Marjorie Durland Smith, 88
November 25, 1922 - October 24, 2011

Our mother, Marjorie Durland Smith, of Monticello, Wanaksink Lake and Montgomery, NY, died Monday, October 24, 2011. She was born Marjorie Chase Durland, November 25, 1922 in Monticello, to Wesley and Gladys (Chase) Durland. Marjorie was the granddaughter of Emma C. Chase a pioneer in NYS and Sullivan County education.
Predeceased by our father, William Galbraith Smith and her sister, Alberta Durland Richardson, she is survived by her brother Robert S. Durland of East Aurora, NY, her children and their spouses: Michael and Veronica Smith of Wanaksink Lake, NY, Casey and Warren Skuret of Palm, PA, Judy and Tom Dobbie of Poughkeepsie, NY, Virginia and John Galanti of Montgomery, NY. She is also survived by her four grandchildren (Erin Skuret Steenburgh, Kristen Skuret Barker, Ryan M. Smith, and Lisa Smith Lee), five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A graduate of Monticello High School, she worked for NY Telephone during WWII in Monticello, Troy and Geneva, NY, and for General Electric in Schenectady, NY. Mom graduated from NYC’s Traphagen School of Design and worked for Brooks Costume Company. She worked as Chief Census Enumerator for the Monticello Central School District, as a local history columnist for the Republican Watchman Newspaper, and as historian for the Town of Thompson for over 30 years.
Mom volunteered in many organizations. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader in Monticello, Sunday School teacher in the Monticello Presbyterian Church, former director of the Sullivan County Junior Red Cross, past president and member of the Women’s Club of Monticello, former corresponding secretary and member of the State Board of Directors for the NYS Federation of Women’s Clubs, member of the General and International Federation of Women’s Clubs, former chairperson for the Monticello Youth Recreation Commission, former chairperson for the Town of Thompson Zoning Board of Appeals for 15 years, past president and member of the Municipal Historians Association of NYS, past president and member of the Hudson Valley Historians Association, past president and member of the Sullivan County Historical Society, former director and museum chairperson for the Sullivan County Museum.
Mixed into all of the above, she was our mother, making our clothes and Halloween costumes for the parades down Broadway in Monticello, taking us swimming at Wanaksink Lake, helping us with homework, and playing lunch-time hostess to our myriad of school friends. With her wonderful sense of humor, she opened our home and her heart to all of our friends. She guided us through school, college, work, marriage, children, success and failure. She taught us right from wrong, self-reliance, strong work ethics and good manners. She and our father provided us a good life.
She was a generous, kind, gentle, compassionate, creative, intelligent and very funny woman who deeply loved her family and community. She humbled us with the depth of her personal strength as she fought for her life and dignity against Alzheimer’s disease for over 20 years. Above all, she blessed us with her absolute love, standing beside us always. This very fine woman is and will be always in our hearts.
We would like to express our profound appreciation to our mother’s caregivers over the past six years; Barbara, Basia, Anna, Zofia, Bozena, Ela, Grazyna, Halina, Renata and Anna Maria.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sullivan County Historical Society, a community organization to which our parents and Grandmother Durland gave so much in their lifetimes. (SCHS, P.O. Box 247, Hurleyville, NY, 12747).
Funeral services will be held at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, Monticello on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held that morning, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the funeral home. Burial services will follow at Glenwood Cemetery, Oneonta, N.Y.
Arrangements under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello. For additional information please visit www.kennyfuneralhome .com

Robert Thoby, Sr.
Ret. Drywall Finisher and Security Guard, 83

Robert Thoby, Sr., a Hudson Valley native, died peacefully with family at his side on Monday, October 24, 2011. He was 83.
Mr. Thoby was born, on February 23, 1928, and raised in Newburgh, and spent much of his life in Orange and Ulster counties before moving to Bushnell, Florida. He recently relocated to Powder Springs, GA.
Mr. Thoby was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a retired accomplished drywall finisher and security guard.
Mr. Thoby loved fresh water fishing, particularly in Livingston Manor, and was an avid reader, enjoying Zane Gray novels.
He was a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and cousin.
Mr. Thoby was predeceased by his loving wife Virginia; two sons, William and David; a sister, Madeline Smith.
He is survived by his children, Virginia Gross, and her husband, Hank; Kathleen Latour and her husband, Charles; Robert Thoby, Jr.; Sandra Will and her husband, John; and Kenneth Thoby and his wife, Dorothy; and daughter-in-law Teri Johnson and her husband, John; grandchildren: Stephanie Paine and her husband, Edward; Kevin Sanders, Eric Bailey and his wife, Jennifer; Justin Thoby, Andrew Thoby, Destiny Thoby, and Kassandra Will; great-granddaughter, Lorelai Bailey; a sister, Evelyn Thompson; several cousins; and 33 nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Mr. Thoby’s life will be held at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011.
Burial with full military honors will be held at National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL at a later date.
www.applebee-mcphillips.com

Allan T. Rake
April 1, 1955 - October 25, 2011

Allan T. Rake of Tyler Hill, Pa., died Tuesday, October 25, 2011 as a result of a logging accident. He was 56.
He was born April 1, 1955 in Franklin, New Jersey, the son of Thelma Kenyon Rake and the late Russell L. Rake.
Allan was married to Joan Ward Rake.
Allan is survived by his mother, Thelma Kenyon Rake; his wife, Joan Ward Rake; two sons, Jesse and Wyatt Rake; a brother, William Newport; two sisters, Florence Eldred and Joan Macpeek; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, his brother Raymond Rake, and a sister, Patricia Conklin.
Friends may call on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, 34 Upper Main Street, Callicoon, NY from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A Memorial Service will be held at the funeral home at noon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Equinunk Volunteer Fire Dept., 2625 Hancock Hwy., Equinunk, PA 18417.
Arrangements by Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon.