NORWICH - Funeral services for Clark Connelly were held on Friday afternoon at 1 from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. James Vargo, pastor of St. Luke’s Church of Sidney, officiated.

Interment will be at a later date in the Morrisville Cemetery.

LEONA SWIFT

NORWICH - Leona J. “Lee” (Kott) Swift of Amblerville passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 at Valley View Manor Nursing Home in Norwich.

Born April 11, 1931 in Great Meadows, N.J., she was the daughter of Joseph and Julia (Wicki) Kott. She spent her early years in Great Meadows and graduated from Hackettstown, N.J. High School. Following her schooling she worked at several jobs before her marriage. On Sept. 12, 1953 in St. Peter and Paul’s Church in Great Meadows, she married Kenneth W. Swift, who survives. Lee began raising her family and also helped in the family businesses at Stewart’s Root Beer Stand in Washington, N.J. and the Swift Brothers leather business. After moving to Amblerville in 1972, she was a Certified Nursing Aide, caring for several local people. She was an avid gardener and was well known for the vegetables and pumpkins she sold at her roadside stand next to her home.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Church in Norwich and of the Fortnightly Study Group, a civic group in South New Berlin.

Lee is survived by her husband, Ken, of Amblerville and two sons and their wives: Kevin and Julie Swift of South New Berlin and Joseph and Martha Swift of Sarasota, Fla.; two daughters: Kathy Swift of Norwich and Susan Carr and her husband Dennis of Oneonta; nine grandchildren: Kristin and Ryan Deady, Christopher, Zachary, Matthew and Colte Swift and Josh, Chad and Chelsea Carr. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by two brothers, Walter and Joseph Kott and a sister, Mildred Cox.

Funeral services for Lee will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. from the Wilson Funeral Home in Norwich. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will take place in the spring in Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin.

Contributions in memory of Lee may be made to the South New Berlin Emergency Squad, South New Berlin, NY 13843.

WILLIAM BELTZ

NORWICH - William J. Beltz, 70, of Silver Street, Norwich, and life-long Norwich resident, passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 19, 2003 at his home.

A Norwich native, Bill spent his entire life in Norwich and was born February 16, 1932, the son of John and Florence (Litts) Beltz. On Sept. 11, 1955, in Norwich, he married Rosalyn Hitchcock. Bill had attended the Norwich schools, graduating with the class of 1950. Following his education, he worked for a short period of time for Bennett-Ireland before he entered the United States Air Force, where he served his country during the Korean War. Returning home, he briefly returned to work for Bennett-Ireland and then became employed by the Borden Ice Cream Co. in Norwich, where he worked as a truck driver and freezer attendant for over 20 years, until the plant closed. Bill then gained employment with Bendix Corp. of Sidney and its successor, Allied Amphenol, where he worked as a machinist for 15 years before retiring in 1994.

Bill was a man who never sat idle. Over the years, he was active in the local Boy Scouts, as a scout himself in his younger years and eventually as the Leader of Troop #63. Active in Senior programs, he was involved in the 60+ as a driver, and enjoyed playing cards; he also drove for the Meals on Wheels program. A devoted member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Norwich, he had been an usher for the church for many years and was also a Sunday School teacher.

Bill enjoyed his hunting and fishing, and was an avid collector of coins and mugs.

Bill is survived by his wife Rosalyn of Norwich; his children: Bruce W. Beltz of Norwich, June M. Kata and her husband Stanley of Endicott, Mark Beltz and his wife Linda of Attleboro, Mass., Paul Beltz and his wife Karolyn of Norwich, and Joan Brooks and her husband Len of Norwich; and by his grandchildren: Daniel, Joel and Andrew Kata; Andrea, Elisa, Luke and Courtney Beltz; Elijah, Jonah and Micah Beltz; and Jennifer, Kyle and Ryan Brooks. Also surviving are his brothers, David Beltz and his wife Rosemary of Norwich, and Edward Beltz and his wife Doris of Alabama. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services for Bill will be held on Wednesday at 3 p.m. from the Calvary Baptist Church of Norwich. The Rev. Brian Conover, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Norwich.

Friends may call at the Calvary Baptist Church in Norwich on Wednesday from noon until the time of the service at 3 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 75 Calvary Drive, Norwich, NY 13815; or to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.

Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home of Norwich.

MATTHEW MIERS

SOUTH NEW BERLIN - Matthew Edward Miers, 32, of South New Berlin passed away accidentally on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003 at his home. Born Oct. 6, 1970 in Norwich, Matt was the son of John and Susan (Lathrop) Miers. He attended Norwich schools until 10th grade and then graduated from South New Berlin Central School with the Class of 1989. Matt then attended SUNY Morrisville where he learned his trade. He was self-employed as a professional livestock hoof trimmer. His services were always in great demand by many local farmers. Matt was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and of the Sons of the American Legion in Norwich. He was also a member of the Wolf Pack, a group of four-wheeler enthusiasts. Matt will be remembered for his great love of animals, dirt bikes, four-wheelers and snowmobiles. He loved all people and especially enjoyed boating on Chenango Lake.

Matt is survived by his loving companion, Shanee Vidler of South New Berlin; his parents, Susan Miers of Norwich and John Miers of Chenango Lake; and his sister, Carrie Miers LaCoe of Endicott. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles: Ed and Mary Lathrop of Springville, Pa., Fred and Sally Miers of Norwich, Jim and Judy Miers of Superior, Colo. and Tom and Pati Miers of Naperville, Ill.; cousins Nancy, Judy, Mindy and Craig Lathrop and Pete, Steve, Doug, Kathy, Jennie, Becky, Sarah and Jonathan Miers. He is also survived by his beloved dog, Eddie. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Charles and Elinor Miers and Ralph and Lila Lathrop and a cousin, Todd Lathrop.

