French J. Harris, a 16-year resident of Brooksville, Fla., a former longtime resident of Neversink and a retired ironworker for Local 417 in Newburgh, died Saturday, February 8, 2003, at his Florida home. He was 77 years of age.
The son of Dillie Marks Harris and the late Ora C. Harris, he was born May 27, 1925, in Walton, W. Va. He was the widower of P. Marguerite Harris.
Mr. Harris was a past president and commissioner of the Neversink Fire Department, a charter member and past president of the Neversink Volunteer Ambulance Corps Auxiliary, a member of Masonic Lodge #816 in Liberty, a charter member of the Tri-Valley Lions Club and a member of the Aden Hunting Club. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his mother of Liberty; his wife, Susan Welch Harris, at home; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and David Cowgill of Middletown, Del., Vicki and James McIntyre of Summitville, and Rhonda and Steven Hough of Woodbourne; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Maureen Harris of Plainfield, Ind.; and five grandchildren, Ryan, Reece, Brian, Emily and Bronte.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Neversink Fire Department will hold services Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services and Masonic services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., with George Dexheimer officiating.
Burial will be made in the Rural Cemetery in Grahamsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hernando-Pasco Hospice Inc., 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, Fla. 34667 or to the Neversink Fire Department, Neversink, N.Y. 12765.

Herman Bilick of Callicoon, a former resident of Kew Gardens, Queens, died Sunday, February 9, 2003, at the Grover Hermann Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Callicoon. He was 79 years of age.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, Mr. Bilick was a self-employed H.V.A.C. contractor. He retired to Callicoon in 1992 and continued to use his skills to help create the new church spire on the Old Tusten Settlement Church. He also assisted with the restoration of the Callicoon library roof.
Mr. Bilick is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rick and Nancy Bilick of Tucson, Ariz., and Harold and Sharon Bilick of Woodhaven, Queens; a daughter, Laura and Mark Sisti of South Setauket, L.I.; a daughter-in-law, Christina Bilick of Jeffersonville; nine grandchildren, Brian, Erica, Alison, Summer, Matthew, Joshua, Natasha, Nicolas and Zachary; and two great-grandchildren, Annie and Glen. He was predeceased by a son, Dr. Gerald Bilick who died in September of 1996.
A memorial service was held at the Delaware Youth Center in Callicoon on Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grover Hermann Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Route 97, Callicoon, N.Y. 12723.

Joseph L. Robertson of Liberty, a lifelong area resident and a retired maintenance man for Woodland Townhouses in Loch Sheldrake, died Friday, January 31, 2003, at his home. He was 73 years of age.
The son of the late Wilbur L. and Myrtle Little Robertson, he was born December 16, 1929, in White Sulphur Springs.
Mr. Robertson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Bedient Robertson, at home; a son, Joseph L. Robertson Jr. of Maryland; a daughter, Dee McCabe of Salisbury, Md.; a brother, Frederick Robertson of Woodbourne; a sister, Jeannette Worden of Florida; a half-brother, Theron Robertson of Florida; a half-sister, Betty Lyman of Kennebunkport, Me.; a stepson, Walter Stein; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a half-brother, Kenneth, and a half-sister, Irene.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Private burial of the cremains will be made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, N.Y. 13220-3049.

K. Douglas "Dougie" Palen of Wurtsboro, a self-employed handyman and a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, February 9, 2003, at the Sullivan County Infirmary in Liberty. He was 69 years of age.
The son of the late Kenneth and Harriet Hindrelet Palen, he was born April 7, 1933, in Maybrook.
He is survived by three sons, Mark Palen and Raul Palen, both of Connecticut, and Kenneth Grosso of New York; a sister, Marjorie Holman and her husband, Bruce, of Montgomery; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Thursday at the Gridley-Horan Funeral Home in Walden.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.

