Obituaries: 5/13/06

Ernest J. (Buz) Sawyer

ACWORTH, Ga. -- Ernest J. (Buz) Sawyer, 72, of Acworth, Ga., passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2006. He was born Nov. 26, 1933, in AuSable Forks, N.Y., son of Freeman and Winifred (Hanmer) Sawyer.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring from Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia after 37 years of service.

Survivors include his wife, Gerry Sawyer; four daughters, Janice of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lynne, Elaine and Karen, all of Acworth; five brothers, Chester of Newburgh, Lester of Minnesota, Milton of California, John of Plattsburgh, Sherman of Warrensburgh, N.Y.; two sisters, Shirley Thomas of AuSable Forks, N.Y., and Catherine Rumsey of Plattekill, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren; one aunt, Mrs. Viola Boggs of Chickasaw, Ala.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; and by three sisters and one brother.

Relatives and friends called Friday, May 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home in Kennesaw, Ga.

Services took place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2006, at St. Catherine's of Siena Catholic Church in Kennesaw with the Rev. Brenden Doyle officiating.

Burial was in Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery in Marietta with full military honors.

Laura M. Postiglione

PLATTSBURGH -- Laura M. Postiglione, 79, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., died Thursday, May 11, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. Laura was born Aug. 11, 1926, in AuSable Forks, N.Y., the daughter of Hasley and Effie (Smith) Ransom.

Laura and her late husband John owned and operated Bell's Grill in Plattsburgh and Dreamland Motel and Restaurant in Keeseville for 40 years. They owned and loved their race horses over the years. She was a loving mom and very devoted grandmother.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law and two daughters and two sons-in-law, John and Kathy Postiglione of Peru, Terry and Gary Pombrio of Plattsburgh and Marie Postiglione-Dupell and Mark Dupell of Morrisonville; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Marvin Ransom and his wife Janice of Harkness.

She is predeceased by her husband John; three brothers and one sister, William, Donald and Irving Ranson and Angeline Ranson.

There will be no visitation hours and graveside services will be at the convenience of the family in Fairview Cemetery in AuSable Forks.

The Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald W. Burnell

PERU -- Gerald W. Burnell, 80, formerly of Mark Way, Peru, died Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at the Clinton County Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

He was born in West Chazy on Dec. 10, 1925, the son of William and Lena Burnell.

Gerald was a loving husband and father and a good provider for his family. He had a heart of gold and would help anyone who needed it even in hard times. Anyone who knew Gerald could tell his kindness just by the way he always smiled.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

Gerald worked construction for Lincoln Paving in Connecticut for over 20 years.

Survivors include his wife, the former Elizabeth LaPier of Peru; one daughter and her husband, Mary and Mack McCramie of Florida: one stepdaughter and her husband, Miriam and Philias Snide of Peru; five grandchildren, Billy Jo Snide, Geraldine Snide, Nina and Eric Blaise, Phillip Snide; and many great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, May 15, 2006, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Chazy.

Maurice Coulombe

CHAMPLAIN -- Maurice Coulombe, 87, of Champlain, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2006, with his family by his side.

He was born March 12, 1919, in Champlain, the son of the late Ledger and Laura (LaFontaine) Coulombe. He worked at Harris Graphics as a machinist for many years. He spent his last several years with his daughter, Melissa Bedard, caring for him and he will be greatly missed by her.

Seven brothers and one sister predecease Maurice.

Survivors include one son, Neil Coulombe and his wife Betty of Champlain; two daughters, Maureen Leidner and Melissa Bedard and her husband Lawrence of Champlain; four grandchildren, Stacey, Scott, Mary and Peter; and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at St. Mary's Church in Champlain.

Arrangements are with the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

Deaths

ELIZABETH H. GRATTON, 84, of 1424 County Route 4, Fort Covington, N.Y., died May 12, 2006, at her home while under the loving care of her family and Hospice of the North Country, Inc.

She was born in Malone, N.Y., Feb. 3, 1922, the daughter of the late Alfred and Alice (Vermette) Spinner.

Calling hours will be Monday from noon until 1:45 p.m. at the Cappiello-McKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Fort Covington with the Rev. Edward Papp officiating. Burial will be in the old St. Mary's Cemetery in Fort Covington.

ALAN J. "BIG AL" BOYEA, 46, of 93 Gentle Breeze Drive, Malone, N.Y., died May 11, 2006, at CVPH in Plattsburgh, while on his way home in the ambulance from Fletcher Allen Health Care Center in Burlington, Vt., where he had been a patient for the past several months.

He was born in Malone, June 26, 1959, the son of Lyle and Joan (Dumas) Boyea.

Calling hours will be Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 9 a.m. at St. John Bosco Church in Malone. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery on the Lake Titus Road in Malone.