U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Ann W. Smith
CUBA - Ann W. Smith, of 71 W. Main St., passed away Saturday (July 5, 2008) in the Highland Hospital in Rochester.
Mrs. Smith was born Dec. 31, 1939, in Cuba, and was a daughter of the late Ernest D. and Margaret Huntington Witter. On Dec. 26, 1958, in Cuba, she married Herbert C. Smith, who predeceased her Aug. 6, 2006.
Mrs. Smith taught at Cuba-Rushford Central School for 23 years, retiring in 2002. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Cuba. She especially enjoyed singing in the choir. Mrs. Smith was also a member of the local Red Hat Society. She continued to work with children during her retirement though the ACCORD After School Program.
Surviving are three daughters, Dawn L. Smith of Groton and twin daughters, Deanna L. Smith of Cuba and Dianna L. (Raymond) Shawl of Cuba; two stepgrandchildren; two step-great-granddaughters; a brother, David (Sandra) Witter of Auburn; six sisters, Ester (Harry) Hardman of Cuba, Ernestine (Cecil) Smith of Zephyrhills, Fla., Ruth Tarbox of Sanford; Dora Mullen of Burtonsville, Gertrude “Bunn” Harrer of Avon and Beth (Gordon) Slocum of Scottsville; an uncle, Charles Witter of Charlottesville; and an aunt, Dora Logue of Huntingdon, Pa.
Friends will be received from 10 a.m.-noon July 21 in the Cuba First Baptist Church, at which time a memorial service will be held. The Rev. Larry A. Poelma, Pastor, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cuba First Baptist Church or to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 24 Genesee Parkway, Cuba.
Gary A. Gray
BOLIVAR - Gary A. Gray, 62, of 135 N. Main St., passed away Monday (July 14, 2008) at his home following a lengthy illness.
Born Dec. 7, 1945, in Kittanning, Pa., he was the son of Walter and Alma Shaffer Gray. On Sept. 30, 1967, in Winchester, Va., he married the former Emily Wiles. Mrs. Gray survives.
Mr. Gray was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Vietnam War. He was employed by the Allegany ARC in Wellsville as a bus driver for the past nine years. He was a member of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Wellsville, a member of the Staff Sgt. Shawn Clemens Memorial AmVets Post No. 1, Cuba and a member of Christian Motorcyclist Association Twin Tiers Riders Chapter.
Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, Gary Gray Jr. “Pizon” of Brooklyn, Tony (Kristin) Gray of Bolivar and Stephanie Gilbert of Oak Harbor, Wash.; five grandchildren; three brothers, Frank (Marie) Gray of Apollo, Pa., Harry (Marge) Gray of Ford City, Pa. and Francis (Patty) Gray of Holiday, Fla.; one sister, Joyce Helzel of Turtlepoint, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Schaffner Funeral Home, Inc. in Bolivar. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home. Pastor Mike Brady of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church of Wellsville will officiate. Burial will be in Bowler Memorial Cemetery, Little Genesee. Members of the Shawn Clemens Memorial AmVets Post No. 1 will conduct graveside military honors.
Memorials would be appreciated by the family and may be made to the Bolivar Fire Department Ambulance Fund, American Cancer Society or the Christian Motorcyclist Association, P.O. Box 9, Hatfield, Ark., 71945.
PHYLLIS M. FLYNN
ELLISBURG, Pa. - Phyllis M. Flynn, loving wife and mother, 77, of Ellisburg, Pa., died Tuesday, (March 18, 2008).
Surviving are her husband, Jack; two daughters, Connie (Kenneth) Miller of Muncy and Robin (Boyd Jr.) Green of Wellsville, N.Y.; and two sisters, Marian Stilson of Gold and Edith Gill of Pittsburgh.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. Wednesday at the Olney Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ulysses, followed by a brief prayer service at 4 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 175 Pine St., Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701 or to the Genesee Volunteer Ambulance, Genesee, PA 16923.
Robert William Ellison
CHIEFLAND, Fla. - Robert William Ellison, 74, passed away at home Wednesday (March 26, 2008) in Chiefland, Fla.
He was born May 20, 1933, in Kill Buck, N.Y., to Delbert and Alice Ellison. He was part of the Chiefland community since 1992, moving here from Friendship, N.Y.
