SIDNEY – Nellie C. Cole, 85, of Sidney, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010 at Bassett Hospital.
Nellie was born on Jan. 13, 1925 in Oneonta, the daughter of the late Clarence Joseph and Rose (Decker) Oliver. She married Irving W. Cole on October 14, 1944 in Oneonta. He predeceased her on Sept. 20, 1998.
Nellie grew up in the Oneonta area and graduated from the Oneonta High School, class of 1943. She obtained her AA Business Degree from the Delhi Agricultural and Technical College. She and her husband owned the former Buster Hyzer Dairy Farm. She worked for 25 years in Delhi, first as a Legal Secretary to the Honorable Richard H. Farley. Upon his election to a Delaware County Judgeship, she became Chief Clerk of the Family Court of the State of New York, a position she held until her retirement in 1987.
She was an avid quilter and has shown many of her quilts in area shows. She was an active member of the TriTown Piecemakers of Sidney and a member of the National Quilters Association. She was also a member of the Community Bible Church in Franklin and former member of the Women of the Moose #502 in Sidney. She was a volunteer for the Sidney Hospital Guild and the Delaware Valley Humane Society.
Nellie received many honors and awards. She was the Hospital Guild Volunteer of the Year in May, 2001, she was the Sidney First Lady of the Year in April 2003, she was the Republican Citizen of the Year 2007, was a member of the Delaware County and Sidney Republican Committees.
Nellie is survived by her three children and their spouses, Barry W. and Marie Cole of Sidney, Barbara Ritchey of Sidney and Janice and Donald Mushtare of Worcester, Massachussetts.
Nellie was predeceased by her parents, her husband and a brother, William Oliver.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 5, at the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, 625 Main St., Franklin with Rev. Robert Goldenberg, Pastor of the Circle Drive Alliance Church in Sidney, officiating. Interment will be in the spring in the Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.

ONEONTA – Jeanne S. Bryden, 82, of Oneonta, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 at the Otsego Manor Nursing Home in Cooperstown.
Jeanne was born on July 7, 1927 at Parshall Hospital in Oneonta, the daughter of the late G. Frank and Florence A. (Fisher) Slawson. She married Lauren “Steve” Bryden of Franklin in 1944. They divorced in 1982.
Jeanne grew up in North Franklin on the family farm on Sleepy Hollow now Slawson Road. She lived most of her life in Franklin before moving to Oneonta.
She worked as a partner on the family farm until her 50’s, when she returned to school for training as a medical secretary. She worked for several years at the Delaware County Infirmary (now Countryside Care Center) and then at the skilled nursing unit at The Hospital in Sidney.
After living in Florida for a short period, she returned to the Oneonta area, working for the City of Oneonta for many years as a File Clerk working to archive many old maps and documents. She also worked for the Department of Labor before retiring.
Jeanne was a member of the Aldrich Baptist Church in North Franklin, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Nader Towers Residents Association where she served as treasurer.
Her hobbies included reading, traveling, and needlework. She enjoyed spending time with her family.
Jeanne is survived by her children, Thomas W. (Michele) Bryden of South New Berlin, Ronald L. (Paula) Bryden of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Doris J. (Art) Hughes of Johnson City and Penny E. (Christopher) Tremain of Otego.
She is also survived by her ten grandchildren, Taryn (Bill) Hubbard, Heather (Chris) Bryden-Golliver, Dawn Bryden, Trevor Bryden, Steven Bryden, Steven Michalovic, Teresa Michalovic, Colleen Michalovic, Tyler Tremain and Kailee Tremain; her sister, Jeanette Bradshaw of Scotia, New York; her brother, Larry Slawson of New Jersey; her great grandsons, Owen and Braden; and a special former son-in-law, Henry Michalovic.
Jeanne was predeceased by her parents, G. Frank and Florence Slawson; her siblings, Laverne Slawson, Cora Lewis Belden, Frances Dahlberg, George Slawson, Lynn Slawson, Cliff Slawson and Ralph Slawson.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, in the Aldrich Baptist Church, North Franklin with Patricia Judd, officiating.
There will be no calling hours and a private family interment will be held in the spring at the Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.

