James G. Lyons, a lifelong resident of Monticello, died Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus in Middletown. He was 62.
The son of the late James G. Lyons Sr. and August Niven Lyons, he was born May 5, 1944 in Monticello.
Jimmy was a self-employed floor mechanic who also served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He was a man who made many friends and touched many lives along the way. He will be missed greatly.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Caroline Winkler Lyons, at home; a brother, John K. Lyons of Colo.; a sister, Sally Bonnell of Grahamsville; his beloved pets, Seamus, Suki, Cosmo, Tink, Inky and Fluffer; several nieces and nephews; and his close friends, Ron, Steffie, Riley and Svea Lindholm and Dave, Corrinne, David and Vicki Dunlap. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Virginia Dering.
A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, 500 Helendale Road, Suite 153, Rochester, NY 14609 or to the Sullivan Co. SPCA, 25 Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill, NY 12775.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home of Monticello.

Anna Margaret Kemesies Zilles died July 18, 2006 at the Achieve Rehab Center in Liberty. She was 82.
The daughter of the late John and Anna M. Kemesies, she was born September 18, 1924 in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Luke Zilles.
Anna grew up in Sayville, Long Island, and attended Albany State Teacher’s College, where she graduated with a Master’s in English and a Master’s in Library Science in 1948. She began her career as a librarian in Schenectady, and thereafter worked in Brooklyn, Croton, Chatham,Walton and finally for Delhi Ag and Tech from 1966-1991. In 1994 she and Luke retired to Cedar Key, Fla., enjoying the company of old friends Bill and Laurie Stalter and Graham and Evelyn Duncan.
In a family statement, it was said, “Anna loved to read, and to think, and passed that love along to her children and her grandchildren. She was a gentle woman who taught us that goodness can be found in all people and that an ideal of peace can overcome our human frailties. Borrow a book for her.”
She is survived by a sister, Emily Shewmaker and her husband, Carl, of Eureka, Kan.; a daughter, Erica Zilles Burkert and her husband, Tom; two grandsons, Kyle and Austin; a son, Kurt Zilles and his wife, Lea Caindoy Zilles; and two granddaughters, Leila and Leanna. She was predeceased by a brother, John Kemesies.
There will be a private memorial service.

Donald C. Coates of Pine Bush died Thursday, July 20, 2006 in Salem, Va. He was 74.
The son of Donald and Helen Armbuster Coates, he was born October 6, 1931 in New York City.
Donald was a retired electrician for American Felt and Filter Co. of New Windsor; a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Div. of the U.S. Army; and a member of the G. Paul Bettinger Amer. Legion Post #1308 where he served as commander in 1985. He was a member of the Church of the Infant Saviour; a 32-Degree Mason and former master with Wallkill Lodge, Walden; a member of Pine Bush Senior Citizens and the Walker Valley Senior Citizens.
He is survived by his wife, Vilma Corti Coates, at home; a son, Donald C. Coates Jr. and his wife, Jeanette, of Pine Bush; three grandchildren, Ashley, Scott and Michael Coates; a brother, Edward Coates and his wife, Joann, of Callicoon; a sister-in-law, Mary Coates of New City; a brother-in-law, Louis Corti and his wife, Cathy, of Pine Bush; and several nieces and nephews.
A family statement reads “Donald was very much loved by his grandchildren, family and friends. His life will go on as an organ donor.”
American Legion and Masonic services were held Sunday. A Funeral Mass was held Monday at the Church of the Infant Saviour. Father Kevin Gallagher officiated. Burial was made in New Prospect Cemetery, Pine Bush.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Infant Saviour Bldg. Fund, 22 Holland Avenue, Pine Bush, NY 12566.
Arrangements were made by the William M. Gagan Funeral Home.

Ronald Herrmann of Roscoe and Quincy, Mass., a retired teamster with Teamsters Union Local #693 of Binghamton and a longtime area resident, died Sunday, July 23, 2006 at the Brockton VA Medical Center in Brockton, Mass. He was 70.
The son of Richard and Katherine Chenick Herrmann, he was born September 9, 1935 in New York City. He was the widower of Carol Ann Young Herrmann.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. He also attended a one room schoolhouse in Fremont Center.
He is survived by a daughter, Karen Yee, of Quincy, Mass; three brothers, Richard Herrmann of Delmar, Robert Herrmann of Santa Maria, Calif., and Raymond Herrmann of Hankins; a sister, Sylvia Sheridan, of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 27 at the Stewart Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 28 at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Riverview Cemetery, Roscoe.

Earl Bright of Gainesville, Ga., formerly of Roscoe, died July 21, 2006 in Gainesville following an extended illness. He was 61 years of age.
The son of the late Tom and Mary Earls Bright, he was born January 14, 1945 in Bryson City, N.C.
Before moving to Georgia, he worked in construction in the Northeast. A 35-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, he was employed by Wrigley’s Gum Manufacturing Co. for the past 27 years in the facility services department.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Debora Hermann Bright, at home; two daughters and a son-in-law, Belinda Shook of Hiawassee, Ga. and Kayla and Kevin Breazeale of Gainesville, Ga.; a son, Christian of Gainesville, Ga.; a granddaughter, Breena Rae Breazeale; three brothers, Luke Bright, Kreel Bright, and his twin, Hearl Bright, all of Hiawassee, Ga.; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sandra and Arthur Flynn of Callicoon; a sister-in-law, Rhonda Sullivan of Lake Charles, La.; a brother-in-law, Bryan Sims of Swan Lake; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday in Gainesville.
Burial was made in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the South Bend United Methodist Church, 3512 Clarks Bridge Rd. Gainesville, Ga. 30506.

James W. “Jimmy” Simpson of Nashville, Tenn., a former area resident, drowned Friday, July 14, 2006 while swimming with friends in the Columbia River. He was 39 years of age.
The son of Bill Simpson and Articia “Artie” Romney, he was born October 6, 1966 in Torrance, Calif.
He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his father and his stepmother, Bobbie, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his mother, of Liberty; two sisters, Christine Simpson and Rhonda Morales of Bakersfield, Calif.; his paternal grandmother, Alda Simpson of Tehachapi, Calif.; three uncles; one aunt; and seven nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Simpson.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at Hanofee Park, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty with the Rev. Robert Paquet officiating.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home of Roscoe.

There will be a memorial service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at the Fallsburg Youth Center, Laurel Avenue, Fallsburg for Juan Rodriguez, an 8th grade student at Fallsburg Central School. He was born June 15, 1991 and died July 3, 2006.