Gerald L. "Bubba" Lester of Equinunk, Pa., died unexpectedly on December 30, 2001, at the Community Medical Center Trauma Unit in Scranton, Pa., following a fall at home. He was 52 years of age.
The son of the late Vance and Margaret Holbert Lester, he was born June 22, 1949, in Honesdale, Pa.
Mr. Lester was a 1968 graduate of Hancock Central School and also attended the BOCES auto mechanic classes in Sidney. He ran the family farm for ten years.
In a family statement, it was said, "Through the years, Jerry always gave of himself to others to help someone who was sick and needed a hand or to play in the band to benefit someone. He would fire up the family tractor because he was the only one who knew the knack of starting it, and drive for miles to help someone with a tow out of a snow bank. He would offer the couch for a place to sleep if someone was in a bad way, never asking anything in return. He always gave completely of himself, and anyone who came in contact with him grew to love him as much as his family and friends did. He looked after his mother for many years until her passing in 2001. His funny sayings and sense of humor will be missed by co-workers and friends alike."
He was a member of the Equinunk Fire Company since 1969 and a member of the Bubba Bangers Hunting Club in Equinunk, Pa.
Mr. Lester is survived by his wife, Leana L. Meckle Lester, at home; a son, Jerry Lester Sr. of South Canaan, Pa.; two daughters, Sherry Simpson and Casey Lester, both of Equinunk, Pa.; six grandchildren; Jerry Joe Jr., Atraeu and Taleightha Lester, Logan Simpson, Dillon Keesler and Katlyn Meyer.
Services will be held at the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St., Honesdale, on Friday, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Kathy Greco, pastor of the Equinunk United Methodist Church, officiating.
Interment will be made in the Pine Mill Cemetery, Manchester Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Equinunk Volunteer Fire Company, Equinunk, Pa. 18417, or the Damascus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Damascus, Pa., 18415.

John H. Kayton of Savannah, Ga., a retired insurance agent, died Friday, December 28, 2001, at Candler Hospital in Savannah.
Mr. Kayton was born in Savannah, Ga. moved to New York when he was twelve years old, and moved back to Savannah in 1978 after the death of his first wife. He was predeceased by two wives, Suzanne Kayton and Margaret Appel Kayton.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Mr. Kayton was a member of the Chatham Club, the Savannah Golf Club and Temple Mickve Israel.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Barbara Kayton of Fremont Center; a daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Sylvan Byck of Savannah, Ga.; two grandchildren and their spouses, Donna and Tony Eichholz and David and Helen Kelly, all of Savannah, Ga.; and two great-grandchildren, Amelia and Caroline Eichholz, both of Savannah, Ga.
Graveside services and burial were held Sunday in Bonaventure Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kayton Scholarship Fund at the Storm King School, Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12520; to Temple Mickve Israel or the Savannah County Day School, both in Savannah, Ga.; or to the charity of one's choice.

German Gonzalez of Monticello, a 40-year area resident and an employee of the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, died Friday, December 7, 2001, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He was 57 years of age.
He is survived by four daughters, Tami Gonzalez of Georgia, Maria Gonzalez of Liberty, Selena Gonzalez of Kentucky and Melissa Gonzalez of Middletown; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister.
Private cremation was held at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Elly Martha Cornelius of Vestal, a former longtime resident of Rock Valley and a retired dental supply inspector for Dedeco International Inc., in Long Eddy, died Tuesday, December 25, 2001, at the Willow Point Nursing Facility in Vestal. She was 95 years of age.
The daughter of the late Gustav and Martha Geska Priebe, she was born October 28, 1906, in Berlin, Germany. She was the widow of Otto Cornelius, whom she married March 26, 1930, and who died May 6, 1973.
Mrs. Cornelius was a member of the Hankins United Methodist Church.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, George A. and Gisela Cornelius of Binghamton; a granddaughter, Laura D. Rhinehart of Binghamton; two grandsons, George E. Cornelius of Ballston Spa, and William Cornelius of Saratoga; and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a grandson Gregory, who died in 1998.
Services were held last Friday at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel in Hancock with the Rev. Steven Knutsen, pastor of the Hankins United Methodist Church, officiating.