ONEONTA – Phyllis (Hebbard) Adair O’Connell, 64, of West Milford, N.J., and formerly of Oneonta, passed away on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, surrounded by loved ones.
She was born on June 6, 1945, in Delhi, the daughter of Herbert and Pauline (Palmer) Hebbard. She grew up on the Meadowbrook Farm in Davenport and attended Charlotte Valley Central School, where she graduated in 1963.
She married Eugene Adair on June 5, 1965, and eventually settled in Oneonta, where Phyllis was a member of the United Methodist Church and active in the Jayncees. She enjoyed bowling, golf and bridge. In addition to raising their three children, Phyllis and Gene opened their home to several foster children. Gene passed away suddenly in 1975.
Phyllis married Jack O’Connell on June 17, 1978, moving to Franklin Lakes, N.J., in 1981. Phyllis collected antiques, even owning and operating a small shop. She began working in the banking business in 1984.
At the time of her death, she worked in the commercial lending department at Lakeland Bank in Oak Ridge, NJ.
Survivors include three children in New Jersey, five step children, six grandchildren, and her mother and an aunt in Davenport.
The funeral was Feb. 3 at the United Methodist Church, Davenport, with the Revs. Nancy Russell and Martha Vink, officiating. Interment will be in the spring in the Davenport Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.

WEST ONEONTA – Burton Henry Sheldon II, 98, who throughout his teaching career continued his interest in the family farm, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2010, after a brief illness.
He was born on March 15, 1911, near the end of the horse-and-buggy era. He and his sister Katherine used to ride their ponies the one mile to elementary school in West Oneonta and later traveled by trolley to secondary school in Oneonta.
Burton’s father wanted him to be a lawyer, so he graduated with a B.A. degree in political science from Hartwick College in 1935. However, he obtained a teaching certificate from the Oneonta Normal School in 1936 and spent most of his teaching career, until retirement, as a junior high science teacher at the Draper School in Schenectady. He derived great pleasure over the years from his active participation as an alumnus.
Burton learned the love of farming from his parents, was active in 4-H and showed sheep at local, state and international fairs as a youth. Even while teaching out of the area, he returned to West Oneonta on weekends and summers to oversee the running of the family farm. Until just a few years ago, he continued to care for the farm and a small herd of Cheviot sheep.
Burton’s Christian faith was an important part of his life and he was a longtime member of the West Oneonta Baptist Church.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dora, and his sisters and their husbands, Mabel and Harrison Straight and Katherine and Richard Turrell.
Survivoes include nieces and nephews, Thomas (Christie) Moseley, Jim (Donna) Moseley, Elizabeth (Thomas) Quest, Marjorie (Joseph) Julian, Robert (Rusty) Turrell, Josephine Kenyon, John (Joyce) Turrell, Virginia (Timothy) Wetherbee, Ruth (Warren) Smith and Richard (Rhonda) Turrell; as well as their children and grandchildren.
The family gives special thanks to Dr. Ronald Zerbe for being a good friend to Burton, and to the staff at Fox Nursing Home for the care they gave him.
The funeral was Saturday, Jan. 23, at West Oneonta Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the church at Box 224, West Oneonta, NY 13861.
The Bookhout Funeral Home handled arrangements

ONEONTA – Jonathan W. Dean Sr., 67, of Oneonta, a retired welder, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Bassett Hospital.
Born Oct. 3, 1942, in Milford, he was the son of the late Orville and Bertha (McAdams) Dean.
He enjoyed motorcycles.
He is survived by his children, Stacey Dean, Jeremy Dean, Tanya Brooks, Jonathan Dean Jr., Cindy Starr, Sandy Mallette, Christine Fassett and Jonathan Swift; his brothers, Orville and Trudy Dean and James Browning; his partner of 18 years, Sharon Swift, and her children, Jolene and Jason Swift; a special friend, Bill Triolo, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brother, Roger Dean.
The funeral was Wednesday, Jan. 20, Bookhout Funeral Home, with the Rev. Gary Bonebrake, pastor of the Main Street Baptist Church. Interment will be in the spring in Maryland Cemetery.