Jack Siegel of Liberty, a retired owner of Jack Siegel Auto Wreckers of Liberty and a longtime area resident, died Monday, February 10, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 86 years of age.
The son of the late Philip and Rose Tiger Siegel, he was born February 10, 1917, in New York City.
Mr. Siegel was a member of the Parksville and Ferndale and Ahavath Israel Synagogues and was very active in the Liberty community for many years. He was also a longtime member of the Knights of Pythias.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gladys Goldberg Siegel, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Herbert and Rhonda Siegel of Staten Island; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Kenneth Plotnick of New Jersey; and four grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday at the Old Montefiore Cemetery, Springfield Gardens, Queens.
Shiva will be observed in the Siegel home in Liberty until Friday afternoon.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Asa R. Ferguson of Arvada, Colo., a former resident of Cornwall and a retired U.S. Army Quartermaster, died Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at his home. He was 84 years of age.
The son of Charles and Ethel Mae Wagner Ferguson, he was born September 30, 1918, in Summitville. He was the widower of Alice Theodore Ferguson.
Mr. Ferguson is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Gloria Ferguson of Arvada, Colo.; two daughters, Rosemary Wall and her husband, Bud, of Rapid City, S.D., and Joanne Ferguson of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Mary Rosalie Benfante of Monticello, also known as Marian Rustic, a retired restaurant manager, waitress and longtime area resident, died Sunday, February 9, 2003, at her home. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late Paul and Josephine Lescinsky Kubej, she was born September 4, 1918, in Johnstown, Pa.
Mrs. Benfante was a member of St. Peter's R.C. Church in Monticello and a past president of the City of Hope cancer charity of Monticello.
She is survived by a son, Richard J. Benfante of Monticello and Bethesda, Md., and a brother, Joseph Kubej of Johnstown, Pa.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at St. Peter's R.C. Church in Monticello with Father Timothy Wiggins officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Burial will be private in St. Peter's Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello.

Larry Ralph Auriemma of Grahamsville, a social worker for the Fallsburg Central School and a former director of Daytop Village Milbrook Adolescence Facility, died Tuesday, February 11, 2003. He was 50 years of age.
The son of the late Angelo and Carmella Leone Auriemma, he was born October 5, 1952, in Brooklyn.
Mr. Auriemma was a member of the National Association of Social Workers and he believed in the Indian Spirit. He loved working with kids, loved horses and enjoyed his music and poetry, which he loved to write. He was considered to be quite a comedian.
He is survived by his wife, Judith, at home; a daughter, Janine M. Auriemma, at home, and her mother, Louise Anne Noll of Liberty; a brother, Ron Auriemma of Bovina Center; three sisters, Angela Valvo and Kathleen Vitale, both of Queens, and Barbara Myers of Staten Island; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday evening at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Monticello Soup Kitchen, Monticello, N.Y. 12701.

John O. Ray, a longtime resident of Athens, Tenn., and a retired 40-year employee of Pipefitters Union #373, died Monday, January 27, 2003, at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, in Middletown. He was 69 years of age.
The son of the late John Walter and Nellie Rachel Manning Ray, he was born January 27, 1934, in Bethel.
Mr. Ray was a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Beverly Jean Hulse Ray, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Ronnie Templeton of Decatur, Tenn.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Mary Ray of Decatur, Tenn., and Scott and Patty Ray of Middletown; several grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a niece and several nephews; and two sisters, Catherine Miller of Athens, Tenn., and Elizabeth Peters and her husband, Burgess, of Youngsville. He was predeceased by a sister, Rose Keller.
Burial was made in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Decatur, Tenn.
A memorial gathering will be held Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Morse Funeral Home, 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 419 East Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Irene E. Linton of Warwick, a homemaker, died February 10, 2003, at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J. She was 73 years of age.
The daughter of the late Frank and Elsie VanDuzer Weeden, she was born August 26, 1929, in Goshen.
Mrs. Linton was a member of the Warwick United Methodist Church and the COGS organization of the church.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Norman J. Linton, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and William Oates of Bloomingburg; a son and daughter-in-law, James and Carole Linton of Warwick; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Heinen, Kelly Stroppel, Sara Linton, Stephanie Linton, Carol Ann, Billie Marie, Tammy and William Oates Jr.; and two great-grandsons, Joseph and Jacob; a brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Corinne Weeden of the village of Florida; and all of her extended family.
Services were held Thursday at the Lazear-Smith and VanderPlaat Memorial Home in Warwick.
Interment was made in the Warwick Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720.

