Obituaries: 05/01/06

Earl E. Jones

SELKIRK -- Earl E. Jones, 71, of Selkirk, died suddenly Friday, April 28, 2006, at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. He was born in Reber, N.Y., Nov. 20, 1934, the son of the late Norton and Mary (Daby) Jones.

Earl was a graduate of Willsboro Central High School and received his B.S. from SUNY Plattsburgh and his M.S. from SUNY New Paltz. His teaching career spanned 35 years, beginning as teacher and principal of Leeds Consolidated School, teacher at Coxsackie-Athens Central and 30 years on the faculty at RCS Central. He worked many summers at Wickes Lumber Co. and enjoyed completing many home improvement projects through his own contracting business, Earl E. Jones and Son. He was active in the Bethlehem Republican Committee and for many years served as committeeman for Ward 26. He was an enthusiastic participant in the Delmar Presbyterian Church where he was presently serving as a deacon and was most recently involved in the "sprucification" of the church in anticipation of the church's 50th Anniversary Jubilee later this year. He touched many lives through education and community service. He will be remembered for always offering a helping hand.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice Stafford Jones. They had recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in June. He is also survived by his children, Nancy Jones and her husband Paul Fagan and Kevin and his wife, Dawn; his sisters, Arlene Mason and Ramona (Thurman) Anderson; and his brother, Otis (Joan) Jones; five grandchildren; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A funeral service will be held at noon on Tuesday at the Delmar Presbyterian Church, 585 Delaware Ave., Delmar, with a reception at the church immediately following the funeral. Burial will be at noon on Wednesday in Memorial Cemetery, Willsboro, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Delmar Presbyterian Church, 585 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054.

Gerald Francis Passino Sr.

Peru -- Gerald Francis Passino Sr. passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center after a long battle with emphysema.

Gerald was born on April 11, 1932, the son of William and Addie Passino. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Rouleau) Passino, and seven children. Melanie (Robert) Loughan, Gerald Jr. (Jody), Jeff (and companion Jennifer), Pamela (John) Hays, David Sr. (and companion Debbie), Brian and Paul (Monique).

Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Sean and Kellen Loughan, Ian and Raelyn Passino, David Jr. and Kaylee Passino, Beau and Mattlin Passino, Paul, Nick, Caleb(Charlie), and Bryce Passino. Also surviving is his aunt, Verda Norcross, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gerald was predeceased by his parents, and siblings Donald, Leonard, Ruth and Hilda.

Gerald served in the Army from 1952 to 1954. He worked several years for the Town of Plattsburgh highway department. He was a bus driver at Peru Central School for 29 years. He was involved in the Peru Democratic Party. Gerald loved spending time with his immediate and extended family sharing yarns and tales.

Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. The funeral will be Tuesday at St. Augustine's Church in Peru at 10 a.m. with burial to follow in the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Lung Association in Gerald's name.

Shirley M. Rock

MORRISONVILLE -- Shirley M. Rock, 78, of Shingle Street, Morrisonville, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center. She was born in Plattsburgh on Feb. 23, 1928, the daughter of John And Alfarata (Cutler) Devins.

Shirley was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 125 Ladies Auxiliary. She

enjoyed camping and traveling to Maine. Shirley was predeceased by her parents, John and Alfarata Devins; her husband, Herman J. Rock; a sister, Sondra Reeves; and a baby daughter, Star Ann. She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sondra Rock of Winooski, Vt.; Darlene Duprey and her husband, Roger, of Peru; Deborah Morrow and her husband, Millard, of Morrisonville; Eldric Rock and his wife, Deanna, of West Chazy; five grandchildren, April Sylvester, Jason Rock, Chantelle Rock, Gabriel Rock, William Duprey and Kevin Duprey; three great-grandchildren, Owen and Alyson Rock and Seth Sylvester; two brothers, Roland and Gerald Devins; several nieces and nephews also survive her.

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

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2006, at St. James Church, Cadyville.

Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family.

Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

Edward B. Rogers

BEEKMANTOWN -- Edward B. Rogers, 86, of Beekmantown died Friday, April 28, 2006, in Meadowbrook Health Care in Plattsburgh.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Watertown, N.Y. on Jan. 1, 1920, the son of George L. and Ruth (Gibbs) Rogers of Antwerp, N.Y. He grew up in Antwerp and graduated from Antwerp High School in 1937. After working in his fathers drug store he attended the Albany College of Pharmacy graduating in 1942.