DELHI – Irena Blaszczuk Putrycz, a Holocaust survivor, passed away Friday, Jan. 8, at the Countryside Care Center, Delhi. She was 86.
Irena was born on March 5, 1923, near the village of Zholoby, Ukraine. At 19, she and hundreds of other girls from the surrounding villages were forcibly relocated to work farms and factories in Nazi Germany and Austria.
For three difficult years she suffered hardships and abuse at the hands of her captors. On more than one occasion she tried to escape, only to be captured, returned and punished.
In the spring of 1945, when the Allied victory appeared inevitable, Irena and her infant daughter, Genia, were released from servitude. They survived, sleeping in bomb craters at night and hiding in burned-out ruins during the day.
Uneducated and with little more than her determination, she located a displaced-person camp by way of the Red Cross. In 1946, she was relocated to a refuge camp in the United Kingdom.
It was there she met and later married Jozef Putrycz, a decorated combat veteran in the Polish army, who survived a Russian concentration camp.
In 1955, the family came to the U.S., finally settling in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. She had lived in Delhi for the past 11 years.
Irena is survived by her son, Walter Putrycz, and his wife Pamela Peters, of Franklin; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Nora Putrycz, Jozef Evan Putrycz, John Stetz and Mark Stetz. She is also survived by her son-in-law, John Stetz Sr.; three great grandchildren: Alison, Cal and Zinnia and two nieces, Linda Putrycz and Lisa Cooke, Both of Canada.
She was predeceased by her husband and a daughter, Jennifer Stetz.
The funeral was Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, with Pastor Derek Johnson, Delhi Community Church, officiation. Internment will be in the spring in the Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Franklin.
Memorial donations may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements were with the Lester R Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.

FRANKLIN – Suzanne Belle (Cronauer) DeVost passed away peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the home of her parents, Robert and Joan Cronauer, after fighting lung cancer for over a year.
Suzanne was born in Sidney, on Aug. 23, 1955, the daughter of Robert and Joan (Burnside) Cronauer, who survive her.
She was a graduate of the Franklin Central School, attended SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta, and had been living in Owego in recent years.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.

ONEONTA – Hazel Ulm Wayman, 75, who operated Hannalore Boarding, a grooming and breeding kennel on Winney Hill Road for more than 20 years, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, in Rochester.
She had lived in Oneonta and West Palm Beach, Fla.
She was born Nov. 8, 1934, in Brooklyn, the daughter of Richard and Hazel (Van Ness) Fitte.
She was married to Frank W. Ulm on July 16, 1955, in Brooklyn, and immediately moved to Oneonta. Frank died Jan. 19, 1974. On Oct. 28, 1983, she married Dr. John M. Wayman in the First Presbyterian Church in Oneonta.
At Hannalore Boarding, Hazel bred show dogs and sold them in 48 states, Canada and Europe. She was licensed by the American Kennel Club as a professional show dog handler.
Hazel was a columnist and had articles printed in such international dog magazines as the Basenji Dog of America, Basenji Club of Canada, Dog World Magazine and the German Shepherd Review. She was guest speaker at Dog Symposiums held in Nebraska and Canada.
She served as president of the Del-Otse-Nango Kennel Club, on the board of directors of Susquehanna SPCA, Cooperstown, as president of Oneonta Chapter of Parents without Partners, and was a member of the Federated Garden Club.
Locally, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and, in Florida, of the Royal Palm Presbyterian Church.
She worked for the state police Troop C before her marriage to Dr. Wayman.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Joseph W. Ulm; daughter, Pat Ulm-Mazer (Steve Mazer); stepdaughters Cyndy Duffy, Nancy Wayman, Wendy (Skip) Willbach, Amy West (fiance, Patrick Deptula); sisters, Edna Grace Kennedy, Consuelo Okdie (Joseph); brother, Frederick E. Fitte (Terry); nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be in the spring. Arrangements by Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.