He attended church at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Chiefland. He was a member of the Early Ford Club and the Falcon Club of America. He owned a hotel and bowling alley in Friendship. He bought and sold used cars for many years. He was a proud sponsor of his grandsons go-cart racing team in Belfast, N.Y. He also loved to attend car shows.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Muriel Ellison of Chiefland; sons, Robert James Ellison of Chiefland and Randy William (Theresa) Ellison of Belfast; daughter, Romona (Dean) Hills of Live Oak; brother, James Delbert (Carolyn) Ellison of Howey-In-The-Hills; sisters, Mary Ann (Don) Temple of Chiefland, Nancy (Ed) Whitehead of Clermont and Mary Angela (Don) Dunbar of Genesee, Pa.; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Russell Ritter; and a dear friend, T.C. Griffin.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to a trust fund at Drummond Community Bank in the names of Christopher Ellison and Cruz Sanchez.
The family will hold a memorial service in Friendship in July 2008.
Arrangements are under the care of Knauff Funeral Home-Chiefland.
BEVERLY GRACE (Smith) BILLINGS
WELLSVILLE - Beverly Grace (Smith) Billings, 73, of 2133 Beech Hill Road, Wellsville passed away Sunday (March 23, 2008), peacefully at home.
Beverly was born in Bradford, Pa. on Feb. 6, 1935, the daughter of Guy and Grace Smith and attended the Eldred, Pa area schools.
On Dec. 7, 1952 in Eldred, she was married to Ronald Billings.
A very devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she lived most of her married life in the Hallsport area.
She worked at the Wellsville Highland Nursing Home for 25 years, was a member of the Yorks Corner Mennonite church and treasured her time spent with her family.
Surviving are four children, Ronald (Dawn) Billings Jr. of Independence, Shirley Billings of Wellsville, Rodney (Eva) Billings of Rexville and Robert (Jamie) Billings of Wellsville; grandchildren; Mandie (Michael) Cardon of Rochester, Kenneth (Amanda) Billings of South Carolina, Kyle (Jessica) Billings of England, Daniel, Dennis and Sylvia Billings of Rexville and Craig, Christopher, BaileaSue, Erin and Anthony Billings of Wellsville; great-grandchildren, Brooklin, Halie and Rylie Cardon of Rochester; two brothers, Daral (Sandra) Smith of Eldred, Gary (Faith) Smith of Addison; a sister, Sharon (Tom) Houghtaling of Wellsville; and a brother-in-law, Tom Hurrle of Eldred and many nieces and nephews.
Beverly was pre-deceased by her huband, Ronald, and her parents.
The family will receive callers from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Howard’s Funeral Home, 931 Maple Ave., Whitesville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Gene Miller officiating with committal services following at the Beech Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Howard’s Funeral Home of Whitesville,
Donald Francis Kane Sr.
HERKIMER - Donald Francis Kane, Sr., 95, of Henry Street, was called to Heaven Tuesday (Aug. 12, 2008). He was surrounded by loving family in Wellsville, who had been caring for him since he broke his hip in December.
Don was the son of Michael and Winifred Kane. He grew up in Ilion with his sister Marian (and Owen Roberts), who predeceased him. He married Helen McLaughlin in 1936 and they raised six children in the Herkimer house that had been built by Helen’s uncle. Helen passed away in 2006. Don and Helen were also predeceased by a son, Charles, in 1992.
Don proudly served his country in the Civilian Conservation Corps and in the Navy during WWII. He saw action in the South Pacific during the war, as he served on LST No. 857. Recently, he enjoyed visiting the monuments in Washington, D.C. with son Joseph and daughter-in-law Lucille and granddaughter Nona Kane.
Don worked for New York Central Railroad and also worked over 40 years at, and retired from, Remington Arms in Ilion. He also helped form the credit union at “The Arms,” serving as president and treasurer at the same time.
Don was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church on Bellinger Street and enjoyed being able to walk to Mass there.
Don is survived by his sons Joseph (Lucille) Kane of Geneseo, James Kane of Rochester and Donald (Karen) Kane of Wellsville, his daughters, Margaret (John) Carney of Oneonta and Kathleen (Gary) Todd of Wilmington, Del.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews; and many friends in the Mohawk Valley, including treasured neighbors who were very helpful to him in recent years.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Bellinger Street, Herkimer, with Father Mark Cunningham officiating.
Donations in Don’s name may be made to St. Francis de Sales Church, Toys for Tots, or to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements in Wellsville were made by the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, Inc.