Erma Joan Rosengrant of Liberty died Saturday, December 29, 2001, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 69 years of age.
The daughter of the late Earl and Frances Earle Hunt, she was born in Callicoon on August 6, 1932.
Mrs. Rosengrant was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a loving mother and wife."
Mrs. Rosengrant in survived by her husband, Paul Rosengrant, at home; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert and Deborah Rosengrant of Loch Sheldrake, and James and Kim Rosengrant and Brian Rosengrant, all of Henderson, N.C.; two daughters, Linda Ellis of Henderson, N.C., and Bonnie O'Dell and her husband, David, of Liberty; a sister, Leonora Miller and her husband, Victor, of Liberty; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held Wednesday at the Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert C. Nadelen officiating.
Burial was made in the Hurleyville Cemetery in Hurleyville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Baptist Church, North Main St., Liberty, N.Y. 12754.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Karen D. Imlay of Shandelee (Livingston Manor) died Wednesday, January 2, 2002 at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 45 years of age.
The daughter of Peter J. and Carol A. Cummings, she was born April 17, 1956, in New Rochelle.
She is survived by her parents of Jeffersonville; a daughter, Kayla Morgan Castro-Imlay, at home; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Laura and Joe Lee of Livingston Manor and Susan and James Conklin of Jeffersonville; a step-brother and his wife, Tom and Brenda Cummings of Staatsburg; a step-sister, Ruth L. Cummings Grote and her husband, Dennis, of San Jose, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
A memorial service will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. with Keith Herbert officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kayla M. Castro, c/o Carol A. Cummings, 11 Legion St., Jeffersonville, N.Y. 12748.

Seymour A. Langer of Liberty, a retired clerk for the commodities exchange in New York City and a 25-year area resident, died Tuesday, January 1, 2002, at his home. He was 78 years of age.
The son of the late Morris and Helen Langer, he was born February 23, 1923, in New York City.
Mr. Langer was a member of the Hurleyville Synagogue, president of the Good Life Senior Club and a longtime volunteer for the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his wife, Bessie Chessin Langer, at home; a daughter, Toby Bencivengo of Syosset; a son, Edward Langer of Israel; a brother, Max Langer of the Bronx; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Services were held Thursday at the Hurleyville Synagogue in Hurleyville with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in the Hurleyville Synagogue Cemetery in Hurleyville.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Francis M. McShane of Callicoon, a retired elevator operator in New York City and a 24-year area resident, died Monday, December 31, 2001, at the Walnut Mountain Care Center in Liberty. He was 83 years of age.
The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Francis McShane, he was born June 22, 1918, in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Valerie Tilson McShane, at home; a daughter, Jeanette Pfiel of Callicoon; several cousins, including Jack McShane of East Brunswick, N.J., and Rose McShane of Pearl River; a brother-in-law, Edmund Tilson of Callicoon; and a sister-in-law, Agnes Tilson of Callicoon.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at St. Mary's Church in Obernburg with the Rev. John Richardson officiating.
Burial was made in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.

Dean M. Beach of Monticello, a wrangler at Hadley Stables in Monticello and a longtime area resident, died Friday, December 28, 2001, at his home. He was 57 years of age.
The son of the late Claude and Leona Millington Beach, he was born September 25, 1944, in Schenectady.
Mr. Beach was a member of the Town of Thompson 4-H.
He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Claude Sr. and Shirley Beach of Monticello; a sister, Ester; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Leonard and Hollis Beach; and two sisters, Dorothy Stanley and Betty Kelley.
Private cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mobilemedic Emergency Medical Services, Main St., Hurleyville, N.Y. 12747.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello.

Peter Leschot of Glen Spey, a longtime resident of the area, died suddenly on Thursday, December 27, 2001, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 60 years of age.
The son of the late Edmund and Clara Pollet Leschot, he was born May 1, 1942, in Manhattan.
Mr. Leschot attended the Sullivan ARC Day Treatment Center in South Fallsburg.
He is survived by a brother, Michael Leschot of Manchester Center, Vt., and his family at the Hering Road IRA.
Services were held Sunday at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne with the Rev. Elpidio Rios of Eldred officiating.

Brenda Jean Slegona of Ulster Heights, a homemaker and a 30-year area resident, died Saturday, December 29, 2001, at the Ellenville Regional Medical Center. She was 53 years of age.
The daughter of the late William and Marion Walton Hannold, she was born March 11, 1948, in Kane, Pa.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a kind and loving mother."
Mrs. Slegona is survived by her husband, John Slegona, at home; two sons, John Slegona Jr. of Ulster Heights and Luther Louis Slegona of Kerhonkson; a daughter, Audrey Ann Slegona of Ulster Heights; six grandchildren, Jonathan, AnneMarie, John III, Luther, Joseph and Carley; five brothers, William Hannold of Liberty, Roger Hannold of Pennsylvania, Eric Hannold of Neversink, Wayne Hannold of Hasbrouck and Clifford Barry of Woodbourne; four sisters, Sandra Curry of Woodbourne, Cheryl Hannold of Pennsylvania, Barbara Gorr of Woodbourne and Vicki Smith of Hasbrouck; several nieces and nephews; a cousin, Lois Grimm of Ellenville; and an aunt, Maxsine Walton of Kane, Pa. She was predeceased by a brother, Albert Hannold.
Services were held Sunday at the Loucks Funeral Home in Ellenville with the Rev. Jay Vogelaar officiating.
Cremation was private.