ONEONTA – One of the city’s most revered citizens, Ani P. Colone, 97, president of the Oneonta School and BOCES boards for many years, passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, at Fox Hospital.
Ani was born on Dec. 17, 1912, in Oneonta, the son of Frank and Lucia (Valentini) Colone. He was first married to Eva Jerome, who passed away in 1952. He then married Catherine Lynch in 1956; she passed away in 1987.
Ani was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Oneonta.
He graduated from Oneonta High School with high honors. He studied architecture at RPI, ranking sixth in his class. He also attended Albany Law School and Hartwick College.
Ani Served on the city school board for 17 years. He was instrumental in building Oneonta’s modern school system, including construction of five new buildings.
An advocate of quality public education, Ani was a leader in developing BOCES, serving as a board member and president. He was Area 8 representative to the state School Board Association.
Involved in scouting, he served on the Eagle Board of Review for many years and received the coveted Silver Beaver Award.
He was active in the Sixth Ward Boosters Club, the Sixth Ward Athletic Club, the Italian-American Club, and the Oneonta Youth Board.
A baseball fan, he attended every Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for 50 years. And he was a recipient of the SUNY Oneonta Distinguished Citizen Award.
Ani cherished his American heritage and was a speaker to many Memorial Day ceremonies both in Oneonta and Cooperstown.
For 36 years, Ani was employed as a case worker for Otsego County Social Services. For 50 years, he worked parttime in Bresee’s Men’s shop, where he was noted for trademarked boutonnière and his welcoming personality.
Survivors include four children, Frank Colone and his wife, Peggy, of Saratoga Springs, Albert Colone and his wife, Diana, of Oneonta, Lucia Colone of Cooperstown, and Patrick Colone of Oneonta; his five grandchildren, Paul Colone, Lisa Colone, Christina Colone, Luke Colone and Gregory Colone; and two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Julia Colone.
Also, his brother, Enio Colone and his wife, Dolores, of Oneonta, several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Alvira Colone, Ida Valensisi, Lisa Romiti and Ethel Sieder, and by his brother, Albert (Eddigate) Colone.
Calling hours were 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial was planned at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at St. Mary’s Parish Center with the Very Rev. John Burns, officiating. Interment will be in the spring in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are with Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.

ONEONTA – Clyde E. Hungerford, 81, a D&H retiree, passed away Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at his home in Vero Beach, Fla.
The son of Ernest and Ina (Edwards) Hungerford, he was born June 6, 1928, in Oneonta.
He attended city schools, then served in the National Guard from 1949 to 1959. He was a self-employed truck driver and later a machinist for the D&H Railroad, retiring in 1984.
He enjoyed tinkering, inventing, and was an avid woodsman and woodworker.
Clyde is survived by his wife of 51 years, Minnie Hungerford of Cooperstown Junction; four children, Debra Shirt and her husband, Timothy, of Woodbridge, Va., Tom Hungerford of Woodbridge, Va., Teresa Glavin and her husband, Shawn-Michael, of Maryland, and Randy and his wife, Meg, of East Meredith; his grandchildren, Megan, Travis, Jonathon and Joshua Shirt, Sienna-Morgan and Shane-Isabella Glavin, Morgan, Jillian and Jesse Hungerford.
He is also survived by his siblings, Esther LeDoux, Kenneth Hungerford, Lionel Hungerford and Sarah Avery.
He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Charlie Hungerford; and sister, Laura Minutolo.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held in New York in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice House in memory of Clyde at 901 37th Street, Vero Beach, FL, 32960. Additional condolences can be sent to Minnie at Horizon Bay, 2425 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

ONEONTA – Craig H. Townsend, 67, a retired social worker and former Vista volunteer, passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at his home after a courageous battle with prostate cancer.
He was born Nov. 23, 1942, in Oneonta, the son of Albert and Ernestine (Hyde) Townsend, and graduated from OHS and SUNY Oneonta.
He then joined Vista (Volunteers in Service to America) and moved out West where he became leader for the rural Missouri area.
In the early 1970s, he joined the Otsego County Department of Social Services as a case worker, later retiring from the Broome Developmental Services.
A devoted husband and father, he also an avid Yankee fan and enjoyed running. He was proud to complete the Pit Run and a lap around Otsego Lake.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia (Otvos) Townsend, whom he married on June 6, 1981, in Oneonta; his daughter, Maura Townsend, and her fiance, Sean Buckley, of Philadelphia; three nieces, Rachael Geelan, Amy Maurer and Sheri Cilano; his brother-in-law, Tracy Reynolds; his father’s widow, Betty Townsend; a grandniece, a grandnephew and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Reynolds.
A memorial mass was Wednesday, Dec. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oneonta, with the Rev. Joseph Benintende, pastor, as celebrant. Inurnment was in Mount Calvary Cemetery Columbium.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Southern New York Region, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY 13790 or the Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta, was in charge of arrangements.

