Monday, December 3, 2001

Charlotte 'Nanny' A. Bell

Charlotte "Nanny" A. Bell, 60, of Main Street, Fultonville, died Saturday at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam. She was born on April 6, 1941 in Staten Island, N.Y., the daughter of John and Elizabeth Magerl. She was educated in New York City and after high school went on to receive a degree in nursing. Mrs. Bell moved to Fultonville in 1980. She worked at various hospitals in New York City as a registered nurse. She later worked for Montgomery County Department of Public Works in Fonda until her retirement. Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, baking bread, and playing bingo but most of all she enjoyed caring for and spending time with her eight beloved grandchildren. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Dorean Bell; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lori and Michael Meyers of Hazlet, N.J., Patricia and John Coreen of Fultonville and Theresa and Mickey Crandall of Fultonville; a brother, John Magerl of Brooklyn; two sisters, Betty Gurico of Homestead, Fla. and Barbara Magerl of Key West, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Raymond Green, John Green, Michael Meyers, Christopher Green, Katherine Crandall, Megan Meyers, Lauren Crandall and Brianna Bell; several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main St., Fultonville, where funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.

Dorotha C. Christman

Mrs. Dorotha C. Christman, 96, of School Street, Ephratah, died Saturday, Dec. 1, at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a long illness. She was born on Jan. 17, 1905 in Gloversville, the daughter of Claude and Sarah Jane Steele Barker. Mrs. Christman was a homemaker and for a number of years served as the assessor for the town of Ephratah. Survivors include two daughters, Elsie Roberts of Ephratah and Blanche Gray of Schenectady; one son, Paul F. Christman of Ephratah; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. On June 30, 1925 she married Thurman D. Christman, who died June 24, 1968. She was also predeceased by two sons, Claude W. Christman, who died Aug. 7, 1971; and T. Gerald Christman, who died Aug. 24, 1984. Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at A.G. Cole Funeral Home Inc., 215 E. Main St., Johnstown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Ephratah Reformed Church, County Route 140, Ephratah. Dr. George McBarney Gray, M.A. will officiate. Burial will take place at Ephratah Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Ephratah Reformed Church, c/o Bernard Christman, 132 Route 67, Fort Plain, NY, 13339.

Peter K. Claus

Peter K. Claus, 53, of 364 Route 331, St. Johnsville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, at Albany Medical Center, Albany, after being in ill health for the past several months. He was born on Jan. 5, 1948 in Little Falls, the son of Lelah (Smith) Claus, of Oppenheim and the late Virgil C. Claus. He was educated at Oppenheim-Ephratah High School. He was married at one time to the former Valerie Fletcher on June 3, 1967. He was a member of Oppenheim United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Dolgeville Producers Co-op having served at one time as president and as a member of the board of directors. Mr. Claus was an avid and lifelong dairy farmer, owning and operating the Spooky Hollow Farm in the town of Oppenheim. He is survived by his mother, Lelah Claus; two sons, Keith G. Smith of St. Johnsville and Peter C. Claus and his wife, Kerry of Oppenheim; two daughters, Haley Ferguson and her husband, Scott and Tammy Claus, both of Oppenheim, a brother, Shawn W. Claus and his wife, Debra of Oppenheim; three sisters, Bonnie E. Myers and her husband, Robert, Janey Hayes and her husband David and Kellie Fiskaa and her husband, Allan, all of Oppenheim; a sister-in-law, Sheila Claus of Oppenheim; seven grandchildren, Brock and Mackenzie Ferguson, Brody, Troy and Conner Claus, Keith G. Smith III and Brianna Smith; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Jeffrey M. Claus, who died on July 28, 1999. Peter was a dedicated father and grandfather, who loved the outdoors and took every opportunity to share and enjoy it with his family. Although he left us too soon, his fond memory and devoted love will remain in our hearts forever. We will miss him dearly and never forget him. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Chapman-Moser Funeral Home Inc., 42 N. Ann St., Little Falls and attend the funeral services at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the funeral home. The Rev. Joseph Kim, pastor of Oppenheim United Methodist Church, will officiate. In keeping with Mr. Claus's wishes, cremation will follow. It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Claus be considered to the Oppenheim United Methodist Church or to the Oppenheim Volunteer Fire Department. Envelopes are available at the funeral home for this purpose. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Gregory O'Keefe and Ginger Clive for all of their care and support.

December 4, 2001

Thomas Ryan

Thomas F. Ryan, 91, formerly of Trackside Homes, Johnstown, died today at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam after a short illness. He was born on April 26, 1910, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Thomas and Jenny Cassidy Ryan. He attended New York City schools. He was employed for 44 years by Sinclair Oil Corp., which later became Atlantic Richfield Oil Co. He started out as a messenger and worked his way up to assistant to vice president of marketing. He moved to Johnstown in 1977. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and active in both Johnstown 50 Plus Senior Citizens and Ida McGinnis Senior Citizens inGloversville, serving as president of botth. He also served as treasurer of the Trackside Tenants Group. He is survived by one daughter, Mary Muller of Palmyra, Va.; one son, attorney Robert Ryan of Bedford, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He was married to Agnes Davis Ryan in 1932, and she died in December 1995. Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Barter & Donnan Funeral Home, 1 N. Melcher St., Johnstown, where a prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Johnstown. The Rev. James Fitzmaurice will be celebrant. Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Johnstown, in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Ruth Young

Ruth J. Young, 96, formerly of Gloversville, died Sunday at Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility. She was born on Feb. 5, 1905, in Gifford Valley, N.Y., where she attended schools. She was the daughter of George and Anna Crowter Manzer and was a resident of the area most of her life. She was a glovemaker for various glove companies in the area and later retired from Grandoe Glove Corp. in 1990. She was a former member of Rebekah Lodge. She is survived by daughters Anna Javarone and Harriet Semprevio, both of Gloversville; grandchildren Nancy Jackson, Sandra Javarone, Jerry Semprevio, Joseph Semprevio, Philip and his wife, Rose Ann Semprevio, Brian and his wife, Tina Semprevio, Dennis and his wife, Carol Young and Yvonne Crocetta; and several great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, George Young, who died July 17, 1976; a stepson, James Young; eight sisters, Virginia Tallman, Evelyn Tymchyn, Robertina Del Costello, Beatrice Graham, Marion Velicky, Florence Hayes, Juanita Ropeter and Mildred Mosher; two brothers, George Manzer Jr. and Henry Manzer; and a grandson, Mario Javarone. There will be no prior visitation or services from the funeral home. A graveside service will be held in the spring at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Gloversville at a date to be announced. Cremation took place at Leatherstocking Crematory, Cherry Valley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility or charity of one's choice. Arrangements are by Hollenbeck Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave., Gloversville.

Thursday, October 18, 2001

James S. Henderson

James S. (Jim) Henderson, 78, of Mayfield, N.Y., joined his beloved wife on Sept. 20, 2001, after a long illness. Jim was born on April 15, 1923 in Bastrop County, Texas. He was a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Chicago and USS New Jersey during WWII. After the war he relocated to Mayfield and married Vivian Jean Bradbury on May 27, 1950. He became a member of the U.S. Power Squadron located on the Great Sacandaga Lake, and was an avid fisherman. Jim retired after 30 plus years with Schenectady Chemicals Inc. His children, Thomas Henderson of Fort Worth, Texas, Nora J. Link of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and his brother, Kenneth Henderson, also of Fort Worth, will miss him greatly, as will all of those whose lives he has touched. Jim "left" us while residing with his daughter in Chippewa Falls. We wish him "Fair Winds and Following Seas." A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by the family.