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December 3, 2002
Henry Jackson Sr.
Ret. Dpty. Sheriff, 76
Henry Jackson Sr. of Liberty, a lifelong area resident, a retired Deputy Sheriff for the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and a former patrolman for the Village of Liberty, died Monday, November 25, 2002, at his home. He was 76 years of age.
The son of the late George and Elizabeth Jackson, he was born March 31, 1926, in Suffolk, Va. He was the widower of Johnnie Mae Jackson.
A World War II veteran of the United States Air Force, Mr. Jackson was a member of the First Baptist Church in Monticello.
In a family statement, it was said, "Words can never express the magnitude of our loss. We will always remember him for the special way in which he has touched and enriched our lives with his wisdom and unconditional love. His smile, sense of humor and outgoing personality were just a plus for a man whose voice and caring way would make a lasting impression on everyone he met. He will be sorely missed."
He is survived by four sons, Charles Mack of Liberty, Keith Penn and his fiancée, Janice Davis, of Rock Hill, Gerald Penn and his wife, Wilberta, of North Carolina and Henry Jackson Jr. and his wife, Pam, of Newburgh; four daughters, Jayneen Mills and her husband, Mark, Maryanne Jackson, June Jackson and Gladys Reeves, all of Liberty; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Holland; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Linda Jackson of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Leland and Beatrice Jackson of Petersburg, Va.; 17 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by a daughter, Lisa Jackson, a son, Tyrone Jackson, and two brothers, Lester and Bobby Jackson.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, Liberty St., Monticello with the Rev. James Matthews officiating.
Burial will be made in the Liberty Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550
Arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.
Alan G . Babbitt
Ret. Maître D', 71
Alan G. Babbitt of Boca Raton, Fla., a former resident of South Fallsburg and a retired longtime maître d' at the Raleigh Hotel, died Tuesday, November 26, 2002, in Florida. He was 71 years of age.
After retiring he moved first to Las Vegas, Nev., and then to Boca Raton, Florida.
In a family statement, it was said, "He will be sadly missed by his family and friends."
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Miriam Babbitt, at home; two sons, Rory Babbitt and Scott Babbitt and his wife, Wendy; a daughter, Michelle; four grandchildren, Eric, Jason and Joseph Rockwell and Edward Babbitt.
Services were held Friday at the Star of David Memorial Chapel & Gardens in North Lauderdale, Fla.
Cards of condolence will reach Mrs. Babbitt at 18102 104th Terrace South, Boca Raton, Fla. 33498.
Rosemary Doherty
Ret. J-YCS Secy., 84
Rosemary Doherty of Jeffersonville, a retired secretary for the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School in Jeffersonville, died Friday, November 29, 2002, at the Grover M. Hermann Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Callicoon. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late Arnold and Julia Ferrera Lordie, she was born May 13, 1918, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Richard Doherty.
Mrs. Doherty was a member of St. George's Roman Catholic Church and treasurer for the Jeffersonville Volunteer First Aid Squad, both in Jeffersonville.
She is survived by a son, Robert Doherty of Chula Vista, Calif.; and two nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at St. George's Church in Jeffersonville with Father Paul Osborne, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial was made in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Long Eddy.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffersonville Volunteer First Aid Squad, Jeffersonville, N.Y. 12748.
Arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.
Dorothy J. Hosmer
Homemaker, 79
Dorothy J. Hosmer of Roscoe, a homemaker and longtime area resident, died Thursday, November 28, 2002, at the Achieve Rehab and Nursing Facility in Liberty. She was 79 years of age.
The daughter of the late Roy and Elizabeth LaClare Ames, she was born August 7, 1923, in Watertown. She was the widow of Roy Hosmer Sr.
Mrs. Hosmer was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg and was a former member of the Sullivan County RSVP.
She is survived by two sons, Roy Hosmer Jr. of Bloomingburg, and Herbert Hosmer of Roscoe; a sister, Katherine Gonyea of Syracuse; a brother, James Ames of Aurora, Ill.; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. She was predeceased by a son, Roderick Hosmer.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg with the Rev. Gus Richardson, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial was made in St. Mary's Cemetery in Obernburg.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Harris Funeral Home in Roscoe.
Waldorf R. Strait
Ret. Truck Dr., 76
Waldorf R. Strait of Middletown, a retired truck driver and a lifelong area resident, died Thursday, November 28, 2002, at the Orange Regional Medical Center at Horton in Middletown. He was 76 years of age.
