Obituaries: 3/26/06

John F. Dow

MOIRA -- John F. Dow, 96, of Moira, passed away Friday, March 24, 2006, at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) in Plattsburgh after a long illness.

Born June 5, 1909, on a small farm on the Dow Road, he was the son of John and Mary (McVicker) Dow. He was one of 12 children.

On Nov. 26, 1934, he was married to Irene Yaddow. He was married by Father O'Rilley in Hogansburg. Irene died in February 1973.

John attended district school 8. He was especially proud of being granted an honorary high school diploma from Brushton-Moira Central School. He received his honorary high school diploma at the age of 94.

John spent 45 years working in the slipper industry for Shield's Slipper and Wolverine World Wide. He retired as a foreman in 1974. He was active in the Senior Citizen's movement. He was elected as the first president of the Brusthon Moira Senior Center. John helped form the Maple Leaf Housing project for low income seniors in Brushton, Moira, Bangor and St. Regis Falls. He served as their president for several years along with serving on the Advisory Board for the Office of the aging in Franklin County.

John was instrumental in starting the nutrition program at the Senior Center and drove the bus for the Meals-on-Wheels program. He also helped convince Doctors Lowell and Champagne to bring their doctor's offices to Brushton. Mr. Dow also served as the president of the Moira School Board for 25 years and was instrumental in helping form the Brushton-Moira Central School District. During his leadership in the school districts, Mr. Dow also served as president of BOCES in Malone. He was Grand Marshall in the Heritage Day Parade and was honored with a proclamation of John Dow Day from the Town of Moira Supervisor in 1976.

Mr. Dow, one of the finest old time fiddlers, was inducted into the fiddler's Hall of Fame in Osceola, N.Y. He is an honorary member of the New York State Fiddler's Association and an honorary member of the North County Fiddlers. Mr. Dow would play fiddle at old time kitchen hops, dances, weddings, activities at nursing homes and was recognized several times as the Best Old Time fiddler in State competitions at Old Forge. He was 12 years old when he began to fancy fiddling and for 84 more years entertained his audience.

Mr. Dow served as Trustee of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brushton, where in his later years he served as altar boy for weddings, funerals and masses.

Surviving are three sons and a daughter and their spouses; John and Janet Dow of Florida, Eugene and Lorraine Dow of Plattsburgh, Lyndon and Mary Dow of Rochester, and Jane and Lee Patnode both of Beacon. In addition, surviving are his sister, Irene Hutchins of Massena; 10 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, John and Mary he was predeceased by five brothers; and six sisters, James, Leon, Francis, William, Michael, Mary Savage, Bertha Fobare, Grace Mackey; twins, Lena Ordway, Leona Dow and Gertrude Dow.

The Dow family, wants to thank all of the nurses, doctors and health aides at Alice Hyde Hospital, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Dwyer Health Center and Franklin County Public Health who fought to improve Mr. Dow's quality of life through some very challenging times toward the end of his life.

John was a kind and loving son, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed.

Friends are welcomed to call Monday, March 27, 2006, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Flint Funeral Home in Moira. John's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at St. Mary's in Brushton with visiting Priest Father Scott Fobare celebrating (John's nephew) of the Newman Center in Plattsburgh, and with St. Mary's Priest Father Joe Wheelock as concelebrant.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Brushton.

In lieu of flowers, please consider in John's memory the Brushton Moira Adult (Senior) Center and St. Mary's Church in Brushton.

Thomas M. Oddey

BURKE -- Thomas M. Oddey, 50, of Depot Street, Burke, N.Y., died Thursday, March 23, 2006, at the Fanny Allen Center in Burlington, Vt. He had been a patient at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Facility in Burlington, Vt., since March 7.

Born in Glens Falls, N.Y., Jan. 29, 1956, he was the son of John H. and Patricia Webb Oddey.

He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls in 1974. While in high school, he was captain of the basketball and football teams.

On July 31, 1999, he was united in marriage to the former Betsy Mitchell at the Burke United Methodist Church. She survives.

Thomas was a New York State Correction Officer for more than 12 years, He had worked at various prisons in the area and most recently at Upstate Correctional Facility.

He was a member of the Malone Lodge of Elks and was an avid sports fan especially for the Yankees. He enjoyed reading, camping, swimming, ice cream, and spending time with his son, Nicholas.