Margaret Pyrcz, a retired kitchen supervisor for the Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, December 27, 2001, at her home. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Victor and Bertha Truffer Burgener, she was born June 20, 1920, in Switzerland. She was the widow of the late Charles Pyrcz.
Mrs. Pyrcz is survived by two sons, Raymond Pyrcz of Goshen and Gene Pyrcz of Bloomingburg; and four grandchildren.
Private services were followed by burial in the Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.

Marion "Missie" H. Plocharczyk of Middletown, a retired packing department supervisor and a lifelong area resident, died Thursday, December 27, 2001, at her home after a long battle with cancer. She was 34 years of age.
The daughter of Elva W. Plocharczyk and the late Charles L. Plocharczyk, she was born August 15, 1967, in Middletown.
She is survived by a son, Robert Richard Plocharczyk-Orzeck, and her companion of seven years, Stanley J. Orzeck, both at home; her mother of Bloomingburg; two brothers, Charles Plocharczyk of Burlingham and Dennis Plocharczyk of Mt. Alto, Pa.; three sisters, Betty Doutt of Frederick, Md., Diana Michalowski of Middletown and Linda Morrissey of Austin, Tex.; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro with the Rev. Betty Beach officiating.
Cremation was private.
Interment of the cremains will be made later in the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery in Bloomingburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tucker Center for Cancer Care, 60 Prospect Ave., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Marion "Blossom" VanDunk Jones of Ferndale, a homemaker, died Friday, December 28, 2001, at her home. She was 58 years of age.
The daughter of the late LeRoy and Ida VanDunk, she was born December 22, 1934, in Suffern.
She is survived by two sons, Rodney Davis of Liberty and Rolando Davis of Ferndale; a daughter, Vicki Davis of Liberty; a sister, Elaine Carter of Alexandria, Va.; a cousin, Esther Van Dunk of the Bronx; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. She was predeceased by two brothers, Rolando VanDunk and Winton VanDunk; and two sisters, Vivian VanDunk and Gloria Van Dunk.
Graveside services were held Wednesday at the Liberty Cemetery in Liberty with the Rev. Robert Nadelen officiating.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Seymour "Sy" Cohen, M.D. of Monticello, a retired physician, died at his home on Saturday, December 29, 2001. He was 80 years of age.
The son of Morris and Sarah Jaffee Cohen, he was born March 2, 1921, in South Fallsburg.
Graduating in 1937 at the age of 15 as valedictorian of South Fallsburg School, he entered Cornell University in Ithaca at the age of 16 on a scholarship, one of the college's youngest ever freshmen. He graduated with a B.S. in 1941 and continued his studies at Indiana University and University of Louisville Medical School in Louisville, Kty., where he received his medical degree in 1949. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society at Indiana University and Alpha Omega Alpha honor society at the University of Louisville. He had served as a captain in the U.S . Army Medical Corps and also served in the U.S. Maritime Service.
He moved, with his family, to Monticello in 1956 and began practicing with Dr. Lester Lipson. He founded the Sullivan County Internal Medicine Group and retired from practice in 1986.
Dr. Cohen was also involved in many medical and community organizations, including the New York Academy of Science, New York Academy of Medicine and numerous others. He was a past president of the Sullivan County Medical Society and the local chapter of the American Heart Association and had served on the board of the local American Diabetes Association. Dr. Cohen also served for many years on the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee Program of New York State. Throughout his life, he was recognized with many awards and honors for his service and work in the medical field.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Cohen, at home; a brother and sister-in-law, Bernard and Lorraine Cohen; a son and daughter-in-law, Norman and Jessica Cohen; two daughters, Billie, and Rose and her husband, Teka Luttrell; a son, Andrew; six grandchildren; and several cousins, nephews and nieces.
Services were private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Seymour Cohen Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Sullivan County Medical Society, 44 Carrier St., Liberty, N.Y. 12754; Hospice of Orange-Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550; or to the charity of one's choice.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

