Lauretta Ballard of Greenwich, a former resident of Mongaup Valley and a retired nurse, died Monday, February 28, 2005, from heart failure. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Charles and Cora Taylor Burr, she was born September 14, 1915, at what was known as the Burr Farm in Bethel. She was the widow of Floyd A. Ballard who died June 22, 1982.
Following the death of her mother, she was raised by Howard and Alma Tillotson in Mongaup Valley. She was a graduate of Monticello High School and went on to study nursing, eventually working at the Hamilton Avenue Hospital in Monticello.
Mrs. Ballard was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of the Town of Bethel in Mongaup Valley where she also taught Sunday school and served in her community in many functions over the years.
In a family statement, it was said, "Alma Tillotson, an accomplished artist who trained in the Hudson River School of painting, gave to Lauretta a love of arts and crafts, with which she created countless projects. . . She married Floyd A. Ballard of Mongaup Valley in 1925 and raised three boys at the family home on Ballard Road."
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Joan Ballard of Walton, James and Lorraine Ballard of New York City and Roger and Jennifer Ballard of Mongaup Valley; a sister, Marge Coyne of Newburgh; and seven grandchildren, Nicholas Ballard, Nicholas Logan, Michelle Diliberto, Graham Ballard, Olivia Ballard, Jean-Claude Ballard and Kris Ballard.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the United Methodist Church of the Town of Bethel, Route 17B, Mongaup Valley, with the Rev. Kenneth Rodgers officiating.
Burial will be made in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of the Town of Bethel, Route 17B, Mongaup Valley, N.Y. 12762.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Kauneonga Lake.

Millard J. Conklin Sr. of Liberty, a self-employed maintenance man and a lifelong Sullivan County resident, died Monday, February 28, 2005, at the Achieve Rehab and Nursing Facility in Liberty. He was 82 years of age.
The son of the late Henry and Alfretta Sullivan Conklin, he was born December 31, 1922, in Eldred. He was the widower of Martha D. Bradley Conklin.
Mr. Conklin is survived by three sons, Joseph Conklin of Monticello, Butch Conklin and his wife, Pat, of Honesdale, Pa., and Millard Conklin Jr. and his wife, Lydia, of Hasbrouck; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. He was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia Morris, and two sisters, Dorothy Jones and Florence Schmidt.
Services were held at the Ramsay's Funeral Home Thursday evening with the Rev. Bridgette LeConey officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Howard H. Schaefer, a resident of the Masonic Care Community in Utica, died there on Monday, February 28, 2005. He was 97 years of age.
The widow of Elsie DeVoe Schaefer, Mr. Schaefer was born in Roscoe on February 6, 1908.
He was a member of the Livingston Manor Lodge #791, F.&A.M., since 1929.
Mr. Schaefer is survived by a daughter, Connie Sondergaard of Worcester.
Services were private.

Trevor Robert Simpson of Livingston Manor, a student at the Livingston Manor Central High School and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, February 28, 2005, in an accident. He was 17 years of age.
The son of Robert and Edna Mottle Simpson Jr., he was born September 26, 1987, in Harris.
In a family statement, it was said, "Trevor loved to build and work with his hands. He had a love for cars, baseball and all intramural sports, which he enjoyed playing. He will always be remembered for his beautiful bright smile."
He is survived by his parents, and a brother, Taylor, at home; his maternal grandparents, Frank and Aldona Mottle of West End, N.C.; his paternal grandparents, Robert W. Sr. and Edith Simpson of Livingston Manor; an uncle, Alan Mottle and his wife, Kathy, of Matamoras, Pa.; two aunts and their husbands, Linda and Richard Hyzer of Livingston Manor and Donna and David Stowell of West Orange, N.J.; four cousins, Richard III and Melanie Hyzer, Kristin and Kaitlin Mottle; a great-uncle, Anthony Mottle of Stone Ridge; two great-aunts, Marie Shoenbeck of Richmond Hill and Ann Pulkauninkas of Oakville, Ontario; several other great-aunts and great-uncles; many friends and his co-workers at King's Restaurant.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 1 p.m. on Friday at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Church St., Livingston Manor, with Msgr. Collins officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trevor Simpson Scholarship Fund, c/o Livingston Manor Central School, P.O. Box 947, 19 School St., Livingston Manor, N.Y. 12758.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home in Livingston Manor.