Along with his wife, Betsy Mitchell-Oddey; he is survived by his mother, Patricia Oddey of Glens Falls, N.Y.; one son, Nicholas Oddey at home; one brother, Matthew Oddey of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Michelle Burch of Queensbury, N.Y., and Karen and Michael Dagley of Sterling, Va.; his mother and father-in-law, Clark and Shirley Mitchell of Burke; five sisters-in-law, Mary Lou and her husband Kenneth Vondell of Chateaugay, N.Y., Trudy and her husband Philip Ross of Brushton, N.Y., Joelle and her husband Roland Poirier, and Holly and her husband Eugene Poirier all of North Bangor, N.Y., and Deborah Mitchell of Saranac Lake, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his father, John H. Oddey; a brother, Patrick Oddey; and a brother-in-law, Bernard "Buddy" Mitchell.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone.

A funeral service will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at the Chateaugay United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Eleanor Bellows officiating. Burial will be in the Burke Center Cemetery in the Spring.

Donations may be made in his memory to either the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department or to the Chateaugay United Methodist Church.

Robert B. Davies

PLATTSBURGH -- Robert B. Davies Sr., 67, of McGaulley Avenue, passed away Friday, March 24, 2006, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Plattsburgh on June 17, 1938, the son of Leon and Martha (Fushey) Myers.

Robert had worked at Bow Plastics for many years, he had worked at Gus's Red Hot as a prep cook and the House of Choy. He enjoyed working on his lawn and was an avid sports fan, especially the New York Yankees.

Robert was predeceased by his parents, Leon and Martha Myers.

Robert is survived by his wife of 27 years, Catherine (Delaney) Davies of Plattsburgh; six children, Diana Davies and her companion James Murchison of Plattsburgh, Donna Davies and her companion John Cech of Plattsburgh; a stepson, Patrick Gilman of Scranton, Pa., Kelly Blier of Plattsburgh, Robert Davies Jr. and his companion Theresa Reid of Plattsburgh, Becky Davies of Saranac Lake, Wendy Davies of Plattsburgh; two sisters, Betty Bartkowiak of Utica, Gerry Myers of Plattsburgh; 25 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Salvation Army, Plattsburgh. Interment will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

Wilfred Sears

PLATTSBURGH -- Mr. Wilfred "Willy" Sears, 70, of the Moffitt Road, Plattsburgh, passed away unexpectedly Friday, March 24, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Plattsburgh on June 17, 1935, the son of Leo and Dora (Phaneuf) Sears.

Wlifred had been a driver for Torrington Construction. He enjoyed riding his three wheeled motorcycle and his riding lawn mower. Wilfred was a member of St. Mary's of the Lake Church Cumberland Head.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leo and Dora Sears.

Wilfred is survived by a sons, Randy Sears and his wife Helen of Beekmantown, Larry Sears and his fiancé Sherri Aldrich of Plattsburgh; a daughter, Jodie Osburn of Malone; his brothers, Joseph "Floyd" Sears of Plattsburgh, Eugene Sears and his wife Bonnie of Plattsburgh; his sisters, Valida Cote and her companion Dave Rivers of West Chazy and Lakeland, Fla., Marie "Mae" Manor of Beekmantown, Annette Deyo and her husband Ernie of Beekmantown; five grandchildren, Randy Sears Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Craig Sears of Anchorage, Alaska, Dustin Sears of Saranac, Cameron Osburn of Malone, Heather Sears and her husband Andrew of New Jersey, his ex-wife and very close friend, Mary Osburn of Beekmantown; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Cumberland Head. Interment will be at a later date at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Orel J. Defayette

PLATTSBURGH -- Orel J. Defayette, 88, of Cornelia Street, Plattsburgh, passed away Saturday, March 25, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Redford, N.Y., on Feb. 20, 1918, the son of Fred and Helen (Dupell) Defayette. Orel was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 125, the American Legion Post 20, the Knights of Columbus Council 255 and St. Peter's Church.

Orel was retired 1979 from the Plattsburgh City Police Department after 26 years of service. Orel enjoyed going to the mall and having coffee with his buddies.

He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Helen Defayette; a sister, Valeda Hackett; and six brothers, Victor, Phil, Leo, Medos, Alfred and Bernard Defayette; and a great-granddaughter, Emely Raymond.

Orel is survived by his wife of 60 years, Teresa (Mitchell) Defayette of Plattsburgh; two children, Linda Tucker and her husband Allison of Saranac, Jane Perkins and her husband Rob of Arizona; three grandchildren, Jeff Lozier, Mark Perkins, Kate and Steve Bukavac; six great-grandchildren, Tylar, Lyza, Brooke, Matthew, Samuel and Liam; one brother, Isadore Defayette of Plattsburgh; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Defayette, Lena Defayette, Helen Defayette and Letha Mitchell; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, at 1 p.m. at St. Peter's Church. Interment will be at a later date in St. Peter's Cemetery. Friends wishing may have Masses said in his memory or make a donation to Hospice of the North Country.

Members of the VFW and American Legion are asked to meet Sunday at 7 p.m. Members of the Knight of Columbus are asked to meet Sunday at 3 p.m.