U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Stephen D. Duckett
Wellsville, NY
Stephen D. Duckett, age 57, of North Main Street, passed away on Sunday January 15, 2006. He was born on May 7, 1948 to W. Paul and Ruby (Prince) Duckett. On March 6, 1982 in Salamanca he married Lisa Feinberg who survives.Stevespent his youth in Washington, North Carolina and graduated from SandHillsCollege; he later attended WakeForestUniversity. He was proud to have served in the US Navy and with the Naval Reserve. Steve worked for Otis Eastern for many years and at one time owned Better Days in Wellsville. He was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals. He was a tremendous father, husband and was a caring and loving person. His memberships include the Elks Lodge of Wellsville and the Laborers Local 1358 of Elmira.Surviving in addition to his wife, are his son, Raymond Evan Duckett at home; his parents; a sister Carlotta [Kenneth] Stone: 3 brothers Bill [Margie] Duckett, Jimmy [Ann] Duckett and David [Sue] Duckett all of North Carolina; his mother-in-law Doris Feinberg of Salamanca; brother in law Andy NamHee] Feinberg of Arizona and a uncle in law Raymond Evans of Beverly Hills, CA and several nieces & nephews. Friends are invited to call on Saturday January 21st from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the First Congregational Church 289 N. Main Street in Wellsville; a memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm with Rev. William Jones presiding. Memorial suggestions include the SPCA serving Allegany County.
Patricia Perrin Robbins
Wellsville, NY
Patricia Perrin Robbins, 75, of 2879 Robbins Court, died on Sunday January 22, 2006 at the Wellsville Manor Care Center. She was born March 25, 1930 in Olean, the daughter of Benjamin and Edith (Robertson) Perrin. On March 27, 1948 in Wellsville she married Earl C. Robbins who survives. Pat was 1947 graduate of WellsvilleHigh School and for many years she knitted baby caps for the newborns at Jones Memorial Hospital. She was also a member of the pulmonary support group at Jones since 1994. Surviving in addition to her husband Earl, are 2 daughters, Denise (Michael) McKee of Girard, Ohio, Debra (Edward) Lancer of Hammondsport, a son, John E. Robbins of Fairport, a grandson, William (Karina) McKee and a beautiful great granddaughter, Megan Grace McKee of Columbia, Maryland, a sister, Ellen (Richard) Baker on Andover, a brother, Donald (Prudy) Perrin of Deland, FL, several nieces & nephews and special friends, Dean & Grace George and Jerry and Jan Woitas. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by a brother, Benjamin Perrin and a sister, Shirley Hull.
Francelia Jennie McGraw
Alfred, NY
Francelia Jennie McGraw, 81, of Alfred, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2006 at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville after a valiant struggle with an illness. A loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Francelia was born October 5, 1924 in the town of Willing, the daughter of Archie and Fannie (Clark) Foster. Francelia first attended a one room country schoolhouse in Willing, and then later graduated from WhitesvilleCentralHigh School in 1943. On June 30, 1945, she married Cobern E. McGraw who predeceased her on July 21, 2004. They lived in Wellsville where Fran worked at Betty’s Beauty Salon as a cosmetologist until 1949. Fran and Cobern then moved to Alfred where they started their family. While raising her children, she volunteered for many years as a 4H Leader and a Den Leader for the Cub Scouts. She also worked for the Home Bureau which is now the Cooperative Extension. She was an expert seamstress and furniture upholsterer and loved crafts of all kinds. Francelia worked side by side with her husband in their beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, and generously shared the fruits of their labors with others. Since 1978, she worked with her sister, Virginia, hand dipping chocolate candies at the Honey Pot in Alfred. Francelia is survived by her 5 children: Linda (Larry) Belanger of Spartanburg, S.C.; Cobern Eugene (Maritza) McGraw of Stratford,Conn.; Roger (Sandra) McGraw of Alfred; Larry McGraw of Alfred, and Connie McGraw of Hornell, 3 sisters, Virginia Bassett of Alfred; Dortha Harris of Whitesville; and Loie O’Dell of Bradford, Pa, 1 brother Eugene (Shirley) Foster of Whitesville. Fran is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Craig and Sean Belanger, Aaron, Andrew, Summer, Joshua, Connor and Lauren McGraw, 7 great-grandchildren, Lucas, Mia and Seth McGraw, Taylor Belanger, Brooke Bowman, James Taylor and Madison Belanger and several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased in addition to her husband of 59 years by her twin sister, Fannie McGill and 2 brothers, William Foster and Archie “Ed” Foster. Friends are invited to call on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will be Thursday January 26th at 1:00 pm at the AlfredSeventhDayBaptistChurch in Alfred NY with Rev. Patricia Bancroft presiding. Burial will be in AlfredRural Cemetery. Memorial suggestions include the Alfred Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Richard J.”Dick” Munkes
Wellsville, NY
Richard J.”Dick” Munkes, age 82, of 110 Pine Street, passed away on Wednesday January 25, 2006 at home after a long illness. He was born on March 5, 1923 in Wellsville to Henry J. and Norine Griffith Munkes and on November 2, 1946 in Wellsville he married Reta Nottingham who predeceased him on November 28, 1997. Dick was a life long resident of Wellsville and graduated from WellsvilleHigh School in 1941. He joined the US Navy because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and served until 1945 on the USS Eurayle in the South Pacific. He was very proud to have served in the navy during WWII. While in High School he worked for the former Scoville Browns. After the service he was a policeman for the Village of Wellsville, worked for Rauber’s Furniture and in 1950 he joined Air Preheater from where he retired in 1983. Dick was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, American Legion post 702 and was a life member of the Duke Hose Company all of Wellsville. In his younger days he enjoyed hunting and fishing and later, enjoyed traveling the country and attending USS Eurayle Association reunions. Survivors include a son David [Rose Mary] Munkes of Wellsville; 2 grandchildren Sophia Marie and Brian Richard Munkes of Wellsville; 2 step grand sons CPO Kurt Hoyer of Virginia Beach, VA., and Michael Hoyer of Jacksonville, FL.; a special long time friend Eleanor Howe of Wellsville.He was predeceased by a sister Mary Jean Fitzgerald Friends are invited to call today from 2-4 and 7-9 pm in the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. A prayer service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 am in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am in the Immaculate Conception Church with Monsignor Vincent Becker presiding. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery and memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.
Waneta M. ”Toby” Hardy
Allentown, NY
Waneta M. ”Toby” Hardy, 83, of 5616 State Route 417, passed away on Saturday January 28, 2006 in her home with her family. She was born on November 18, 1922 in Alma to George and Florence Terrette Quick. On March 1, 1946 in Alma she married Ralph Hardy who predeceased her on November 8, 1974. Waneta was a life long resident of Alma and has lived in the same home since 1946. She attended AlmaHillSchool later WellsvilleHigh School and was a housekeeper for several area families. Waneta was a member of the AlmaUnitedMethodistChurch and the Scio Sunshine Club. She enjoyed cooking for her family, especially Saturday nights, and was known as” Gramma Toby”to all who knew her. Survivors include: 2 daughters, Marge [Bruce] Chandler of Scio and Aleta [Virgil] Tenney of Lafayette, LA.; 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren; a brother Julius [Joan] Quick of Statesville, NC., 3 sisters, Marguerite Cornelius of Alma, Betty Childs of Portville and Lucille [Carl] Dickerson of Belmont as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son Neil Hardy, a grandson Randy Hardy, a step daughter Helen Marie Hardy and 2 sisters Mildred Lewis and Joyce Schoonover. A private family service will be held in the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville with Rev. Mary Abraham presiding. Burial will take place in Maple Lawn Cemetery in Bolivar and memorials may be made to either the Alma United Methodist Church or to The American Cancer Society.
Donald W. Perkins
Virginia Beach, VA
Donald W. Perkins, a former resident of Wellsville, passed away on Saturday January 28, 2006 in the Chesapeake Health Center in Chesapeake, VA. He was born on March 13, 1929 at home in Stannards to Ary and Flossie Bell Cornish Perkins. Donald spent his early years in Shinglehouse, PA. and lived most of adult years in Scio and Wellsville. He was employed for 34 years at the Air Preheater Company in Wellsville. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and had sang in the Wellsville Lions Club Minstrel Show. Survivors include: His former wife Leola Perkins of Scio; 2 daughters Dee Hasard of Browns Mills, NJ., Carol [Chief Petty Office Kurt E.] Hoyer of Virginia Beach, VA. and a son Rodney [Susan] Perkins of Browns Mills, NJ.; 2 brothers Lyle [Marilyn] Perkins of Wellsville and Robert [Faith] Perkins of Bolivar; 4 grandchildren, Gerry Harris, Shawn Kelher, Melissa Wiesman and Brent Aldrich; 8 great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews He was predeceased by 2 brothers; Dick and Howard Perkins and a sister Ruth Dailey Friends are invited to call in the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville on Wednesday from 11 am to 2 pm and which time a funeral service will be held. Deacon Frank Pasquale will preside with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to either the SPCA or to the Humane Society.
