Obituaries: 2/23/06

Garry Francis Skinkle

PLATTSBURGH -- Garry Francis Skinkle, 52, of Main Mill Street, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, surrounded by family members and under the care of Hospice of the North Country, after a short battle with cancer.

Mr. Skinkle was born Feb. 14, 1954, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., son of George Edward Skinkle and Helen Vera (Taylor) Skinkle and was raised by his maternal grandparents, Francis Taylor and Elzada (Stanley) Taylor in Plattsburgh from the age of one month. His grandparents were forever his "Mom" and "Dad."

A graduate of Plattsburgh State University, Garry also served briefly in the U.S. Air Force and received an honorable discharge in 1973. Mr. Skinkle worked for many years in various capacities in engineering and programming at WCFE-TV 57, Mountain Lake PBS until February 2000 and until the present was self-employed as a freelance writer and marketer.

Garry's hobbies included politics, serving for a couple of years on the Ward One, City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County GOP Committees. Mr. Skinkle enjoyed a life-long love of classic radio programs and classic movies. Garry especially found great joy in gatherings and interactions with his rather extended family and friends.

Garry was predeceased by his parents and grandparents. Mr. Skinkle is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn McClure of Plattsburgh with whom he met and set out on their life together on July 10, 1984, getting married on July 10, 1992, eight years to the day after they met. Other survivors include a son, Michael Nelson of Glens Falls; three daughters, Heather Titchener of Greene, N.Y., Maria Titchener of Oxford, N.Y., Elizabeth Nelson of Plattsburgh; a brother, Edward Skinkle of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; three sisters, Lois Skinkle and Linda Skinkle both of Utica, N.Y., Barbara Taylor of the Syracuse, N.Y., area; his "sister" aunt, Carolyn (Taylor) Cornelius of Hattiesburg, Mass., with whom Garry was raised with as brother and sister; numerous grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and cousins. His dearly beloved mother-in-law, Harriet (Whitman) McClure predeceased Garry in 2005. In addition, Mr. Skinkle is survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Shannon Prichard of Puyallup, Wash.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. Calling hours will end with a funeral service at 3 p.m. led by Pastor Tom Prichard.

Burial will be on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at 1 p.m. in North Elba Cemetery.

Donations in Garry's memory may be made to High Peaks Hospice or Hospice of the North Country.

Patrick M. O'Connell

CADYVILLE -- Patrick M. O'Connell, left our world and was called home to God and his many family members Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, after a difficult battle with lung cancer. He died at home surrounded by his family and the loving touch of his wife, Joan and son, Kurt.

He was born Sept. 3, 1937, the son of Donald and Marjorie (Howard) O'Connell.

Patrick served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1959. Patrick operated a dairy farm for many years and was employed by New York state, retiring from the Department of Corrections. Patrick was predeceased by his son, Patrick Michael; his father, Donald; his brothers, Donald, Rance and Dennis; a sister, Cassie; and a nephew, Jared Provost.

Survivors include his wife, Rita (Joan) O'Connell of Cadyville; a son and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Tonya O'Connell of Cadyville; five grandchildren, Kevin, Kasey, Mike, Kayla and Skye; his mother, Marjorie O'Connell of Plattsburgh; a brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Deanna O'Connell of Cadyville; a sister, Johanna Adams of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Patrick was loved and respected by everyone in the family and many friends as well. He and Joan making their home the "hub" of family get togethers for many years, making everyone feel welcome, a good meal was always on the table and plenty of laughter to go with it. Pat taught his sons, their friends and nieces and nephews the reality of hard work by his example. He would gather us together on summer's hottest days to throw hay and work the farm. No one complained as it was fun as well as work. His many grandchildren were his pride and joy and the gleam in his eye was always brighter when they were near. Being a loving "Pop" was second nature to him. Pat will be sorrowfully missed as he touched so many lives. However, his memory will always live on as we share the many stories we have about him, time and time again.

At Patrick's request, there will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. from St. James Church in Cadyville. A reception will follow in the parish center. Burial will be later in the year in St. James Cemetery in Cadyville.

Donations in Pat's memory may be made to Hospice of the North Country, North Country Center for Independence or to the Shriners.

Arrangements with Brown Funeral Home in Cadyville.

Edward R. Gogola Jr.

SCHROON LAKE -- Edward R. Gogola Jr., 61, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, after a long illness.

Ed was born Feb. 4 1945, in Schenectady, N.Y., to Dorothy E. (Schelle) Gogola and the late Edward R. Gogola Sr. Ed was also predeceased by his only sibling, Robert A. Gogola.

