Obituaries: 12/08/05

Melvin L. McPherson

ELLENBURG CENTER -- God gained an angel when Melvin McPherson, 95 years old, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at Mary's Haven Hospice in Saratoga Springs with his loving family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer.

Melvin's full life was due to an abundance of love and family and his faith in God. He honored the Lord in the way that he lived and cared for others throughout his life.

He was the son of Elisha and Bertha McPherson born on Sept. 20, 1910, in Ellenburg Center.

He ran the McPherson general store and was later appointed postmaster of Ellenburg Center, N.Y. After retirement, he and his wife Mildred traveled, spending winters in Arizona and Florida and their summers in Malta, N.Y., near his daughter. In 1996, they made their permanent home in Malta.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Barbara Giroux and husband Armond of Waterford, N.Y., son, Dale McPherson and wife Stella of Chesapeake, Va.; granddaughter, Haley Stokes and husband Sheldon of Fredericksburg, Va.; a grandson, Scott McPherson and wife Lilly of Sahuarita, Ariz.; two great-grandchildren, Tristan McPherson and Whitney Nattell.

His wife predeceased him in January 1998; and a brother, Edwin died in 1994.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Ellenburg Depot. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday from St. Edmunds Church at Ellenburg Corners. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Those wishing to make a contribution in Melvin's memory may send to the Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or Mary's Haven, 35 New St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

The family of Melvin would like to extend their thanks to all the people from Hospice and Mary's Haven who bestowed upon him and his family so many acts of kindness during this past year.

Ruth R. Dobbs

KEESEVILLE -- Ruth R. (Andrews) Ford Dobbs, 80, of Keeseville Country Gardens, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in AuSable Chasm, Oct. 21, 1925, the daughter of Paul K. and Ruth (Locke) Andrews.

She was a graduate of Keeseville High School. While a student she worked after school and Saturdays at Floyds Bakery and the offices of Dr. George Robarge, DDS, and John H. Evans, MD.

Ruth married Glenn S. Ford, Oct. 20, 1945.

She worked at Pearl's Department Store and later began working as a switchboard operator for the Essex County Department of Social Services in 1971.

Ruth married Sherwood G. Dobbs, Oct. 17, 1971.

Following retirement from Essex County in 1991 she lived at her home on Chesterfield Street prior to moving to Keeseville Country Gardens.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, J. Keith and Holly Ford of AuSable Chasm; one daughter, Dolores "Dolly" Ford of Keeseville; grandchildren and spouses, Tabitha and Michael Cumber of Keeseville, Seth G. Ford of Keeseville, Brianne Ford of AuSable Chasm, Jarrod Ford of AuSable Chasm and John Mark Ford Jr. of Keeseville; two step-granddaughters, Brooke Brown of Keeseville and Rene and Tim Powers of St. Albans, Vt.; one great-granddaughter, Shayla Cumber; two step-greatgrandchildren, Ava and Owen Powers; one brother, Gerald Carpenter of Plattsburgh; sister-in-law, Rita Fieldson of Keeseville; daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Ford of St. Albans, Vt.; nieces and nephews; and many close friends.

She was predeceased by her parents; stepfather, Edward Carpenter; husbands, Glenn S. Ford and Sherwood G. Dobbs; and eldest son, J. Mark Ford Sr.

There will be no public calling hours or services. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of the North Country or the FitzPatrick Cancer Center.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville.

Gary R. Hemingway

PERU -- Gary R. Hemingway, 58, of the Fuller Road, Peru, and formerly of Plattsburgh, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Healthcare Facility in Burlington, Vt., as a result of injuries sustained in a fall.

He was born in Plattsburgh, Aug. 16, 1947, the son of Leonard and Margaret (Burnell) Hemingway.

Gary worked for Plattsburgh Wholesale Home in Plattsburgh for more than 27 years prior to retiring.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed ice fishing, school sporting events and carpentry, but his true love was spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Sharron (VanValkenburg) Hemingway of Peru; his children and spouses, David Thomas of Waldorf, Md., Gary and Sherry Hemingway of West Chazy, Robert and Michelle Hemingway of Plattsburgh and Martini and David Barcomb of Mooers; 13 grandchildren; seven sisters; one brother; several nieces and nephews; and a special cousin, Sam Duvall, who graciously donated a kidney to Gary which in his words, "Gave me a gift of life" until his untimely death.