Dorothy Marie Johnston Tracy
Wellsville, NY
Dorothy Marie Johnston Tracy, 95, of 160 Seneca Street, died on Wednesday February 15, 2006 at the WellsvilleHighland Health Care Center. She was born February 22, 1910 in DuBois, PA, the daughter of Robert and Margaret (Garrity) Bolam. On February 2, 1928 in DuBois she married Marvin Johnston who predeceased her on August 11, 1960. On July 10, 1974 she married Charles Tracy who predeceased her on July 22, 1997. A long time Wellsville resident Marie spent her retirement years in FortCharlotte, Fl. She was a graduate of St. Catherine’s High School in DuBois and was an employee of Moore Turbine in Wellsville during WW II. She was a caterer for many years and her service ranged from running the concession stand at Tullar Field to organizing dinners in private homes to being one of the original owners of Johnston’s Hilltop in Richburg. She was avid and talented maker of crafts, quilts and ceramics, hobbies she passionately enjoyed. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church and a former member of the Women of the Moose. She is survived by 4 sons; Howard Johnston of Spring, TX, Robert (Ruth) Johnston of Laurel, MD, Clifford (Gloria) Johnston of Bolivar, William (Margaret) Johnston of Cuba Lake, 2 daughters; Dorothy Johnston of Buffalo, Judy (Robert) Gray Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA, 13 Grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, 1 brother; Joseph Bolam Jr. of Tuckerton, NJ and several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased in addition to her husbands by 5 brothers; Edward, Robert, William, Francis, and Joseph Bolam Sr., 3 sisters; Catherine Piper, Margaret Boring and Alice Reams. Friends are invited to a Memorial Mass on Saturday February 18th at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville with Rev. Dennis Mancuso as Celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. A reception will follow the Mass at the Bolivar Country Club. Memorial suggestions include the SPCA Serving Allegany County. Local arrangements are under the direction of the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc.*(There are 2 brothers named Joseph via adoption.)
Norma Mae Main
Wellsville, NY
Norma Mae Main, 93, of 88 Williams Avenue, passed away on Saturday February 18, 2006 at the WellsvilleHighland Health Care Center. She has resided in Wellsville since 1934. She was born December 14, 1912 in Crystal, PA, the daughter of Freeman O. and Lenora (Hardy) Canfield. Norma was the eldest living descendant of her great grandfather Asa Canfield, whom with his brother Caleb, were amongst some of the earliest settlers of McKean County, PA. She attended schools in Crystal and Shinglehouse, PA and high Schools in Friendship and Richburg, NY while residing with her brothers in Nile after her mother’s death in 1924. Her lifelong affection for children is fondly remembered and was a reflection of her care and devotion in helping raise many of her 16 nieces and nephews as a young teen. On November 21, 1932 in Richburg, she married Melvin Holley Main who predeceased her on February 14, 1986. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by a daughter, Beverly J. Willard in 2001, grandsons, Robert and Kevin Thomas in 1974 and great-grandson, Kevin Thompson 2001. Deceased siblings are sisters, Ruth Canfield in 1904, Hyla Blessing in 1988, Charlotte Johnson in 1992 and Canfield brothers, F. Neil in 1931, Glenn D. 1974 and Sherman O. in 1985. Norma is survived by 2 daughters, Shirley Howe of Clovis CA and Charlene Thomas of Rochester, NY, 2 sons, Richard (Elaine) Main of Chittenango, NY and Steven Main of Wellsville; grandchildren, Jean Anne Masswig of Orlando, FL, Neale Willard of Statesville, NC, Belinda Hritz of Garden City, ID, Lori Thompson of Paris, TN, Erica and Erin Main of Chittenango; seven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and thirteen nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to call on Thursday February 23rd from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Friday February 24th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will follow visitation at 2:00 pm in the funeral home with Rev. Robin George presiding. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial suggestions include the SPCA Serving Allegany County or the Brookside Wesleyan Church of Wellsville.