COOPERSTOWN – Clyde S. “Beck” Becker Jr., 89, a native of Cooperstown and World War II veteran who worked for New York Telephone Co. in Oneonta, died Monday Nov. 30, 2009, at Bassett Hospital, following a short illness.
Beck was born July 21, 1920, the son of Clyde Shepard Becker Sr. and Laura (Green) Becker. He graduated from Cooperstown High School, Class of 1940, and thereafter from the Manlius Military Academy.
He was employed by the National Commercial Bank & Trust Co. of Albany for about a year before he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He took basic training in Atlantic City, N.J., where he completed Radio School and Control Tower School and was assigned to the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron 375th Group.
Serving in the South Pacific as a radio operator aboard C-46 and C-47s, he took part in five campaigns and received two Air Medals, one with an oak leaf cluster, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his combat service. He was discharged in June 1945.
After his return to Cooperstown, he married Harriet A. Morgan, a high school friend (CCS Class of 1941), on May 31, 1947, in Cooperstown Presbyterian Church. They had four children, all of whom survive: Gail (Joseph) Monington of Cooperstown, John Becker of Schenectady, Laura (Tom) Greene of West Oneonta and Sue (Paris) Reidhead of Hartwick.
Other survivors include nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many of whom referred to him affectionately as “papa,” a number of nieces, nephews and cousins; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Ruth Becker of Pittsburgh, and by his special friend, Aline Heller and her family of Cooperstown.
Beck worked for New York Telephone, first in Cooperstown, then in Cherry Valley and Oneonta. He retired on Dec. 31, 1979, and in 1986 returned to Cooperstown.
He was a member and past president of the Cherry Valley Rotary Club, a member of Otsego Lodge #138 F&AM, VFW Post 7128 of Cooperstown, the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Mohican Club.

ONEONTA – Phillip Edwin Hobb, 63, of Oneonta, who spent his career at a railroad electrician, passed away at his home on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, with his family by his side.
He was born on Jan. 25, 1946, in Syracuse, to John W. Hobb Sr. and Esther M. (Schaff) Hobb.
Phillip served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
He was an electrician for New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail and CSX Railroads. He was a member of and served as chairman for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 770.
He was an avid Yankees fan and loved baseball in general, spending many happy hours at Damaschke Field.
Phillip is survived by his wife, Rolana Starr Hobb of Oneonta; his children, Wendy Michelle Vienneau (John) of Rensselaer, Michael Adam Hobb (Alisa) of Albany County, Kendra Monique Baker (Frederic) of Coxsackie, and Kimberly Michelle Lucas of Denver, Colo.; his grandchildren, Kris Alan Ward Jr., Matthew Shane Ward and Jerek Brian Hobb; brothers, John W. Hobb Jr., Richard Hobb, and Dennis Hobb; a sister, Mary (Hobb) Clark; many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Phillip was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Sandra Leigh (Royce) Hobb and his grandson, Kristopher Phillip Ward.
A private service will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care.
The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

