EAST HERKIMER - Donald E. Collis, 75, of Willard Street, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, January 3, 2001, in Saint Luke’s Memorial Hospital Center, New Hartford, with his loving family at his side.
He was born on December 15, 1925 in Herkimer, son of the late Edward and Mildred Bower Collis.
A lifelong East Herkimer resident, he was a graduate of Herkimer High School.
An honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with Company A of the 41st Tank Battalion during the European Operation.
On April 23, 1949, he married Mary Elizabeth Davis in the First Baptist Church, Herkimer, a loving and devoted union of fifty years, until her passing on January 14, 2000.
After the war, Don joined the Village of Herkimer Fire Department.
He then went on to work for the Herkimer County Highway Department and, after 40 years, retired in 1980 as Foreman of Construction.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Herkimer, and at various times, served on the Board of Deacons, Board of Finance, Board of Trustees, a member of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department, East Herkimer Fish and Game Club.
He was involved with veterans groups and was a member of the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post #25 Mohawk, a member and Past Commander in 1974 and 1975 of the East Herkimer Memorial VFW Post #6531, and in 1979, served as commander of Herkimer County Council of Veteran of Foreign Wars.
Surviving him are two daughters and their husbands, Pamela and David C. McManus of East Herkimer, Cynthia and Richard Jones of Homer; a brother, William and his wife Edith Collis of Herkimer; a sister-in-law; Dena Collis of Little Falls, five grandchildren, Richard and Daniel Jones, David, Chad and James McManus; three great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Glenn Robert and Edward Collis and one sister, Mildred Broat.
Funeral service will be on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church, Herkimer.
The Reverend Jeremy L. Spencer, pastor, will officiate.
Interment with full military honors will take place later this spring in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will be present to receive relatives and friends on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. in FENNER FUNERAL HOME INC., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Memorial donations may be made to the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Members of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department and the Ladies Auxiliary are asked to meet at the funeral home on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. for services.
The membership of the East Herkimer Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 6531 are requested to meet at 7:15 PM Friday for their service.
Katherine T. Bailey
HERKIMER - Katherine T. Bailey, age 82, of Margaret Street, passed away on Saturday afternoon, June 2, 2001, in her home with her loving family at her side.
She was born on February 22, 1919 in Fairfield, daughter of the late Daniel and Katherine Kehoe Lynch.
A lifelong area resident, she was raised in Herkimer, where she graduated High School.
She furthered her education at the Eastern Academy of Laboratories.
On July 13, 1942, she married John Bailey in St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.
For twenty-five years, she was the Laboratory Supervisor at the Herkimer Memorial Hospital.
She retired in 1978.
She was a member of St Francis deSales Church Herkimer.
Surviving, besides her husband of fifty-eight years, John, are two brothers; John and his wife, Katherine Lynch, of Latham, Charles Lynch of Scottsdale, AZ, two sisters; Alice Curtis of Lexington, MA, Eileen Losier of Ilion, a daughter-in-law; Kay Bailey of Herkimer, five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by two sons; James Bailey on December 17, 1998 and Daniel Bailey on January 11, 2001.
A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11:00 AM in St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.
The Reverend Mark Cunningham will officiate.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Francis deSales Building Fund or the Sue Campagna Herkimer County Hospice.
Envelopes will be available at Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Daniel E. Bailey
HERKIMER - Daniel E. Bailey, 56, of Lake Street, passed away on Thursday morning, January 11, 2001, in his home after a long illness.
He was born on January 25, 1944 in Herkimer, son of John and Katherine Lynch Bailey.
A lifelong Herkimer resident, he was educated in Herkimer Schools.
On June 18, 1966, he married Kay Burchell in Blessed Sacrament Church, Mohawk.
For thirty-three years, he was a mechanic for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, retiring in June of 1999.
He was a member of St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.
Dan will always be remembered as a helpful and caring person who, for many years, was a call fireman for the village of Herkimer, and was a member of Herkimer Lodge #1439 B.P.O.E.
He had a strong love for the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was a friend to many and will never be forgotten.
Surviving besides his wife of thirty-four years, Kay and his parents, John and Katherine, are one son, Daniel P., and his wife, Julie Bailey, of Rochester; two daughters and their husbands, Sharon and Joseph DeBiase, of Verona Beach, Michelle and Eric Carney, of Salisbury; six grandchildren, Trevor, Colin and Mallory DeBiase, of Verona Beach, Liam and James Bailey, of Rochester, Matthew Carney, of Salisbury and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James J. Bailey, on December 17, 1998.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.
Reverend Mark Cunningham, pastor, will officiate.
The family will be present in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer, to receive relatives and friends on Friday (today) from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery later this spring.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sue Campagna Herkimer County Hospice.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
The family wishes to thank Doctor Richard Bucco and the entire nursing staff of Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown for all their care and compassion during Dan's illness.
It will always be remembered.
Walter H. Babcock
HERKIMER -- Walter Hiram Babcock, age 87, of Marion Street, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, Oct. 5, 2001 in Little Falls Hospital.
He as born on Feb. 26, 1914 in Waterville, son of the late Oliver Wirt and Matilda Brazie Babcock.
Walter moved with his parents from Waterville to Ilion.
Except short periods, he lived in Herkimer since that date.
He attended the one-room schoolhouse in Fort Herkimer.
He was a graduate of Herkimer High School, Class of 1932, with honors in commercial subjects.
He was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Thespians.
He continued his education by correspondence with the International Accountants Society, Chicago, Ill., a group of certified accountants.
On June 29, 1940, he married Marjorie Hunt in the Herkimer Reformed Church, a loving union of fifty-seven years until her passing in January of 1998.
He began working for the Standard Furniture Company, Herkimer, in 1935 and about a year later, was transferred to their office.
He left his position as chief accountant in 1961 and was given employment by the public accounting firm of Moore, O'Reilly & Hart in Utica.
He was last employed as controller by J. Grippe Industrial Supply Co., Frankfort, retiring in 1981.
He was a member of the Herkimer Reformed Church since 1954 and at one time, served as elder and deacon.
A former member of the Herkimer Lodge 423 F & AM, he served as District Deputy Grand Master from 1977 to 1978.
Surviving him are one son, Walter Hunt Babcock, of Herkimer; a stepson, Richard E. Butler, and his wife, Deanna, of Gloversville; one son-in-law, Frank Helmer, of Herkimer; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a nephew, Michael R. Babcock, and his wife, Beverly, of Clinton; and a niece, Sharon Marie Grant of Barneveld. Besides his parents and wife Marjorie, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Ann Helmer in 1999 and two brothers Oliver Perry Babcock and Robert Alonzo Babcock.
A service of Remembrance and Rejoicing will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 10:30 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer.
The Rev. Donald Battjes, pastor of the Herkimer Reformed Church, and the Rev. Gary Wilcox, pastor of the Emmanuel Bible Church, Mohawk, will officiate.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in the funeral home on Friday, Oct. 12, from 4 until 7 p.m.
