Obituaries: 1/12/06

William Thomas Munson

CROWN POINT — William (Buck) Thomas Munson of Crown Point passed peacefully Jan. 10, 2006, at his home in Ticonderoga with his family by his side.

He was born in Westport, N.Y., on April 14, 1938, to Harry and Ruth (Moore) Munson.

Buck worked most of his life as a carpenter. He loved hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Westport Fish and Game Club for many years. He was a wonderful father, brother and grandfather.

He is survived by his daughter, Julie and husband Mitchel Bennett Sr. of Putnam Station; sons, Jeff Munson of Albany and Mark and wife Holly Munson of Ticonderoga; his grandchildren, Anthony, Andrew, Kayla Bennett, Mitchel Bennett Jr. and wife Colleen, Hayley Best, Caleb Munson and Dillion Cutting; two great-grandchildren, Zack and Ruby Bennett; he is also survived by seven sisters and five brothers, Patty Kline of Westport, Marion and Dave Gough of Hudson, Dorothy Martin of Moriah, Helen Raymond of Albany, Sue and George Ferguson of Chilson, Peggy Miller of Colorado, Kim and Rick Genaw of Virginia, Kenneth Munson of Virginia, Harry and Lousy Munson Styvesant, Frank and Bette Munson of Hudson, Richard Munson of Albany and Jay and Judy Munson of Crown Point.

He is predeceased by his parents; his wife, Sylvia (Cowin) Munson; two brothers, Clyde and Summer Munson and an infant son Jerry.

Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry.

A funeral service will be held Sat. Jan 14, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Donations may be made in his name to the High Peaks Hospice, Port Henry, N.Y.

Robert G. Davenport

PLATTSBURGH — Robert G. Davenport, 66, died on Dec. 27, 2005. Robert was also known as Bob, Gramps, old man and Davenport.

Bob was born in Montreal Aug, 9, 1939, to Robert W. and Ruby G., an only child. The family moved to California in 1957. Bob became a U.S. citizen in April 1981.

Bob has worked as a typesetter at the L.A. Times, a farmer, security for Expo 67, owned a Quick Print shop and partner in a machine shop and alpaca farm.

Bob loves his family, hockey (playing or teaching), most of all watching his grandson Cory play hockey, and a good joke and animals.

In California, Bob is survived by his son Donald and wife Michelle Arbizu; granddaughter, Savanah; and grandson, Cooper.

In Plattsburgh Bob is survived by his mother, Ruby; his wife, Mildred (Millie); son Robert and wife Sheila Begore; granddaughter, Tara; and grandson Cory; son Steven and wife Lynne Manor; and only daughter Teresa. Bob's youngest son, Kenneth lives in Niskayuna, N.Y.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, good wishes and generosity and to CVPH and all emergency personal thank you for caring and professionalism.

Gordon E. Rasco

POMONA, N.Y. — Gordon E. "Slim" Rasco, 55, of Pomona, N.Y. died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., after a long illness.

He was born on May 1, 1950, the son of Shirley Lobdell Rasco and the late Edgar Rasco.

Gordon was born and raised in Saranac, N.Y., and attended Saranac Central School. After he finished school, he became a masonry apprentice to the well-known mason, Orey Gadway. Over the years Gordon built many beautiful fireplaces, each one a true work of art and a labor of love.

In 1967, he moved to Spring Valley, N.Y., where he began his career at Letchworth State Hospital where he worked with the developmentally disabled. He retired on May 1, 2005, after 38 years of dedicated service.

At a very early age, Gordy acquired a passion for country music. Uncle Jack (Whitey Keese) gave him his first guitar and taught him how to play. Gordy became "SLIM." He played country music with the Green Mountain Boys for over 20 years. His own band, Slim Rasco and the Swinging Doors, were together for over 20 years. He made quest appearances with many bands, but his best music was played around the kitchen table with family and friends. As his love for country music grew, so did his extended family.

Gordy was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved hunting on his property in Black Brook where he built his dream retirement log cabin. He also spent many hours fishing with his dad and brother in their favorite fishing spots on the True Brook Road.

Gordy lived every aspect of his life with passion. He represented the true meaning of being a "true friend" to many, many people.

Although Gordy lived downstate for many years, he enjoyed "riding the old Northway" home.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 1600 in Pomona where he joyfully tended bar, cooked for special events and played music.

Survivors include his daughter, Jennifer Rasco and her fiancÃ' David Goldberg of Philadelphia, Pa.; his mother, Shirley Rasco and her significant other of many years, Bernard Hayes of Cadyville; four sisters, Nancy Abrahamson of Ohio, Brenda Bouchard of Morrisonville, N.Y., Kathleen Dowd of Portsmouth, N.H. and Mary Frenyea and her husband Leeward of Cadyville, N.Y.; a brother, Richard "Rick" Rasco and his significant other Karrie Hathaway of Morrisonville, NY; 11 nieces and nephews; and seven great-nieces and nephews; and a wealth of family and friends.