The son of the late Arthur and Hope Knibbs Strait, he was born September 10, 1926, in the Town of Wawayanda.
A World War II veteran of the United States Army, he was a member of the Town of Greenville VFW Post.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James and Gloria Strait of Wurtsboro; a sister, Emma, of the State of Florida; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Richard Strait, a brother, George Strait, and his longtime companion, Phoebe Banuat.
Services were held Monday at the Ralston-Lippincott-Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Susan Faye Wonderland officiating.
Burial was made in the Ridgebury Cemetery in Ridgebury.
Eugene Cecere
Retired Butcher, 90
Eugene Cecere, a former 12-year resident of Monticello and a retired self-employed butcher, died Saturday, November 30, 2002, at the Achieve Rehabilitation Center in Liberty. He was 90 years of age.
The son of the late Eugene and Virginia Galardi Cecere, he was born November 20, 1912, in Brooklyn.
Mr. Cecere volunteered at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris and attended St. Peter's R.C. Church in Monticello.
He is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 55 St. John St., Monticello, on Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Peter's R.C. Church in Monticello on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Robert Ginel officiating.
Burial will be made on Friday at St. Mary's Parish Cemetery in Manahawkin, N.J.
John L. Peterson
John Lawrence Peterson of Hankins, a well-known children's book author and longtime area resident, died at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home on Saturday, November 30, 2002. He was 78 years of age.
The son of the late Col. Carl LeRoy and Olive Ann Barnes Peterson, he was born February 10, 1924, in Bradford, Pa.
A noted artist, illustrator and author, he was a 1948 alumnus of Pratt Institute, Illustration. Over the past four decades, he wrote more than 25 children's books including the celebrated Littles series, published by Scholastic, Inc.
A World War II veteran, he served as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division, was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant First Class and had received the Purple Heart.
Mr. Peterson was a 36-year member of the Authors Guild.
Known throughout the community for his witticism, Mr. Peterson once suggested his own epitaph with typically wry humor — "He lived his life. He had some fun. And lost his marbles — one by one." Thank you, Pete, for leaving us laughing.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Holly Winifred Simmonds Peterson, at home in Hankins; four children, John Christopher Peterson of Owego, Matthew James Peterson of Ithaca, Joel David Barnes of Hankins and Elizabeth Holly Peterson of Brooklyn; a brother, Col. Carl LeRoy Peterson Jr. of Virginia; two sisters, Mary Ann Snider of the state of Florida and Barbara June Shull of North Carolina; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Callicoon. A reception and celebration of his life will be held in the church undercroft after the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Mid-Hudson Chapter, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 or to The Authors Guild, Inc., 31 East 26 St., New York, NY 10016.
Margaret Mott, 77
Ret. of LaBella String
Margaret "Peggy" Mott of Newburgh, a retired employee of La Bella Strings and a former employee of Dubett Bag, Whitmo and Ames, all of Newburgh, died Saturday, November 30, 2002, at her home. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late Reed C. and Esther T. Murray Long, she was born February 23, 1925, in Fort Montgomery. She was the widow of William H. Mott.
Mrs. Mott was a union representative for Pocket Book Workers Local 29, and an avid bowler and bingo player.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a loving, kind, devoted wife, mother, grand- and great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law and friend."
She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert and Mary Mott, and James Mott, all of Newburgh, and Paul and Lori Mott of New Windsor; a daughter, Pamela Mott of Newburgh; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond Long and his wife, Fanny, of Wurtsboro, and Donald Long of New Windsor; five sisters, Marion Murphy of Newburgh, Doris Gallager and her husband, John, of Red Hook, Jean Deluca and her husband, Tony, of Florida, Dolly Demar of Watertown and Barbara Sigler and her husband, Jim, of Poughkeepsie; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Maggan T. Dukes, a brother, Reed, and four sisters, Adlaid Long, Marie Backenovic, Irita Kern and Shirley Chiarmonte.
Friends may call at the Hudson Valley Funeral Home, 239 Quassaick Ave., Route 94, New Windsor, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Mary Krol of the Hudson Valley Christian Church officiating.
Burial will be made in the Woodlawn Cemetery in New
Joseph "Joe" Purcell
Joseph Martin "Joe" Purcell of Grahamsville, a lifelong area resident and a fixture of Sullivan County politics and sportsmanship for five decades, died Sunday, December 1, 2002, at Hospice Inn of St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. He was 85 years of age.