Leon Goldfarb of McFarland, Wisc., a former resident of Glen Wild, died of an apparent heart attack at his home, Harmony House, in McFarland, Wisc. He was 82 years of age.
The son of Rueben and Eva Goldfarb, he was born in Brooklyn. He was the widower of Isabelle Oslick Goldfarb.
Mr. Goldfarb spent much of his childhood in the Catskills at the family hotel, the Majestic, in Liberty. He studied agriculture at the National Farm School in Doylestown, Pa., where he was captain of the baseball and football teams, playing quarterback.
A World War II veteran, he was a blister gunner on a B-29, stationed on Tinian Island in the South Pacific. He flew 35 missions over Japan and won several medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After their marriage, the Goldfarbs moved to Glen Wild, creating Cornell Farms, one of the largest chicken farms in the state. He later co-founded Creative Gardens, a landscaping firm which achieved success by serving the newly burgeoning second-home market in Sullivan County. He then went to work as a production manager for Resort Florals, his wife's innovative business that lectured on flower arranging to guests at the major hotels, including the Concord, Kutsher's and The Nevele.
In a family statement, it was said, "After the death of his beloved wife, Leon moved to Stoughton, Wisc., where his lively sense of humor and warm and friendly personality brought joy to all. He will be greatly missed."
Cremation was private.
A memorial serviced is planned for late April in the Catskills.
Memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.

Elsie Canter of Great Neck, a retired Fallsburg Central School teacher and a longtime Woodridge resident, died Monday, February 28, 2005 at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie. She was 91 years of age.
The daughter of the late Julius and Fannie Raymond Yellin, she was born October 17, 1913, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Herman Canter who died in 1992.
Mrs. Canter was a longtime member of Congregation Ohave Sholom at the Woodridge Synagogue.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Sámi Canter of Staatsburgh and Dr. Joel and Beverly Canter of Stanfordville; a daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Richard Cohen of Great Neck; five grandchildren, Amy, Lauren, Julie, Seth and Joshua; and a great-grandson, Jack.
Services were held Wednesday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in the Woodridge Synagogue Cemetery in Glen Wild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Samuel Beyton Fallsburg Community Scholarship Fund, Fallsburg Central Schools, Fallsburg, N.Y. 12733.

Robert "Bobby Van" Vanderwiele "Johnny Cash" of Eldred, a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, February 27, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 53 years of age.
The son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth Lendick Vanderwiele, he was born November 27, 1951, in Passaic, N.J.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Wayne Vanderwiele, at home; formerly married to MaryAnn "Pudge" Thiele; two daughters, Tisha McCarthy and her husband, Frank, of Port Jervis, and Wendy Sue Vanderwiele of Westchester; a son, Johnny Cash Vanderwiele of Port Jervis; a step-son, Daniel Gorsky; a step-daughter, Jennifer Sue Gorsky; two brothers, Samuel Vanderwiele of Sussex, N.J. and Richard Vanderwiele of Wantage, N.J.; two grandsons, Brett Michael McCarthy and Timothy McCarthy; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Barryville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Burial will be made in Montoza Cemetery in Eldred.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barryville United Methodist Church, Barryville, N.Y. 12719.