Eleanor Herold Sikora, a 20-year resident of Ship Bottom, N.J., and a homemaker, died Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at her home. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of the late Cecelia and Harry Herold, she was born in Lew Beach.
Mrs. Sikora was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Woodridge Post No. 3616, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church and a member of St. Francis Guild, all in Brant Beach.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph Sikora, at home; a son, Raymond Sikora of Ship Bottom, N.J.; two daughters, Christine Sikora of Ship Bottom, N.J., and Lorraine Jecminek of San Antonio, Tex.; two brothers, John Herold of Dumont and Walter Herold of Lodi, N.J.; a sister, Dorothy Naumovitz of Liberty; and five grandchildren.
Services were held Sunday at the Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home in Ship Bottom, N.J.
Graveside services and burial were held Monday at St. Michaels Cemetery in Lodi, N.J.

Donna Lee Daktar of Middletown, a teacher's aide at Maple Hill Elementary School, died unexpectedly Monday, February 10, 2003, at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, in Middletown. She was 57 years of age.
The daughter of Robert and Mildred Horton Lybolt, she was born February 12, 1945, in Middletown.
Mrs. Daktar was a member and a Sunday School teacher of the United Church of Christ in New Vernon.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Daktar, at home; a son, Harold Daktar II of Middletown; three daughters, Nora Daktar of Middletown, Barbara Doty and her husband, Michael, of Howells, and Susan Panaro and her husband, Joseph of the state of Florida; her parents of Glen Spey; three brothers, Robert Lybolt of Middletown, and Richard Lybolt and Ronald Lybolt, both of Glen Spey; four sisters, Connie McGuire of Otisville, Jane Meckle and Barbara Lybolt, both of Glen Spey, and Bonnie Culhane of Newburgh; four grandchildren, Harold Daktar III of Middletown, Michael Doty of Howells and Stephanie and Joseph Panaro, both of the state of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Morse Funeral Home, 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown with the Rev. Stuart Styles officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Oxford Hills Crematory in Chester.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Daktar family.

Walter J. Pawlak, a five-year resident of Callicoon and a retired 23-year fireman for the Fire Department of New York, died Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 88 years of age.
The son of the late Andrew and Eva Stolpin Pawlak, he was born April 30, 1914, in Manhattan.
Mr. Pawlak also worked for the United Firefighters Association of the FDNY and for the United Federated Teachers Union of New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Schiavello Pawlak, at home; a stepson, Brian Marino and his wife, Marie, of Callicoon; two grandchildren, Anthony and Danielle Marino; two nieces, Monica Butrico and her husband, Joe, and Elizabeth Mazes and her husband, Peter; two grand-nieces, Anne and Sara; and a nephew, Eugene Zimbolt.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon with Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial will be made in Heavenly Rest Cemetery in North Branch.

Gregory N. "Rowdy" Yates of Monticello, an automobile salesman, died Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 54 years of age.
The son of Violet Dicks Yates and the late Calvin Yates, he was born August 24, 1948, in Brooklyn.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served with the U. S. Navy.
Mr. Yates is survived by his wife of 22 years, Paula Yates, at home; his mother of Surprise, Ariz.; three sons, Randy Yates of Woodridge, Shannon Rowdy Yates of White Lake, and Jason Yates, at home; three daughters, Tammy Yates and Cheryl Scott, both of Monticello, and Jessica Yates, at home; two brothers, John Yates of Arizona and Clayton R. Yates of Indianapolis, Ind.; a sister, Dorothy Brightman of Arizona; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Peter.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, February 18, at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 195 Broadway, Monticello, with the Rev. Bridgette LeConey officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Medication Fund at Catskill Regional Medical Center, P.O. Box 800, Harris, N.Y. 12742.