John J. Bernard of Portland, Tenn., a former resident of Bloomingburg, died Monday, December 31, 2001. He was 87 years of age.
He was born October 14, 1914, in Trenton, N.J. He was the widower of Barbara Howell Schott Bernard and Madelyn Oakes Andrews Bernard.
Earlier in his life, Mr. Bernard operated a produce stand called the Stop and Shop in Fair Oaks and then had his own independent produce trucking business. He later was a truck broker at B & Y Truck Brokerage in Florida, N.Y.
In a family statement, it was said, "Pop was a character. He was loved by his many friends and family and had no fear of death. He said if he'd known he was going to live so long, he would've taken better care of himself. An 85th birthday party was held for him at his daughter Patty's home in Portland, Tenn., in 1999. Most of his family and many of his friends attended. He said that was his "wake" and there was certainly no need to do it again when his body finally gave up. Our family reunions since then have been prefaced by 'We'll go to Portland unless Pop dies!'"
He is survived by nine children, Peggy Ann Sommerville of West Palm Beach, Fla., Carol Andrews Peterson and her husband, Pete, of Dublin, Calif., Charles Andrews and his wife, Elaine, of San Ramone, Calif., Susan Bernard Thompson and her husband, Larry, of Bloomingburg, Peter Schott and his wife, Margaret, of Oak Harbour, Wash., James Andrews and his wife, Jan, of Tracy, Calif., Patricia Bernard Hof and her husband, George, (with whom he made his home) of Portland, Tenn., and Joan Bernard Rudolph of Vista, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Peggy Ann Somerville Janusz and her husband, Andy, David Sommerville and his wife, Adele, P.J. Peterson, Michael Powers, Russell Johnson Jr. and his wife, True, Debra Johnson Milfort and her husband, Michael, Michael Thompson and his wife, Sandy, Christopher Thompson and his wife, Jody, Katelyn Andrews, Robin Hof Singer and her husband, John, Regina Hof Campbell and her husband, Frank, and Brandon Betuk; and 11 great-grandchildren, Ashley and David Janusz, Marissa Sommerville, Susan and Tyler Johnson, Shawn Thompson, Zachary Lee Thompson, Noel, Christy and Jenna Singer and Brent Campbell. He was predeceased by a daughter, Kathleen Andrews Johnson and a grandson, David Sommerville.
There were no funeral services at his request.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Brittany Spears Foundation.

Theresa Kohler of Jeffersonville, a retired chambermaid at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, died Tuesday, January 1, 2002, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 69 years of age.
The daughter of the late Michael and Ann King Higgins, she was born May 3, 1932, in Scranton, Pa.
In a family statement, it was said, "To my loving wife of 47 years, adored mother and beloved grandmother. We will miss your beautiful smile and that gentle, kind way you always had to make everything all right. If love could have saved you, you never would have left. You are in our hearts forever. We love you. Your family."
She is survived by her husband, Walter "Pete" Kohler, at home; two daughters and a son-in-law, Linda and Andrew Smith of Cochecton, and Caroline Kohler of Allentown, Pa.; a son, Edward Kohler of Cochecton; a sister, Margie Higgins of Scranton, Pa.; three grandchildren, Jeremy, Douglas and Megan Smith; a great-grandchild, Evan Smith; and nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville with the Rev. Robert McLeod officiating.
Burial will be made in the Jeffersonville Presbyterian Cemetery in Jeffersonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7E, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057.

Sheila Jean Conklin of White Sulphur Springs, a homemaker and a 14-year area resident, died Wednesday, January 2, 2002, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. She was 63 years of age.
The daughter of the late Wilfred and Carrie Palmer Call, she was born May 1, 1938, in Pomona.
She is survived by her husband, Benjamin H. Conklin, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy and Danielle Conklin of Wallkill and Benjamin H. Jr. and Tammy Conklin of Hartsville, S.C.; two daughters, Nora Jean Myers of White Sulphur Springs and Kelly E. Conklin of Loch Sheldrake; a brother, Wilfred Call of Stony Point; six sisters, Harriett Valentine, Shirley Youmans, Linda Deligney and Fay Parker, all of Stony Point, Lavern Hoyle of Liberty and Carolyn Meyers of Wallkill; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three sisters, Regina Call, Lorraine Call and Grace Tibbets.
Friends may call at the Harris Funeral Home, West Street at Buckley, Liberty, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Burial Office and Requiem will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church, St. John St., Monticello, with the Rev. Ninon Hutchinson officiating.
Burial will be made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.

Constance Marie Metcalf Nobile, a lifelong resident of Monticello, died Thursday, January 3, 2002, at the age of 51.
The daughter of Clive Metcalf and the late Mrs. Metcalf, she was born at the former Hamilton Avenue Hospital in Monticello on September 14, 1950.
In a family statement, it was said, "Connie touched the lives of many people in the Sullivan County area as a certified nurse midwife and a registered nurse. She has been a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and an avid Yankee fan. She will be remembered for her kind, loving, caring ways and will be greatly missed beyond words."
She is survived by a son, Jesse Nobile of Manhattan; her father and step-mother, Clive and Joyce Metcalf of Stone Ridge; two sisters, Stephanie Walter of Spring Hill, Fla., and Joanne Mizerak of Poughkeepsie; two nieces, Jennifer Petty of Clearwater, Fla., and Leah Mizerak of Poughkeepsie; several aunts from the Mulvey family; and several cousins.
There will be no visitation.
A Memorial Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Peter's Church in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the International Multiple Myeloma Foundation or to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7E, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello.