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Mary Ann Ballard
MORRIS — Mary Ann Ballard, 58, of Morris went to be our Lord on Friday, Nov. 19, 2004.
She was born March 16, 1946, in Sidney, the daughter of Paul and Marjorie (Perkins) Alger.
Mary Ann married Richard C. Ballard of Vega in 1966. They moved to Morris in 1967 and resided there ever since.
She was a homemaker and wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of the Butternut Valley Grange. She was also a member of the state and national granges and was very active with the Otsego County Fair as an assistant superintendent of Floral Hall.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Richard Ballard Sr. of Morris; her children, Kenneth Ballard of Morris, Richard Ballard and wife Dawn of Mount Upton, John Ballard and wife Lois of Pittsfield, Marlinda Card and husband Harold of Morris; a brother, James Alger and his wife, Anna, of Walton. Mary Ann was also blessed with four grandchildren, Mackenzie Ballard, Joseph Card, Brandon Card and Alex Hartwell. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Morris United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ann Blair and the Rev. Ron Fralick officiating. A reception to remember Mary Ann will follow the service downstairs at the church.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to donate to the Ballard family in her memory.
Funeral arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.
Daniel F. Kissane
ONEONTA — Daniel Ferdinand Kissane, 41, of Oneonta died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, in Oneonta while playing basketball with friends.
Dan was born May 23, 1963, in Brooklyn, the son of James and Carol (Tietjen) Kissane. He and his family moved to Delhi in 1970. He attended Delaware Academy until the family moved to California in 1980.
After receiving his bachelor’s in English literature from Sonoma State University in California, Dan earned his secondary teaching credential at Eastern Oregon State College. In 1995, he graduated with distinction from Louisiana State University with a master’s of library and information science, and in 1997 received his master’s in educational technology from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, La.
From 1997 to the present, Dan was employed by the State University College at Oneonta (SUCO) first as a systems librarian and most recently as a reference and instructional librarian.
Dan loved sports, as a spectator, participant and referee. He had a special fondness for the Bulldogs, the Delaware Academy football team.
He delighted in camping, music festivals, discussion, discussion and discussion.
His quick wit and offbeat humor permeated his world and created lasting memories for all who knew and loved him.
Dan introduced books to the children in his family. His infectious passion for reading and learning spread rapidly. He was a writer with recently published articles and poems.
He loved sharing his home with his plants and animals, particularly his cat, Zurg, and his long-devoted dog, Ali. His kind and loving heart will be missed.
Dan is survived by his mother, Carol Kissane Little, of Delhi, and sisters, Eileen and Mike Moneta of Charlotte, N.C.; Michael Dianne and Rich Deike of Cotati, Calif.; Maureen Kissane of Syracuse, and Patricia and Duncan Reed of Monroe, N.C.; stepbrothers Jeffrey Little of California and Bradley Little of Brownsville, Ind.; stepsister, Kim Hoover of Camp Hill, Pa.; nieces, Marley and Greer Moneta, and Molly Reed; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was predeceased by his father, James Kissane, and stepfather, Fred Little.
Friends are invited to the calling hours from 7 to 9 p.m. today, Nov. 22, 2004, at the MacArthur Funeral Home, Delhi
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at the DeLancey Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Bert More officiating.
Contributions in Dan’s memory may be made to the Humane Society of Central Delaware County, P.O. Box 88, NY 13753.
Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home of Delhi.
Iva Brownell
LAURENS — Iva Sullivan Brownell, 92, of Laurens, passed away Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at the Oneonta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born at home in Mount Vision, the daughter of George and Marie (Leonard) Sullivan.
Iva graduated from Laurens Central School in 1929 and the Unadilla Training Class for Teachers in 1930. She graduated from the Oneonta Normal School in 1934 and the State University College at Oneonta in 1960.
She began teaching at 18 in Colliersville. She taught five years in Rockdale, the last two years as principal of the school. She taught fifth grade in Laurens for 21 years and retired in 1974.
Iva attended the Laurens Presbyterian Church and was very active in the Presbyterian Women’s Group, serving as chairman for many years. She was a member of the Otsego County Retired Teachers Association and the Laurens Golden Age Senior Citizens group. She was awarded the Valley Forge Medal and Citation in 1971 for living and teaching the American Way of Life. In 1972, she was selected as one of the outstanding teachers of America.
She had teaching articles published, as well as poems and stories for children. She wrote articles for "Country Folks" magazine in Palatine Bridge.
Other interests included volunteering at the Laurens library, crafts, reading and spending time with the family and friends.
Surviving are her daughter, Janice Jenner, and her husband, Allen, of Baldwinsville and her son, James Brownell, and his wife, Ruth, of Laurens; seven grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; her brother, Mardon Sullivan, of Watertown; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Iva was predeceased by her husband, Ward Brownell, in 1978 and her son, John Brownell, in 1995; her sister, Marie Van Wagner, Doris Vroman, Margaret Hotaling and Evelyn Roberts; and her brothers, Donnell, Fred, Herman, Robert and Bert Sullivan.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Harry Myers officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 22, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to either the Laurens Presbyterian Church, Laurens, NY 13796 or to the Laurens Fire Department, Laurens, NY 13796, in loving memory of Iva Sullivan Brownell.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Mildred Bassett
ONEONTA — A service to celebrate the life of Mildred Avis Coats Bassett will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, in the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 1 Center St., Oneonta.
Mildred died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, at 91, at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home. She was formerly of 33 Cedar St., Oneonta.
She was born Nov. 23, 1912, in New Berlin, the daughter of Sidney S. and Maude Etta (Allen) Coats.
Mildred was the valedictorian of her Class of 1929. She graduated from Cornell University in 1933 and then Columbia University Library School in 1934. She worked at Columbia and at Scarsdale Public Library. She moved to Brooklyn and worked as a children’s librarian at several branches of the Brooklyn Public Library.
Mildred met her husband, Allen Boykin Bassett, at the St. George Residential Hotel in Brooklyn. They were married on Oct. 11, 1941. They resided in Brooklyn until moving to New Berlin in 1962. After moving to New Berlin, Mildred was the school librarian for two years and then in Oneonta she worked as a reference librarian and then the serials librarian at Hartwick College while Allen commuted on weekends from New York City. Allen subsequently retired from his job in New York City and Mildred retired from Hartwick College in May of 1977.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Lutheran Church of the Atonement of Oneonta.
She is survived by two daughters and a stepdaughter, Carolyn and Roger France of West Oneonta, Emily Louise Bassett of Boston and Barbara Allen Bassett of Philadelphia; two granddaughters, Kristin Emily France of Durham, N.C., and Karin Alaine France of Astoria, Queens.
Mildred was predeceased by her husband, Allen Boykin Bassett, on Feb. 1, 1996, and her brother, Frederick Allen Coats, in the 1920s.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate Chapter, P.O. Box 23746, Rochester, NY 14692-3746, in loving memory of Mildred C. Bassett.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Marylee `Lee’ Simon
GILBERTSVILLE — Marylee "Lee" Simon, 58, of Gilbertsville passed away Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, after a long illness.
She was born Dec. 25, 1945, in Providence, R.I., the daughter of Clinton and Mary Jane (Harlicker) Sperry. She married Horst Simon on July 4, 1984, in Duxbury ,Mass.
Lee was a homemaker in her own home, moving to Gilbertsville in 1993 from Ithaca. She was very active in the Gilbertsville community, having served on the board of trustees of the Village Improvement Society and serving as treasurer of the Cub Scouts.
She is survived by her husband, Horst Simon, of Gilbertsville, her son, Peter Simon, her daughter, Lindsay Simon, her mother, Mary Jane Sperry of Athol, Mass., two brothers, Steve Sperry of Rochester, Mass., and Toby Sperry of Jaffery, N.H., and a sister, Lisa Rice of Hempstead, N.H. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, from the Gilbertsville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Randolph Palada officiating.
Friends may call at the Johnston Funeral Home, 60 Broad St. in Morris, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, when the family will be present.
Burial will be in the Brookside Cemetery, Gilbertsville.
"You came as a gift on Christmas Day. A gift to your family first ... a gift to us many years later. You always will be a gift to anyone who has ever known you. But a life is only a gift on loan, as so many of us know so well. You spent your time here, and spent it well. And this morning your body went back ... your soul, however, is a gift that will always be with us."
Funeral arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.
Esther S. Taylor
ZEHYRHILLS, Fla — Esther S. Taylor of Zehyrhills, Fla., and formerly of Otego, went to be with the Lord and reunited with her husband of 60 years, Ivan (Bill) Taylor.