PORTLANDVILLE – Eileen M. Damon, longtime proprietor of Blue Bonnet Antiques with her late husband, Steven, died Friday morning, Nov. 13, 2009, at Hampshire House Assisted Living Home in Oneonta, following a long battle with congestive heart failure. She was 87.
She was born Eileen Marie Noon on April 14, 1922, in Brooklyn, a daughter of William and Emma (Hamilton) Noon.
She married Steven N. Damon Jan. 24, 1954, in a ceremony at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan.
In 1967, Steve and Eileen purchased an old mill in Portlandville on the banks of the Susquehanna River. In 1970, they also bought a home on Lake Street, Cooperstown, and spent endless hours on weekends and in the summers renovating the mill.
They soon moved Blue Bonnet Antiques, which they had been running on Long Island since the late ‘50s, to the mill, and moved permanently to Portlandville in 1981.
In later years, Eileen and Steve spent winter months at their home on St. Martin in the Caribbean.
After her husband died in November 2006, Mrs. Damon moved in with her daughter Lori and family in nearby Milford.
Due to deteriorating health, she spent the past year of her life with the exceptional people at the Hampshire House where she was adored by all.
Eileen is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Donna McQuillen and her husband, J.C. George, of Austin, Texas, and Mrs. Lori Henry and her husband, Ted, of Milford; one step-son, Wayne Rodier and his wife, Matoka, of Saratoga Springs; two beloved granddaughters, Megan and Krista of Milford; and one special daughter, Louann Liner of Milford.
She followed her husband of 52 years by three years to the day: He passed away Nov. 13, 2006.
Burial will be private in Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta NY 13820 or the Lions Club of Cooperstown, P.O. Box 2, Cooperstown, NY 13326-0002.
Arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


ONEONTA – Martin L. Finch, 84, of Oneonta, a veteran who witnessed D-Day, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Fox Memorial Hospital.
He was born April 3, 1925, in Oneonta, the son of the late Mark W. and Lela Belle (Knapp) Finch.
In 1943, Martin enlisted in the Navy. He trained at Sampson Naval Base and proudly served his country during World War II as a diesel mechanic. He witnessed the invasion of Normandy from the reserve post on the USS Catamount and received a certificate of recognition from the Consulate of France for the part he played in the battles for the Liberation of France. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
After returning from the Navy, Martin graduated from Oneonta High School class of 1948. He then attended and graduated from Delhi Agricultural and Technical School in 1952. He also attended Utica College of Syracuse University.
Martin married Freda Wells, who predeceased him. He later married Frances Mary Berner, to whom he has been married to for over 50 years.
By trade, Martin was a carpenter and building contractor. He worked for Neil R. Neilson Contracting for over 25 years. In 1979, he started Finch Contracting and did most of his work at Bassett Hospital for over 15 years.
You could always find Martin up in the barn puttering on some construction project.

ONEONTA – Muriel Jeffrey went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Family and friends were in attendance at her passing.
Muriel was born in Binghamton, the daughter of Emmett and Ruth Shreckengast. She was raised in Kirkwood, received an associate's degree in food services and nutrition from Delhi Agriculture and Technical College in 1940.
She married Howard E. Jeffrey on Sept. 14, 1941, who died in 1981.
Muriel was a longtime resident of Nader Towers, and an active member of the River Street Baptist Church. She volunteered for the Youth for Christ Ministries, Baptist Missionary Society and sent special greeting cards to friends and family for years.
Muriel enjoyed her pinochle card club, watching baseball, visiting family and traveling with her friends.
Muriel is survived by her children, Mary J. Lewis and her husband, Stephen of Sequim, Wash., Ronald L. Jeffrey and his wife, Jean of Marietta, and Adelaide Van Buren and her husband, Bruce of Virginia Beach, Va.; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Lewis of Olympia, Wash., Holly Lewis of Nashville, Ind., and Steven Jeffrey of Liverpool; and three great-grandchildren, Mitchell Lewis, Emilee Lyn and Regan Jeffrey.
A memorial celebration of Muriel's life journey will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at River Street Baptist Church, 133 River St., Oneonta. Reception to follow, location to be announced.
There will no interment as Muriel generously donated her body to Albany Medical College for education and study.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the Virginia Beach and Catskill Area Hospice for their thoughtful care and family support.
Memorial donations may be made to River Street Baptist Church (Van Fund), 133 River St., Oneonta, NY 13820, Central New York Youth for Christ, P.O. Box 362, Oneonta, NY 13820 or Castskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
To light a candle or send an online condolence please visit www. bookhoutfuneralhome. com.