He was predeceased by his parents; one brother, Ronald J. Hemingway, June 29, 1995; and one sister, Susan J. Hemingway, April 11, 2005.

Calling hours will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church in Keeseville with Monsignor Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, celebrating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville.

Donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Alfred Pageau

LYON MOUNTAIN -- Alfred "Buddy" Pageau, 71, of Phillips Court, Lyon Mountain died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Born in Lyon Mountain, N.Y., on June 11, 1934, he was the son of Alfred and Marguerite (Shutts) Pageau.

He was married to Barbara Carron on Sept. 24, 1955, in St. Bernard's Church in Lyon Mountain.

Mr.. Pageau is survived by his wife of 50 years; two sons, Alfred "Mickey" Pageau of Houston, Texas, and Paul Pageau of Albany, N.Y.; a daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Kevin Fournia of Chazy Lake, N.Y.; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Rita Kwetcian of Lyon Mountain, N.Y., and Myrtle and Francis Siskavich of Lyon Mountain, N.Y.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Mary Pageau of Lyon Mountain, N.Y., and Donald and Jeanie Pageau of Merrill, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his parents; and a sister, Veronica Lawrence.

Mr. Pageau graduated from Lyon Mountain High School with the Class of 1952. He was employed by the New York State Department of Corrections and retired from Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility in 1990 after 31 years of service. He was a communicant of St. Bernard's Church in Lyon Mountain, a member of the Outback Riders ATV Club and president of Little Camp Hunting Club. Mr. Pageau was an avid baseball player for years and life long fan of the Boston Red Sox.

Calling hours will be held at the Lyon Mountain Funeral Home on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 in St. Bernard's Church with Rev. Vincent Jazmines officiating. Burial will take place at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Lyon Mountain.

Donations in his memory may be made to Lyon Mountain Fire Department.

Arrangements are with the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

Dean Alan Mazula

QUEENSBURY -- Dean Alan Mazula, 44, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital.

He was born in Plattsburgh on March 9, 1961, the son of the late Albert and Marion (Phinney) Mazula.

He graduated from Plattsburgh High School class of 1980. Dean attended Clinton Community College and Canton ATC.

He was a member of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church.

He worked for the Laborers Union in the Clinton County area for four years, he then became a correction officer and worked for the past 21 years at the Washington Corrections Facility in Comstock.

Dean enjoyed Notre Dame Football and Yankee Baseball and the company of his Bassett Hound, Oscar.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Rich Mazula whom he married June 12, 1994, in Hudson Falls; two sons, Matthew and Michael Mazula of Queensbury; two stepsons, Richard Mercier of Queensbury and Geoffrey Pickering of Greenwich; stepmother, Barbara Mazula of Point Au Roche, N.Y.; one brother, John Welch of Plattsburgh; one sister, Suzanne Hand of Plattsburgh; three stepsisters, Toni, Ann and Julie; two cousins, Jack Phinney of Dallas, Texas and Jill Jones of Shreveport La.; also several nieces and nephews; and his two best friends, Ralph Greene Jr. and Mike Casey.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church on Aviation Road, Queensbury, with Rev. Joseph Busch, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Friends may call Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Singleton Healy Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ronald B. Stafford Cancer Foundation.

Deaths:

DONNA M. (RUSHIA) KYEA, 64, of AuSable Forks died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

She was born Aug. 8, 1941, in Plattsburgh the daughter of Ector and Eleanor (Myers) Rushia.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks, N.Y.

LAWRENCE W. KELLEY, 79, of Rouses Point died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

There will be no calling hours. A full obituary will appear in Friday's newspaper.

Arrangements are with M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

MARY S. CONTINI, 97, formerly of Bristol, Conn., died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005, at the Meadowbrook Health Care Facility with her family by her side.

She was born in Siligo, Province of Sassari, Italy on Aug. 20, 1908, the daughter of Pietro and Giovanna (Maiale) Sassu.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Park Row, Cadyville. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Church in Cadyville. Interment will be Saturday at 11 a.m. Dec. 10, 2005, at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Bristol, Conn.