The Honorable Gordon M. MacKinnon, Sullivan County Legislator of District 4 and a retired New York City Firefighter from Battalion 49 in Queens, died Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 70 years of age.
The son of the late Alexander and Agnes Maxwell MacKinnon, he was born June 29, 1931, in Queens.
Mr. MacKinnon was a former secretary of the NYFD Hockey Team and a Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 437 for many years.
He moved to the area in 1982 and was a member and usher at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg. Mr. MacKinnon was chairman of the Summerfest, the chicken barbecue and a member of the Helping Hands Committee of the church.
A former president of the Mamakating Democratic Club and the Sullivan County Democratic Committee member of District 1, he was also a member of the Bloomingburg Restoration Church, the Lions and Lioness Clubs of Mamakating, the Mamakating Senior Citizens, Mamakating RAVE and BPOE Middletown Lodge No. 1097. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving from 1951 to 1955 and was a member of the Mamakating American Legion Post No. 1266 in Wurtsboro.
In a family statement, it was said, "Gordon will be dearly missed by everyone. He was a fine upstanding man who was a friend to all and would go out of his way for anyone who needed it. A loving and devoted husband, father and friend, who always had a cheery smile and open arms, Gordie lived his life by three simple words: friendship, loyalty and love. He was a friend to many — loyal to all — and his love was never ending. He was a bright light that went out too soon and will be sorely missed by every life he ever touched. Our hearts are broken to have lost him."
He is survived by his wife, Joann MacKinnon, at home; a son, Gordon J. MacKinnon of Wallkill; a daughter, Barbara Magiera of Highview Terrace; and a large extended family and numerous friends.
Friends may call at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan St., Wurtsboro, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Father James Sidoti will hold a wake service at 7 p.m. Friday night followed by an Elks' service at 7:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg with Fr. James Sidoti, O. Carm., officiating.
Burial will be made in the Bloomingburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Mamakating Lions and Lioness Clubs or the Mamakating American Legion Post 1266 Benefit for the NYFD Widows and Children, Wurtsboro, N.Y. 12790.

Lorraine Burakoff of South Fallsburg, a ticket agent and a 40-year area resident, died Thursday, October 4, 2001, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 68 years of age.
The daughter of the late Morris and Leah Katlinska Shapiro, she was born June 3, 1932, in New Jersey.
Mrs. Burakoff was very active in Hadassah of Fallsburg, the Lioness of Fallsburg and the Fallsburg Police Auxiliary for over 30 years.
In a family statement, it was said, "Lorraine was a most generous person. She always gave of herself and looked for nothing in return."
She is survived by a nephew, David Shapiro of Staten Island; several cousins in Mexico and Israel; and several very close friends, including Roy and Sheila Mason of Rock Hill and Sonny and Stanley Smith.
A celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 296 Main St., Woodbourne.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rock Hill ASPCA, Rock Hill, N.Y. 12775.

Charles A. Watson Jr. of Liberty, a splicer for Verizon and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 47 years of age.
The son of Charles A. and Ruth Ann Larkin Watson, he was born December 14, 1953, in Liberty.
Mr. Watson was a communicant of St. Peter's Church in Liberty, a member of Liberty Elk's Lodge #1545 and a member of the NRA. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He is survived by his parents of Liberty; a brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Denise Watson of Liberty; two sisters, Linda Watson-Dinnerstein and her husband, Jim, of Liberty, and Joanne and her husband, William Friedman; a nephew, Sean Dinnerstein; three great-aunts; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Timothy Watson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Church, 264 North Main St., Liberty, with the Rev. Thomas Mullins officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Peter's Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Church Building Fund, 264 No. Main St., Liberty, 12754 or to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7E, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057.

Mary Bailey Eckert of Alachua, Fla., a former resident of Mountaindale, died Sunday, October 7, 2001, in the North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 86 years of age.
The daughter of the late Albert David and Cornealiva Genevieve Lane Bailey, she was born June 22, 1915, in Kiamesha. She was the widow of John Eckert.
Mrs. Eckert is survived by three daughters, Jean Furphy of Micco, Fla., and Dorothea Stemen and Mary E. Eckert, both of Alachua, Fla.; a brother, John Bailey of Bradenton, Fla.; a sister, Jean Smith of Woodbourne; nine grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday at the Loucks Funeral Home in Ellenville with the Rev. Betty Johnson officiating.
Burial will be made in the Poplar Grove Cemetery in Phillipsport.

Marie Moran of Hortonville, a former postmaster at Grossinger's Hotel in Liberty, died Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home in Roscoe. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Rether Schneider, she was born September 12, 1912, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of William Moran.
Mrs. Moran was a member of St. Paul's Church and the Senior Citizens of the church. She was also a member of Holy Cross Church in Callicoon.
She is survived by two sons, William Moran of Hortonville and James Moran of Southbury, Conn.; three brothers, Martin Schneider of Liberty, George Schneider of Richfield Springs and Charles Schneider of Lynbrook; a sister, Theresa Elbert of Miller Place; nine grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Willi and Joe; three sisters, Madeline, Kathleen and Henrietta; and a grandson, William "Billy" Moran.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon with Father Ignatius Smith officiating.
Burial will be made in Holy Cross Cemetery in Callicoon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Billy Moran Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3, Hortonville, N.Y. 12745.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.