The son of the late James F. and Elizabeth Lane Purcell, he was born July 15, 1917, in Narrowsburg. He was the widower of Dorothy Meyers Purcell.
A former Sullivan County Clerk and its first County Planning Director, he recently moved to the Albany area to be near his two daughters after living most of his life in the Catskills region.
Mr. Purcell signed on as a dollar-a-voyage deck hand in the Depression-era Merchant Marine shortly after graduation from high school. He rose to the highest rank of master mariner, or captain, for the famed Farrell Lines of New York.
He enlisted in the U.S . Army in 1940 and after achieving the rank of sergeant, he returned to the Merchant Marine because of a war-time shortage of experienced mariners. Decorated belatedly with other resident merchant seamen by New York State for "conspicuous service," Mr. Purcell's convoy came under heavy German bombardment during the hazardous North Atlantic crossings. Near war's end, his crew received the dangerous assignment of returning captured fuel from Germany's V-2 rockets, lashed to the deck of his ship in heavy seas. As a civilian sea captain, he made frequent voyages between New York and Capetown, South Africa, on the "City of New York," "SS Robin Locksley" and "African Lightening."
Upon retiring from Farrell Lines in 1953, Mr. Purcell opened Snug Harbor, a sports and gift shop in Narrowsburg, which he used to help promote tourism and outdoor sports in the Upper Delaware region. An avid fly fisherman and bow hunter, he frequently accompanied national sports writers, including Nelson Bryant of the New York Times, on shad fishing excursions along the banks of his beloved Delaware River. He had an intense interest in the history of the area and devoted his later years to researching and writing on the topic. Besides writing articles for local newspapers, he published "The Upper Delaware Drummer" for several years. He was also instrumental in creating the "Country Store" which was on exhibit at the Sportsmen's Shows in New York City and which was also a vehicle of tourism promotion for Sullivan County.
Former Gov. Malcolm Wilson appointed Mr. Purcell to fill a vacancy as Sullivan County Clerk, a post to which Mr. Purcell was elected to in his own right four times over. He always declared himself a candidate for re-election at Roark's Tavern in Monticello on St. Patrick's Day.
During his professional career, Mr. Purcell was a member of the Upper Delaware Resources Study Commission and served on the Joint Legislative Commission to Study the State's Economy and was a board member of the Recovery Center in Monticello.
Mr. Purcell was active in numerous organizations. He was a 51-year member of the Narrowsburg Fire Department and was especially proud of his contribution to the establishment of the Tusten Settlement Association and the preservation of the Tusten Baptist Church. He was a longtime member of the Beaverbrook Rod and Gun Club and was active in the Bethel Lions. Just this past fall, he was named Sportsman of the Year 2002 by the Sullivan County Sportsmen's Federation.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Purcell of Grahamsville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah and Paul Browne of Spencertown and Marianne Purcell and Jeffrey Conklin of Selkirk; three granddaughters, Lacey Browne of Providence, R.I., and Sara-Melissa and Kaity Conklin of Selkirk; a brother-in-law, George Burkle of Narrowsburg; a sister-in-law, Joan Purcell of South Venice, Fla.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings, Mary, Margaret, James Robert and David.
Memorial services will be held in Albany and Narrowsburg at dates to be announced.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tusten-Cochecton Library, Local History Room, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764 or to the Tusten Settlement Association, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764.
Maureen E. Whitney
Bethel Tax Collector, 60
Maureen E. Whitney of Kauneonga Lake, a lifelong area resident, a retired postmaster for Kauneonga Lake and the current Town of Bethel Tax Collector, died Sunday, December 1, 2002, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. She was 60 years of age.
She was the widow of Robert Whitney who died in 1992.
Mrs. Whitney was a former Bethel Youth Board member and a member of the Retired Postmasters' Association.
She is survived by her companion, and best friend, Richard Hovey of Liberty; two sisters, Elizabeth Evans of Kauneonga Lake and Janet Kehrley of Briscoe; five nephews, Raymond Evans and his wife, Joanne, and Todd Evans, all of Kauneonga Lake, Rod Evans of Miami, Fla., and Daryl Kehrley and Michael Kehrley and his wife, Tina, all of Briscoe; a niece, Denise Kehrley of Briscoe; three grandnephews, Christopher and Luke Evans and John Kehrley; and a grandniece, Michelle Kehrley.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 3534 State Route 55, Kauneonga Lake, on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.
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