She is survived by her daughter, Claudia Woodard, of New Berlin; her son, Ted Taylor, of Afton; grandson, Rodney Earl and his wife, Mary, and two great grandsons, Ezra and Ian of Guilford, a grandson, Todd Woodard and his wife, Liz, and two great-grandsons, Robert and Matthew of Franklin. Also, her sister-in-law, Norma and her husband, Tony; her niece, Mary and her husband, Skip, all of Tennessee, and a nephew, Stanley and his wife, Bobbie, of Mississippi.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004, in the Bookhout Funeral Home, 34 River St., Otego.
There will be no calling hours.
The family wishes to sincerely thank the wonderful people at Chase Memorial Nursing Home for helping to make Esther’s final journey a caring and peaceful one.
Flowers would be welcome, or donations could be made to the Chase Memorial Nursing Home, New Berlin, N.Y 13411 in loving memory of Esther S. Taylor.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Otego.
Frances Signorelli
GILBOA — Frances B. Signorelli, 80, of Gilboa, formerly of Staten Island, died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Robinson Terrace, Stamford.
She was born Dec. 17, 1923, in Brooklyn, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Ragone) Armando.
Frances was a waitress in New York City for more than 45 years. After retiring, she enjoyed being with her friends in Staten Island and the Summit, Middleburgh and Cobleskill senior citizens clubs. She loved going on trips with them and attending parties and dinners. For 15 years, she enjoyed the company of her beloved cat, Whitey.
She was the mother of Mary Signorelli of Gilboa; grandmother of Laura Anne and Mel Pynne of Brooklyn, and Jennifer and Jeffrey LaPointe of Staten Island; great-grandmother of Christine Elizabeth Pynn, Thomas Gregory Pynn, Stephanie Marie LaPointe, Kelly Ann LaPointe and Matthew Ryan LaPointe; loving sister of Rose Fenamore of Clearwater, Fla., and John Armando of Augusta, Ga.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at the Miller Funeral Home in Roxbury.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Stamford, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Stamford.
Funeral arrangements are by the Miller Funeral Home, Roxbury.
William Dickerson
MOUNT UPTON — William Wade Dickerson, 57, of Mount Upton passed away Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, after a short illness.
He was born Oct. 8, 1947 in Long Branch, N.J., the son of the late James A. and Edith (Chaffin) Dickerson. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. Billy was married to Cheryl DiGiambattista on July 16, 1977 in Keyport, N.J.
He had been a 20-year resident of Mount Upton and was employed as a bricklayer with BAC Local no. 3 of Binghamton.
Billy is survived by his wife, Cheryl Dickerson of Mount Upton, his son, Wade Dickerson, and daughter, Jillian Dickerson, both of Mount Upton; his brothers, James H. Dickerson of Mount Upton and Wallace V. Dickerson of Matawan, N.J.; and his sisters, Margie Ann Volker of Wickatunk, N.J., and Peggy Lou Glazer of Port Richey, Fla. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and co-workers.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral services will be at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Funeral arrangements are by the Westcott Funeral Home Inc., 123 Main St., Unadilla, NY, under the direction of James S. Westcott and James C. Magee, funeral directors.
Elisabeth Taylor Dockstader
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Elisabeth Taylor Dockstader, 88, of Englewood, Fla., and formerly of Oneonta died Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004, at Englewood Community Hospital, Englewood, Fla.
Born May 28, 1916, in Oneonta, she had been a resident of Charlotte County for 18 years. Before moving to Florida, she lived in Gloversville for 40 years. She graduated from Oneonta Normal School and retired from Perth Central School in New York in 1973 after 13 years as an elementary school teacher. She was an associate member of the Englewood United Methodist Church. While living in Oneonta, she was a member of the First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Donald H. Dockstader of Englewood, Fla.; two daughters, Donna Monsen of St. James and Ann Shaw of Titusville, Fla.; two sons, Garth Dockstader of Lusby, Md., and Glenn Dockstader of Watervliet; one sister, Marjorie VanAuken of Bloomington, Ind.; 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours.
Funera1 services will be at noon Friday, Nov. 26, at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta, with the Rev. William Lang Pastor of the First Baptist Church officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Frances Signorelli
GILBOA — Frances B. Signorelli, 80, of Gilboa, formerly of Staten Island, died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Robinson Terrace, Stamford.
She was born Dec. 17, 1923, in Brooklyn, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Ragone) Armando.
Frances was a waitress in New York City for more than 45 years. After retiring, she enjoyed being with her friends in Staten Island and the Summit, Middleburgh and Cobleskill senior citizens clubs. She loved going on trips with them and attending parties and dinners. For 15 years, she enjoyed the company of her beloved cat, Whitey.