Diane L. Dowling of Grahamsville, a retired telephone repair technician for Frontier Communications in Monroe and a lifelong resident of Monroe, died Monday, February 28, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, after a long illness She was 58 years of age.
The daughter of the late Edward and Janet Wilson Bowler, she was born September 11, 1946, in Newburgh.
Mrs. Dowling was a member of Telephone Pioneers of America. She was a certified clown who volunteered throughout the area for various children's organizations, and was known as "Lady Di."
She is survived by her husband, George Dowling Sr., at home; two sons, George Dowling Jr. and his fiancée, Marie, of Kenoza Lake, and Ronnie Dowling and his wife, Sandy, of Rock Tavern; two brothers, Gary Schultz and his wife, Debbie, of Clinton, Iowa, and Erve Schultz of Newburgh; a sister, Eileen Bowler of Raleigh, N.C.; four grandchildren, Shauna, Victoria, Hailey and Dylan; and three nephews, Gary, Christopher and Anthony. She was predeceased by a brother, Edward Bowler.
Services will be private.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 1 St. Jude Place Building, P.O. Box 1000, Department 300, Memphis, Tenn. 38148.

Eugene "Gino" Bloom of Rock Hill, a self-employed owner/operator of a lawn maintenance business, died Monday, February 28, 2005, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He was 75 years of age.
The son of the late Lewis and Lena Bloom, he was born March 19, 1929, in Brooklyn.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Bartnoff Bloom, at home; three step-children; and five step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother.
Graveside services and burial were held Thursday at the Wood-ridge Synagogue Cemetery in Glen Wild with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Sarah Alice Elston Conklin of Livingston Manor, a lifelong area resident and a homemaker, died February 28, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 59 years of age.
The daughter of the late Melvin and Sarah Towne Conklin, she was born November 1, 1945, in Ellenville.
She is survived by her former husband and his wife, Floyd Sr. and Justine Elston, and their two children, Lori and David; two sons, Robert Allen Elston and Michael Lee Elston and his fiancée, Christine Parken, all of White Sulphur Springs; two daughters, Roseann Joy Mason of North Creek and Tina Hazel Smith and her husband, Philip, of Liberty; a brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Beatrice Conklin and two sisters, Elizabeth Startup and Susan Conklin, all of Accord; 22 grandchildren; an unborn grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Floyd Elston Jr.
Friends may call at the Loucks Funeral Home, 79 N. Main St., Ellenville, on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Friday with the Rev. Jeff Golliher officiating.
Burial will be made in the Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville.

David L. Jervis of Napanoch, a truck driver for TFL Transportation in New Windsor and a former resident of Oradell, N.J., died Monday, February 28, 2005. He was 53 years of age.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Fiocco Jervis; three children, LeighAnne, Lynda and Bradley Jervis; four step-children, Randy, Christopher and Bryan Flanagan and Erin Weigele; his parents, Adele and William L. Jervis; two brothers, William V. Jervis and his wife, Janet C., and Donald R. Jervis and his wife, Krista; a sister, Janet L. Villano and her husband, George; and nieces and nephews, including Jennifer, Jessica, Sarah, Laura, Renn and Victoria.
A memorial service will be held at the Grahamsville Reformed Church on Saturday at noon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick, NJ. 08902 or to the charity of one's choice.

Frank E. Bennett of Ellenville died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. He was 83 years of age.
The son of the late Palmer W. and Freda Berntz Bennett, he was born August 30, 1921, in Catskill.
A corporal in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, he recieved the American Service Medal, the EAME Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Victory medal. He was a member of the DeLeo-Braunstein-Maier Post No. 8959, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Kerhonkson, and a past president of Scorsby.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Ruth Bennett, at home; three children, Terry Bennett and his wife, Marianne, of Bloomingburg, Scott Bennett of Ellenville, and Kevin Bennett and his wife, Pat, of Ulster Heights; seven grandchildren, Nisa, Cory, Joseph, Christian, Brice, Jeremy and Amy Bennett; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Brunk and her children; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Thomas Bennett, a sister, Elizabeth Miller, and a brother, William Brunk.
Friends may call at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 Main St., Woodbourne, on Saturday, March 5, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Interment will take place in the Spring in the family plot in Fan-tinekill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post 8969, c/o Ed Lamon, 6189 Route 209, Kerhonkson, N.Y. 12446.