's Church, Lyon Mountain.

A full obituary will appear in Tuesday's newspaper.

Arrangements are through the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

FRANCIS G. GOKEY, 69, of 88 Fort Covington St., Malone, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Born in Malone on Jan. 5, 1936, he was the son of the late Alfred and Edna (Gonyea) Gokey.

There are no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Notre Dame Church in Malone. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery.

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

GERALDINE V. LaCHANCE, 72, of Witherbee, died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005, at her home.

She was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Plattsburgh, daughter of the late Axeal and Clara (Kelly) LaChance.

There will be no calling hours or funeral service. Interment will be at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Moriah.

The Harland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CLIFFORD CONNERS, 79, of Turner Court, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at his home. He was born in Plattsburgh on Oct. 18, 1925, son of the late Lyman and Helen Conners.

Calling hours will be from noon to 2 p.m. today at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. William Reamer, Catholic chaplain at CVPH Medical Center, officiating. Burial will follow in Ingraham Cemetery.