Memorial services for Matt will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. There will be no calling hours. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Burial will take place in the spring in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Because of Matt’s great love of animals, the family asks that contributions in his memory be made to the SPCA. Arrangements are by the Wilson Funeral Home.

IDABELL BUNN

SHERBURNE - Mrs. Idabell Story Bunn, 90, of East Street North, Sherburne, passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003 at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton.

Born on May 22, 1912 in Wyoming, she was a daughter of Isaac and Anna Rossman Story.

She was a graduate of Fulton High School, with advanced studies in art.

Idabell was united in marriage to Donald E. Lamphear who passed away in 1985.

On Jan. 10, 1987, she was married to Henry C. Bunn at the Nichols Memorial Church in Old Forge.

She had been a resident in Fulton for many years, moving to California for nine years and then to Old Forge, before moving to Sherburne in 1987.

She was a bookkeeper for her husband, Don’s auto dealership, Lamphear Motors in Fulton, and later was a file clerk at the SealRite Corp. in Fulton.

Idabell was a member of the Nichols Memorial Church in Old Forge. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star 631 of Sherburne and the Norwich Garden Club.

Surviving are her husband, Henry; two sons and daughters-in-law: Alan and Thelma Lamphear of Whitesboro, and Fay Donald and Marylou Lamphear of San Antonio, Texas; a son-in-law and daughter-in-law; Charles and Julie Hill of Cooperstown; three sisters: Luetta Clark, Rebecca Guiffrida and Mary Southard, all of Fulton; two brothers: Isaac Story of Washington, D.C., and Daniel Story of Virginia; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Dawn Hill on Nov. 6, 1997; a sister, Mabel Powers; and three brothers, Samuel Story, Thomas (Wolever) Story and Rossman Story.

A memorial service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. from the First United Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Sherburne.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Old Forge Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 556, Sherburne, NY 13460.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 South Main St., Sherburne, NY.

A. WESLEY GOULD

NORWICH - A. Wesley “Wes” Gould, 89, of Urbana, Ohio, passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, 2003 at 5:45 p.m. in the Heartland of Urbana. Born on Oct. 7, 1913 in North Abington, Mass., he was the son of the late Jay Arthur and Edith Ames (Poole) Gould. Wes was a 1932 graduate of Abington High School.

He served with the Marine Corps during World War II as a military photographer covering Marine Corps’ history on 21 islands in the Pacific and China. His photo coverage of the Wake Islands surrender of the Japanese was featured in Life and Leatherneck magazines. He retired at the rank of captain after 20 years of active and reserve service with the Marine Corps, New York National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. While serving, Capt. Gould commanded a tank company, an artillery battery and an infantry company. He last served as the public information officer of the 98th Armored Division.

He served as the civil defense director of Chenango County for 15 years and was a reserve deputy sheriff of Chenango County for 10 years. Having been appointed in 1978, Wes served for a number of years as the civil defense director of Champaign County, Ohio, working closely in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Department. His most recent employment was with the KTH Parts Industries, Saint Paris, Ohio, as a security guard.

He was a member of the Covenant Lutheran Church and past commander of Philip Grieser Post 7645 VFW, both of Saint Paris, Ohio. He was the founder, president and a life member of the Champaign County R.E.A.C.T. Team 4517, past president of the board of Champaign County Senior Citizens Center, a member of Harmony Lodge 8 F 7 AM and Chapter 34 Royal Arch Masons, all of Urbana, Ohio.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Karen (Hess) Gould who he married on Sept. 19, 1970 in Pinellas Park, Fla.; three sons, David Wesley (Dee) Gould of Arnold, Md., Richard Leighton (Carolyn) Gould of Marion, Ohio, and Christopher Wesley Gould of Thailand; four daughters, Patricia Jay (Carl) Evans of La Vergne, Tenn., Carol Linn Gould of St. Petersburg, Fla., Jennifer Dawn Gould of Stuart, Fla., and Karen Ames “Ame” (Phil) Cook of DeGraff; two step-sons, Michael Edward (Diane) Scott of Dayton and Mark Allen Scott of London, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Myrtle M. Garden of Norwell, Mass.; one brother, Richard David Gould of Weymouth, Mass.; and a special friend, Jim Schlabach of Urbana, Ohio.

He was predeceased by his parents, and two brothers, Charles and Elmer Gould, both formerly of Florida.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the Covenant Lutheran Church, 103 South Church St., Saint Paris, Ohio, with the Rev. Gerald Anderson and Rev. William Turner officiating.

Wes’ remains will then be cremated with inurnment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Covenant Lutheran Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice, 904 Scioto St., Urbana, Ohio 43078.

Richeson-Wickham and Atkins Funeral Home, Saint Paris, Ohio, is serving the family.

LAURA HOLLIS

NORWICH - Laura Jane Hollis, a former 50-year resident of Norwich (since 1991 a resident of Andrus Retirement Community in Hastings-on-Hudson) died on Jan. 15, 2003.

She was born in Bedford, Mass. on Nov. 4, 1906, the daughter of John and Hannah Cook. In 1929 she graduated with an RN degree from Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn and, following graduation served as supervisor of the Emergency Room. She met her husband, Dr. John Hollis, at the Methodist Hospital and they were married on Oct. 22, 1932, in New York City.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1968, and is survived by her daughter Hannah and her husband Dr. Miller Cook and her daughter Hope and her husband David Dingley, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and her brother Raymond Cook. She was also predeceased by two sisters and four brothers.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, 506 Sixth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 or Project Hope, Millwood, VA 22646.