John E. Washington of Monticello, a Councilman for the Town of Thompson, died Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. He was 58.
The son of Margaret Lane Washington and the late Ambrose "Slim" Washington, he was born October 3, 1947 in Monticello.
John was a “mixologist extraordinaire” for several area resorts and local establishments. He was also a former Historian and Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Thompson; a member and past President of the Monticello Fire Dept.; member of the Monticello Elk's Lodge #1544; a former Branch Manager for the National Union Bank in Monticello; former owner of the Landfield Ave. Garage; former member of the Concord Wednesday night golf league. He also served in the United States Army Reserve.
In a family statement, it was said that “John was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and his special pal, Riley.
“A lifelong resident of Sullivan County, he was proud to serve his community and was a tireless advocate for the underdog. John was a lover of Irish music and culture, and was blessed with a quick wit and the ability to put a smile on the face of everyone he met.”
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Patricia Gregory Washington, at home; two sons, Vincent Washington of Charlotte, NC and Blake Washington and his fiancée, Jennifer, of Albany; a daughter, Kathleen Brawley and her husband, Thomas "TJ", of Monticello; his mother, Margaret T. Washington; two brothers, Robert Washington and his wife, Peggy, of Liberty and Joseph Washington and his wife, Frances, of Mongaup Valley; a sister, Anastasia Robisch and her husband, John, of Longmont, Colo., a granddaughter, Erin Mairead Brawley; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and area friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 10 from 4-8 p.m. at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Church, Broadway & Liberty Street in Monticello. Rev. Robert Ginel will officiate. Burial will be held in St. Peter's Cemetery in Monticello.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Albany Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital, 315 So. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello.

Stewart J. Colton, of Livingston Manor, an employee of Keiser Restaurant Supply, died on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at Catskill Regional Medical Center. He was 39.
The son of Ellis B. and Madeline J. Davis Colton, he was born on September 15, 1966 in Johnson City.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Jeanette, at home; his mother, Madeline, of Livingston Manor; five daughters, Amanda Irwin and her companion Charish Priest, Jamie Colton and her boyfriend Don Bertholf, Stephanie Colton and her companion Bill Maus, Bionca Colton and her boyfriend Wayne Somers and Chena Colton, all of Livingston Manor; three special little guys, Darien Nietzel, Billy and Gage Maus; four brothers, Benny Colton and his wife Su Young of South Korea, Richard Colton and his wife Theresa of the Bronx, Charles (Clay) Colton of Livingston Manor, George Colton and his wife Tonya of Alabama; one sister, Theresa Katz and her husband Tom of Neversink; his brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and many special friends.
He was predeceased by his father, Ellis B. Colton and his mother-in-law, Marjorie Irwin.
Visitation and funeral services were held Wednesday, February 8, at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, in Livingston Manor.

George Luis Rivera, a 15-year area resident, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was 50.
The son of George and Carmen Rosado Rivera, he was born May 30, 1955 in Brooklyn.
George was employed by Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris as a registrar in the help clinic.
He is survived by one brother, Nelson Rivera of North Bergen, NJ; one sister, Carmen Rivera and her husband Blase Lopez of Loch Sheldrake; a niece, Milagros Cox and her husband David of Newport News, Va.; two nephews, Amari Cox and Jonathan Lopez; and an aunt, Juanita Ortiz of Queens.
Funeral services were held Thursday at Ramsay’s Funeral Home in Liberty. Cremation will be in Cedar Hill Crematory, Middle Hope.
Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay's Funeral Homes Inc., Liberty.

Beatrice Barsky, a retired secretary for Inter-County Co-Op in Woodridge, died on Monday, February 6, 2006 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 85.
Bea was born May 5, 1920 in the Bronx, the daughter of Morris and Esther Wein Winter.
She is survived by her two sons: Gary Barsky and his wife Ellen of Mongaup Valley and Michael Barsky and his wife Donna of Plano, Texas; her daughter; Lynn McBride of Port Jervis; her sister, Irma Plot of Highland Mills; her five grandchildren: Aaron, Sarah and Suzanne Barsky and Christina and Kevin McBride; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 8 at the Mountaindale Synagogue Cemetery, Glen Wild with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Funeral arrangements were by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., Monticello.

Marjorie H. Vannatta, a homemaker and former longtime resident of Cochecton, died February 6, 2006 in West Hampton. She was 84.
The daughter of Arthur and Ruth Whitacker Robinson, she was born November 25, 1921 in Utica.
She was the widow of Lyle S. Vannatta. She is survived by one son, Donald Vannatta and his wife, Shelli, of Cape Coral, Fla.; one daughter, Betsy Kidby and her husband, George, of Greenport; four grandchildren, Thomas and George Kidby and Laura Simone and Daniel Vannatta; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, at 11 a.m. at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville with the Rev. Lee Andrews officiating. Burial will be in Overlook Cemetery, Damascus, Pa.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Angela Maria Eusse Crawford of Indian Field in White Lake, formerly of Medellin, Colombia, died at her home on Saturday, February 4, 2006 surrounded by her family.
Angela is survived by her husband of 27 years, John “Jack” Crawford; three brothers and one sister in Colombia; three stepchildren; several grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass and interment will take place at a later date in Colombia.
Memorial contributions in Angela’s name may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550. Funeral arrangements were by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes Inc., Kauneonga Lake.

Karina Kruseck of Glen Spey died Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 68 years of age.
The daughter of Max Sage and Margaret Bretch, she was born December 16, 1937 in Berlin, Germany.
She is survived by two daughters, Dony Compa-Waltz and her husband, Kenneth, of Laytonville, Calif., and Diana Sky Arledge of Glen Spey; six grandchildren, Gene and Danielle Compa of Laytonville, Calif., Jason and Justin Nixon of Liberty, Kyla Tuttle and Jesse Schatz of Glen Spey; and five great-grandchildren.
Cremation was made at Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements were made by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes of Liberty.

William Earl DeFreese, a retired machinist for Chester Cable, died Monday, February 6, 2006 at the Castle Point VA Medical Center. He was 88.
The son of the late Charles L. DeFreese and Beatrice Elizabeth DeFreese, he was born February 15, 1917 in Ringwood, NJ.
Mr. DeFreese was the widower of Anna Gertrude Mann DeFreese.
William served our country in the United States Army during World War II.
He is survived by three daughters, Charlotte Gannon of Westtown, Barbara Henderson of Liberty and Barbara Ann DeFreese; 24 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by a son, Victor and a daughter, Gloria.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello.
His funeral service will be held on Friday morning at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Jim Gandy officiating. Burial with military honors will be held in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.