He was predeceased by his father, Edgar Rasco, on July 8, 1989.

Calling hours will be Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. from the Church of the Assumption in Redford, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Strong Memorial Hospital, Liver Transplant Program, Rochester, NY 14642.

Ryan Robert Sears

WEST CHAZY — Ryan Robert Sears, 10, of the Patnode Road, West Chazy, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Facility with his family by his side following a five year battle with cancer.

He was born in Plattsburgh, on Dec. 4, 1995, the son of Robert and Michelle (Collins) Sears.

Ryan was a student at Beekmantown Central School. He enjoyed four wheeling, swimming, and was a member of the Polar Bear Club at Camp Takumpta. He loved listening to DJ's C.K. Coin and Wild Bill Sergeant of WOKO Radio where he had been named listener of the week.

Ryan was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Monica Leduc Collins and his maternal great-grandfather, Arthur Leduc.

He is survived by his parents, Robert and Michelle Sears of West Chazy, his grandparents, Eugene and Bonnie (Delisle) Sears, Stella (Paul) and Al Deyo, Larry and Eunice Collins, great-grandparents, Leo and Blanche Collins, Lorretta Leduc and Stella Paul; aunts and uncles, Connie Collins, Yvonne Hoyt, Joanne (Sears) and Brian Sheridan, Laura Sears, Fred Sears and Denise Gregoire, Jeff and Shelly Peete; cousins, Richard and Cheril Deyo, Melise, Teri and Krista Deyo, Jenni and Sara Rauen, Rochelle Kral, Josh and Zina Peete and Marquic Crew. Special friends, Ed Deyo; several family and friends.

Special thanks go out to The Childlife Department, Jen, Kathy and Jess, Penny Degoosh, Sheira P.A., Dr. Alan Homans, Dr. Gisselle Schroller and to all the doctor's and staff on Baird 5 a Fletcher Allen.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at St. James Church, Cadyville.

Donations may be made to Baird 5 at FAHC, Children's Miracle Network or Ronald McDonald House.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Frances Clute

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — On Jan. 5, 2006, Frances Clute passed away in Alexandria, Va., after a long and rewarding life. She was 90 years of age.

Frances was born to William and Katherine Haley in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

She attended Plattsburgh Normal School, she obtained her bachelor's of science degree in education from Syracuse University, and did post graduate study in English literature at the University of Vermont.

Fran met her husband, John, in 1941, when both were active in the Plattsburgh Little Theater. They married in Plattsburgh on May 11, 1942.

Frances is survived by husband, John, who resides at Lake Forest in Plattsburgh; her sons, John Jr. and his wife, Penelope, James and his wife Marta; a daughter, Marilyn K. Clute of Alexandria, Va.; and grandchildren, Sean, Christopher, Erik, Lara and Andrew.

Fran was a high school English teacher at Peru Central, Keeseville Central, and at AuSable Valley Central School. Fran and John operated the Village Inn in Keeseville, N.Y., in their home on Main Street during the 1950s.

Fran and John retired in 1976 and the moved to Dunedin, Fla., where they lived together until 2004. During their retirement years, they were fortunate to be able to take several trips with friends to various parts of the world. They returned to the North Country during the summer months to enjoy Lake Champlain and the company of their many friends from this area.

Fran will be missed by her husband, family and friends. She was always cheerful and kind, a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She had a great fondness for her former students from Peru and Keeseville and many of them have inquired about her often even years after her retirement. Her family will establish an award in her memory for students at AuSable Valley Central School. Fran was particularly close to students who struggled to learn. She thought if she could give a student the confidence to speak in front of a class, read a short story, or write a simple essay she had accomplished more in enriching their lives than she could do for college bound students. The Frances H. Clute prize in English will recognize a student for her or his effort and progress in learning.

Donations to the fund that will be established for the prize can be made to "Clute, Clute and Thompson Trust Account" with the note FH Clute Prize and mailed to Clute, Clute and Thompson, P.O. Box 2885, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

A memorial service will be held for Fran in Keeseville, N.Y., this summer. The family will publish an announcement of when and where the service will take place.

Deaths:

EDWARD LAPLANT passed away peacefully and will be missed by all of those who loved him.

He was born in Malone, N.Y.

At Ed's request there will be a viewing Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bonney Watson Washington Memorial 16445 International Blvd. SeaTac, Wash. 206-242-1787.

Calling hours will be held in Lake Placid Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home. A Bible vigil service will be held at the funeral home Friday evening at 6:45 p.m. and the Rev. Patrick O'Reilly will officiate. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Clark Funeral Home In Lake Placid with O'Reilly officiating. Burial will be in North Elba Cemetery in May.