Joseph W. Shan of Smallwood, the owner of the "Pub" in Monticello, died Saturday, October 6, 2001, at the Northeast Pennsylvania Veterans Administration Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He was 87 years of age.
The son of the late Dominick and Josephine Gudashefski, he was born May 27, 1914, in Mahanoy City, Pa. He was the widower of Florence Rozanski Shan and Dorothy McCann Shan.
Mr. Shan was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.
He is survived by two daughters, Joan Shan of Dallas, Pa., and Carol Muth of Jeffersonville; a sister, Stacia Unsin of Harrisburg, Pa.; a stepson, Gene Shan of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary's Church in Obernburg with Father Gus Richardson officiating.
Burial with military honors will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery in Obernburg.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.

Brian L. Decker of Hurleyville, a paving operator for Bob Bernhardt Paving in Youngsville and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, October 10, 2001, in Rock Hill as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 22 years of age.
The son of Donna Decker and Clifton Waite, he was born September 8, 1979, in Harris.
In a family statement, it was said, "Brian was an avid sportsman, a gifted mechanic, soul mate, very loving son, brother and father. He was always there to lend a hand and help his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends, whose lives he touched."
He is survived by his loving mother and stepfather, Clifton Waite, at home; his loving high school sweetheart and the mother of his children, Leah Shay, a loving son, Brian L. Decker Jr. and a loving daughter, Destiny Decker, two loving brothers, Bill Schrader and Alan Schrader, and his loving maternal grandmother, Lila Driscoll, all at home; his loving paternal step-grandfather, Jim Calabro of Kerhonkson; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by a sister, Deanna Schrader.
Friends may call at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl St., Livingston Manor, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Liberty Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Donna Decker, 59 Hurleyville Rd., Hurleyville, N.Y. 12747.

Harry Deaver Propst, M.D. of Honesdale, Pa., a driving force at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale for over 45 years, died unexpectedly Wednesday, October 10, 2001, while at work in his office. He was 79 years of age.
The son of the late Walter W. Propst, M.D., and the late Mabel Morrison Propst, he was born August 3, 1922, in Easton, Pa.
A graduate of Central High School in Scranton and Lafayette College, he graduated from Temple University Medical School and then the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Surgery.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Medical Corps where he met his wife, Amy, who was a registered nurse.
Dr. Propst interned at the Guthrie Clinic, Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., and later served his surgical residency in Blossburg.
The couple moved to Honesdale where he practiced since 1954. He has served as chief of staff and was a former administrator at the Wayne Memorial Hospital. Dr. Propst was on the Board of Directors at the hospital and most recently was medical director for the emergency room. He was retired from the staff of Farview State Hospital in Waymart, Pa., and was director and vice chairman of the Honesdale National Bank.
He was also a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society and Wayne-Pike Medical Society, serving as president. In his many years, he has received numerous awards for medical, community and public service including having a wing at the hospital, the Harry Probst Pavilion, named in his honor.
An avid outdoorsman, gardener and conservationist, he was president of the Red House Rod and Gun Club and derived much enjoyment from his grandchildren, teaching them hunting, fishing and gardening.
In a statement from the hospital, it was said, "The staff of the hospital, especially those who have worked so closely with Dr. Propst in the emergency room and the operating room, are hit hard by Dr. Propst's death. Dr. Propst was known among the staff as a physician who would go to extraordinary lengths to serve his patients."
He is survived by his wife, Amy M. Arbes Propst, R.N.; a daughter, Sandra Propst-Proctor, M.D.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Peter M. and Janice Propst, Michael J. (P.E.) and Nancy Propst and Harry Deaver Jr. and Hayley Propst, all of Lake Estemerwalt; a sister, Lois Willerford of Columbia, Conn.; three cousins, Robert Propst, Ella Cumba and Marge Calkins; seven granddaughters, Wyley, Hawley, Ashley and Grace Proctor, Allainna, Kristin and Seneca Propst; seven grandsons, M. Scott and Charles Proctor, Steven Andrew, Harry Deaver Propst III, Levi and Parker Propst; a niece and a nephew.
Friends may call at the Presbyterian Chapel, 10th St., Honesdale on Friday from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday in the First Presbyterian Church, 10th and Church St., from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. when services will be held with the Rev. Albert A. Chaffee officiating.
Cremation will be made at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory in Archbald.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Harry D. Propst Family Fund, c/o Wayne Memorial Hospital, Park St., Honesdale, Pa. 18431.