Ed was a veteran of the Vietnam era serving in the U.S. Navy from 1963 until I967. He spent most of his life working in the communications field in the Albany area. He was most recently employed by Essex County in the Information System Department. Ed had a zest for life and always reveled in good times with his family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent his entire life enjoying fishing, hiking, ice fishing and the beauty of the Adirondack region. He was a ham radio operator for 40 years and enjoyed rebuilding classic cars. Music was his greatest passion. Ed "The Dr." Gogola was the drummer for the band "Loonie Tunes," a group that included his brother and best friends for the past 25 years.

Survivors beside his mother include his wife, of 37 years Beverly D. (Lacobucci) Gogola; his daughters, Elizabeth D. Mastio and Amy W. Woron and their husbands; six nieces; and one nephew.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, morning Feb. 25, 2006, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Schroon Lake.

The family would like to extend a special "thank you" to the staff of FitzPatrick Cancer Center and the nursing staff of R5 at CVPH.

The family suggests memorials take the form of donations to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 599, New York, NY 10021 or the Schroon Lake Emergency Squad Schroon Lake, NY 12870.

Evelyn D. Signor

KEESEVILLE -- Evelyn D. (Lang) Santor Signor, 91, formerly of Church Street, Keeseville, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at the Evergreen Valley Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Colebrook, N.H., Sept. 3, 1914, the daughter of Karl E. and Louisa E. (Ramsey) Lang.

She was raised in Beecher Falls by her paternal grandparents. She graduated from Keeseville High School in 1931. She had several jobs in Keeseville including Taylor's General Store, Francis Callanan's Fuel, Keeseville National Bank, Telephone Company and finally for Sherman Willet's Lumber and Pulp Wood.

She was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church where she sang in the choir and was a lector several years. Evelyn enjoyed raising Morgan horses, playing the organ, painting, gardening, golf, square dancing, and cross country skiing. Evelyn should be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor. She could remember a humorous event or joke and retell either to the pleasure and laughter of those around her. She would have a good laugh, too. She always carried a positive and optimistic outlook.

Survivors include her husband of 23 years, Philip E. Signor of Plattsburgh, whom she married May 22, 1982, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville; one sister, Virginia Lang Mussen Serra of Connecticut; one step-daughter and her spouse, Mary Ellen and Edward Nadeau of North Andover, Mass.; their children and spouses, Scott and Lisa Nadeau of Concord, N.H., and David and Susie Nadeau and their baby daughter, Sydney, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her first husband, Anthony Santor, who died April 11, 1980.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville with Monsignor Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, celebrating.

Burial will be in the spring in the parish cemetery.

Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Emma Elizabeth Blair

CONWAY, S.C. -- Emma Elizabeth Blair, 90, formerly of Chesterfield Street, Keeseville, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at the Conway Manor, Conway, S.C.

She was born in Peru, March 6, 1915, the daughter of Joseph and Safhronia (Duprey) Bushey.

Emma was employed as a clothes presser at Betty's Cleaners in Keeseville and Trevor Manufacturing also in Keeseville. She was a communicant of St. James Catholic Church in Conway, S.C. She enjoyed crafts, reading and gardening.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Karen Blair of Liverpool; two daughters, Geraldine Burns of Little River, S.C., and Shirley Snide of Conway, S.C.; one brother, Francis Bushey of Chazy; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Fred Blair in 1972; two brothers, Wilfred Bushey and Felix "Phil" Bushey; one sister, Dorothy LaMora; and two sons-in-law, Willard Snide and Charles Burns.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Peru with the Rev. Scott R. Seymour, pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Philip of Jesus Church in Willsboro and St. Joseph's Church in Essex, celebrating. Burial will be in the spring in the parish cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the St. James Catholic Church, 1071 Academy Drive, Conway, SC, 29526.

Deaths:

ETHEL FERRIS, 84, of AuSable Forks, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born Aug. 6,1921, the daughter of Samuel and Goldia (Carpenter) Beardsley.

Arrangements are incomplete. A complete obituary will follow.

Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LEONA M. LATRAY, 91 of Bombay, passed away early Wednesday morning, Feb. 22, 2006, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, where she had been a patient since Sunday.

Born in Bombay, N.Y., on Dec. 4, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Armeda Snyder Jock.

Calling hours will be in the Cappiello-McKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church in Bombay, with the Rev. Stephen Rocker, pastor, officiating.

Burial will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.

FREDERICK S. LUTHER, 83, formerly of Flynn Avenue, Plattsburgh, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Stapleton, N.Y., on Dec. 1, 1922, the son of Frederick and Jessie (Lockwood) Luther.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006. from 1 to 3 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will take place in the spring in Independence Cemetery in Saranac, N.Y.

A full obituary will appear in Friday's Press-Republican.