On Feb. 7, 1942 he was married to Virginia E. Tracy at the home of her parents in Massena, NY. The Rev. Lacey officiated at the ceremony.

He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 as an officer aboard the USS DuPage (APA-41) in the Pacific. On his discharge from the Navy he went to work for the Kinney Drug Store in Massena. In January 1949 he started working for Eli Lilly Company as a representative in Plattsburgh, retiring in 1982.

He was active in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also served as chairman of the Beekmantown Zoning Board from 1989 to 1993.

He was predeceased by his wife Virginia on Feb. 8, 2002, his parents and a sister, Margery Brown.

He is survived by four sons, James Rogers and his wife Joanne of Essex Junction, Vt., Wayne Rogers and his wife Nancy of Malone, Donald Rogers and his wife Jan of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Gerald Rogers of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Betty Clough of Irvine, Calif.; five grandchildren, George Rogers and his wife Denise, Edward Rogers and his wife Kathleen, Christopher Rogers and his wife Christine and Patrick and Nathan Rogers; four step-grandchildren, John, Joseph and Jeffrey Martineau and Julie Rowe; six great-grandchildren, Noah, Callahan, Abigail, Finneas, Brady and Witt Rogers; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will take place in Pine Grove Cemetery in Massena at 2 p.m. Military honors will take place at the grave side. Memorial Donations may be made to the Beekmantown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 321, West Chazy, NY 12992.

Alonzo Lavalley

SOUTHPORT, N.Y. -- Alonzo Lavalley, a longtime resident of Southport, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on Sunday morning, April 30, 2006, at the age of 86.

Born on May 3, 1919, Alonzo was the son of Warren and Ida Lavalley. He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II and the Korean conflict; his plane was shot down twice over France.

Alonzo graduated from Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science in Syracuse and was a New York state licensed funeral director and embalmer. Well known within the profession, Alonzo gave great care to the families he served and is remembered for his kindness and compassion to others. He was a professional baseball pitcher, a member of the American Legion in Champlain, a past president of the Eagles Club and a communicant of St. Mary's Church.

His happiest times were shared with his loving family who survive and cherish his memory: his loving wife and companion of 68 years, Ina Lavalley; their children, Laura and Angelo Fusco of Pine City, Ltc. USA Ret. Gloria Besley of Pine City and Ella Rock of Fayetteville, N.C.; five grandchildren; NYS Trooper Sgt. Christopher Rock, Major Jason (Donna) Rock 10th A Special Forces Group currently serving in Iraq, Billy Besley, Angela (John) Beavers, Tony (Gigi) Fusco; five great-grandchildren, Kaileigh Rock, Colin Rock, Eric Beavers, Kevin Beavers and Nicholas Fusco; brothers Chester Lavalley and James Lavalley; several nieces and nephews, including special nephews Joe (Mary) Lavalley and Bobby (Delores) Gload and many family friends. Alonzo was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Theodore "Teddy" Gload; his brother, Morris Lavalley and his son-in-law, Philip M. Rock.

Family and friends will be received at Caywood's Funeral Home and Gardens, 1126 Broadway, Southport from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

A Wednesday morning prayer service will be held at Caywood's at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church on Franklin Street in Elmira.

Graveside services will follow in St. Peter and Paul's Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded Mr. Lavalley. Memorial donations may be directed to the Arnot-Ogden Medical Center Dialysis Center, 602 Ivy St., Elmira, N.Y. 14905 in his memory.

Deaths: 05/01/06

DONALD C. PECK, 82, of Wilmington, died Friday, April 28, 2006, at Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid.

He was born July 29, 1923, in Wilmington, the son of John and Eleanor (Green) Peck. There will be no visitation hours.

Graveside services will be held 1 p.m. May 6 at Pleasantview Cemetery in Wilmington.

Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

BERTHA A. "BIRDIE" (BRUNET) PERRY, 92, of Lake Shore Drive in Willsboro, died Friday, April 28, 2006, at Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Elizabethtown.

She was born on Sept. 23, 1913, in Belmont, the daughter of Samuel and Edith (Coon) Monette.

Calling hours will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, at Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, from St. Philip's Church in Willsboro.

Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Willsboro.