ONEONTA – Barbara A. Isbell, a former Air Force nurse who was active in the Fox Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, passed away at Otsego Manor Cooperstown on Oct. 23, 2009. She was 79.
She was born on Nov. 6, 1929, to Rhea (Brais) and Edward Smith, in Ontario, Canada.
While serving in the Air Force as a first lieutenant, specialist surgical nurse and flight registered nurse, she met and married Frank M. Isbell in 1953 while stationed in Greenville, S.C. Her military commitment extended in the Reserves until 1955.
She was a dedicated volunteer and member the Fox Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, providing special meals to the lunch bar, working in the gift shop, and raising money for much-needed equipment and modernization of various departments.
She was active in St. Mary’s Church, Meals on Wheels and the Oneonta Country Club, where she won many tournaments in her later years.
Barbara was an expert knitter and embraced all forms of textile art. She shared this talent and created memorable banners, vestments and prizes for all the organizations she was involved with.
She was an accomplished chef, from soufflés to Coquilles Saint Jacque. Barbara loved to entertain and worked tirelessly to prepare crudités and canapés.
Survivors include her sister, Bernice of Florence, Mass.; her three children, Michael, Susanna and Lori; her six beloved grandchildren, Shannon, Kristen, Bryan, Breanna, Corey and Sofia, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
As a grandmother, she was “Goody” because she always had goodies to share as well as hugs and kisses.
She was predeceased by her husband, in October 2008, and also by her parents, her brother-in-law, Joseph Isbell of Prairie Village, Kansas, and her sister-
in-law Linda Eaves-Isbell of Memphis, Tenn.
The funeral was Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, followed by a graveside ceremony with full military honors at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Memorial donations may be made to Otsego Manor, 128 Phoenix Mills Cross Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Fox Hospital Foundation, One FoxCare Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.

FRANKLIN – Nancy E. (Scarr) Thompson, 76, of Franklin, passed away Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at the Albany Medical Center.
Nancy was born on July 10, 1933, in New York City, the daughter of Henry and Harriet (Salinger) Scarr. She married John O. Thompson on April 26, 1952.
A graduate of SUNY Oneonta, she retired in 1992 from Fox Hospital, where she was a registered nurse. Previously, she was at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
Nancy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Oneonta. She was also a member of the Susquehanna Quilters, and the Sun Bonnet Sue Quilters of Vero Beach, Fla.
Survivors include her husband of 57 years; her children, Glenn Thompson and his wife Jane, of Sloatsburg, Janet Thomas and her husband Francis, of Sunderland, Mass., Jean Downin and her husband Dale, of Franklin, and Heather Hotaling and her husband Glenn, of Oneonta.
Also, eight grandchildren, Kurt Thomas, Lauren Thompson, Carley Thompson, Kelley Hotaling, Megan Hotaling, Natalie Downin, Troy Thompson and Haley Downin; her brother Robert Scarr and his wife Margaret, of West Lake, Ohio, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by a son, Kenneth R.Thompson.
A funeral service was Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Mark Montfort, pastor, officiating. Interment followed in Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Franklin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.

ONEONTA – Ronald Pidgeon, 83, a retired officer in the city Fire Department, passed away on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the Oneonta Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
He was born Dec. 22, 1925, in Oneonta, the son of Peter and Carrie (Richards) Pidgeon. When Ron was a young boy, his father died in an accident on the D&H Railroad. His mother then married John Emmett, who raised him.
Ron was a Navy veteran, serving during World War II.
He married Thelma Ferguson on Aug. 14, 1948, at the Main Street Baptist Church in Oneonta.
Ron retired from the Oneonta City Fire Department as a captain in August 1983, after serving close to 30 years.
He was one of the founding members of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum in Roscoe. He was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed his summer fishing trips out West. He also liked to hunt.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 61 years; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Jean Emmett of South Edmeston and Gordon and Ann Emmett of Uniondale; nieces and nephews Lynn Emmett, Ronnie and wife, Laura Emmett, Shelly Emmett, Gary Emmett, Rebecca Emmett-Fraser, Joe Pidgeon, Marlene Pidgeon, Darlene Pidgeon-Lance, Gregory Molatch, Steven Molatch, Walter Molatch, Andy Molatch, Barbara Molatch-Yano, Dedria Cox, Shirlene Burnside, Dennis Pidgeon, Sam Pidgeon and Cherie Starling; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Gerald Pidgeon, and sister, Joyce Molatch.
Rev. Alex Smith, pastor of the Capital District International Church in Albany, officiated at the funeral Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta. Interment was in the Ouleout Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Residence Council of the Oneonta Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 330 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820.