All Obituaries

Justin C. Lawyer, 81 of Rouses Point passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 5, 1937 in Richford, VT, the son of Foster and Mary Ester (Young) Lawyer.  He served in the U. S. Marine Corps.    He was a truck driver at Anchor Motor Freight and taught tractor trailer driving classes at CV-Tec, where he made several wonderful friends.  Justin also belonged to the Teamsters Union.  He was a Harley rider who loved...

After a long and fulfilling life, Lena M. Matott, formerly of Rouses Point, peacefully passed away at Meadowbrook Healthcare on November 29, 2018 with her family by her side. Lena was born at home in Champlain, NY on November 2, 1928 to Clarence and Lorraine Ashline.  She graduated from Rouses Point High School and soon after began her career of 43+ years at Ayerst Laboratories in 1946.  On May 27, 1950, Lena married Marcel Matott of Champlain.  They shared 27 happy years of...

Steven K. Burky, 51 of Champlain passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at his home.  He was born June 29, 1967 in Lancaster, PA, the son of Elton and Nancy Burky.  He attended Williams College in Williamstown, MA where he was a member of the choir club and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1989.  He was the organist at St. Mary’s Church in Champlain.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.  Steve loved spending time with his family. ...

MOOERS FORKS — Marie Evelyn (nee Smith) DeCoste, born March 22, 1943, passed away November 10, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by two sons, Miles J. DeCoste and his wife, Jayne, and Mark A. DeCoste and his wife, Gail; and a daughter, Sheri M. (DeCoste) King, and her husband, James. She was very proud of 10 grandchildren: Nicholas and Kayla DeCoste; Dorothy and her partner, Bill Ashline; Sandra (DeCoste) Bowman and her husband, Drew; Amanda (DeCoste) Rider and...

Shirley May (Brothers) George, 91, was born January 19, 1927 and entered into God’s heavenly kingdom November 1, 2018. She was born the daughter of Alfred B. Brothers and Agnas (Baker) Brothers.  She graduated from Chazy Central Rural School in 1945 and then continued her education at Our Lady of Victory Secretarial School.  She worked for the FBI in Washington D.C. until she relocated to southern California where she was employed at the City of Orange until her retirement...

Altona – Dorothy I. LaFave passed away on October 29, 2018 with her loving family by her side in the home she and her husband Bernard LaFave built and raised their four children.  Dorothy and Bernard spent 71 years of their life together, being married for 64 years on Nov. 13, 1954.    Dorothy was born on October 4, 1934 in a small house in Alder Bend, NY the daughter of Leo and Irene (Lashway) Bushey   Her favorite pastime was spending time with her...

Stella Ward Leaning, 95 of Essex passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018 at her home. She was born August 8, 1923 in Bolton Landing, NY the daughter of Warner and Alice (Wells) Ward.  She was a Rural Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.  She loved to knit and sew.  In her earlier years she taught sewing at the 4H club.  She spent a lot of her free time knitting sweaters, hats and gloves for many people. Left to cherish memories of Stella are her husband,...

Robert W. “Bill” Smith, 89 of Plattsburgh passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the CVPH Medical Center.  He was born February 13, 1929 in Plattsburgh, the son of Willard and Grace (Mitchell) Smith.  He was a civil engineer at Plattsburgh Air Force Base.  He enjoyed golfing, woodworking and he loved to read.  Bill served in the U. S. Navy.  He was a Mason and a Shriner. Robert was predeceased by his parents, an infant son, Michael; his wife,...

Crown Point-Jerry Allen Thatcher, 75 of Crown Point passed away Tuesday, October 23, 2018, ending his 17 year battle with cancer.  In the final hours of his life, he was surrounded by his best friends and family; Clifford “Skip” Ross, Leo Ross, Jeff Ross, Jane Thatcher, his daughter, Debbie Rafferty and his granddaughters, Tara Adkins and Amber Taylor. Jake was an avid sportsman who loved fishing and hunting deer and turkey with his pals and family.  He proudly wore...

Vernon L. Brooks, 88, of Mooers, N.Y., passed peacefully on October 22, 2018 at UVHN-CVPH, Plattsburgh, N.Y.      Born to LeRoy & Mary (Keating) Brooks of Malone, N.Y., he was raised in Malone & graduated from Franklin Academy. He went on to receive a degree from SUNY Potsdam State Teachers College in 1952. He also served in the Army for a few years & had fond memories of his time in Alaska spent documenting foreign Morse Code...