She was the mother of Mary Signorelli of Gilboa; grandmother of Laura Anne and Mel Pynn of Brooklyn and Jennifer and Jeffrey LaPointe of Staten Island; great-grandmother of Christine Elizabeth Pynn, Thomas Gregory Pynn, Stephanie Marie LaPointe, Kelly Ann LaPointe and Matthew Ryan LaPointe; and loving sister of Rose Fenamore of Clearwater, Fla., and John Armando of Augusta, Ga.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at the Miller Funeral Home in Roxbury.
There will be a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Stamford, with the Rev. Michael Cournoyer as celebrant. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Stamford.
Heartfelt thanks to Rosemary and John Carlson of Summit and to the staff at Robinson Terrace for their loving and professional care.
Contributions may be made in memory of Frances B. Signorelli to the Robinson Terrace Quality of Life Fund, Box 251, Harper Street, Stamford, NY 12167.
Funeral arrangements are by the Miller Funeral Home, Roxbury.
Wayne M. Swantak
STAMFORD — Memorial services for Wayne Michael Swantak, 62, who passed away Monday, Nov. 8, 2004, will be held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church of Stamford at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, with the Rev. John Burns, priest of the Holy Cross Church of Morris, officiating.
Donations toward a trauma program may be made in his name to Norman Stein, 660 Harrison Ave., Third Floor, Boston, MA 02118.
Dorothy Dibble
EVANS MILLS — Dorothy Eileen (Whitney) Dibble, born May 10, 1922, in Roxbury, passed away Nov. 21, 2004, at CareOne, Holmdel, N.J.
She is survived by her children, Sandra Rundell and her husband, Jeffrey, of Chateaugay; Marilyn Williams and her husband, Robert, of Lincroft, N.J. and Ronald Dibble and his wife, Mimi, of Walworth; and grandchildren Rebecca Rundell, Paige, Laurie and Dana Williams and Lauren and Taryn Dibble.
She was predeceased by her parents, William and Esther Whitney, husband, Chauncey, sisters Gladys Whitney, Miriam Triolo and Wilma Craft and granddaughter, Pamela Rundell.
Dorothy graduated from Delhi Agricultural School and worked for the Draft Board in Delhi but spent most of her career as clerk in the Evans Mills Post Office until retirement.
There will be no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to Pam’s Fund at Chateaugay Central School, Chateaugay, N.Y., 12920 or Meridian Hospice, Neptune, N.J., 07753.
Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home, Hobart, N.Y.
Edward Decker
COOPERSTOWN — Edward "Graydon" Decker, 72, a lifelong resident of the Cooperstown/Hartwick area, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, doing what he enjoyed most, hunting with members of his family.
Graydon was born March 20, 1932, in Sanford, the son of Oscar and Emmagene (Parish) Decker.
He moved to the family farm on Nersesian Road in the Hartwick area as a child and attended the former Hartwick school system. After school, he worked as a carpenter for Phillips Construction Co. and also as a self-employed carpenter.
For the past twenty years, he worked for the Bruce Hall Corp. in Cooperstown, retiring from there two years ago.
He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish. He particularly enjoyed creating his own fishing lures. He was an accomplished gardener and took great pride in the many vegetables and flowers that he grew. Graydon was also a skilled bowler and during his life was a member of numerous bowling leagues. Most recently, he was bowling in the Milford Sunday night league. He enjoyed watching western movies, professional wrestling, and listening to country and western music. He often made copies of his favorite music for his children so they could share in his enjoyment.
Graydon is survived by his four children, Tressa Decker of Cooperstown, Carolyn Cade and her husband, George, of Cherry Valley, Raymond Decker and his wife, Anne Marie, of Piscataway, N.J. and Kathy Johnston and her husband, Wayne, of Illion; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brother, Roy Decker of Toddsville.
He was predeceased by his brother, Benjamin "Franklin" Decker of Burlington Flats.
Funeral services for Graydon will be held Saturday, Nov. 27 at 11 a.m. at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home on Pioneer St. in Cooperstown.
The family will be in attendance to receive friends Friday, Nov. 26, 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that those who so desire make contributions in Graydon’s memory to either the Cherry Valley Emergency Squad, Railroad Ave., Cherry Valley, N.Y. 13320 or to the Hartwick Fire Department, PO Box 86, Hartwick, N.Y. 13348.
Arrangements are by Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
