All Obituaries

Summit- Richard E. VanValkenburg, 83, of State Route 10 passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at home with his loving family at his side. Richard was born March 6, 1939, on the family farm in Summit where he was raised.  He is the son of the late Herbert and Ruth (Vantyne) VanValkenburg. Growing up on the family farm led Richard to his love of cows, which he continued with his son, Dean, turned the land into a hobby farm where to this day, he still had two cows along with...

Jefferson- John E. Cooper, 76, of Clapper Hollow Road, died Wednesday in the comfort of his home with his family. Born April 19, 1946, in Cobleskill, he was the son of the late Milton, Sr. and Ulva (Clapper) Cooper. John retired from the Mill Services, Inc. in Cobleskill where he worked many years.  In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking. Survivors include his wife, Bertha Stannard-Cooper, whom he married June 30, 1991; his three stepchildren: Lloyd (Rosemary) Stannard, Michael...

Richmondville- Melodie “Dee” H. Neary, 72, of Richmondville, NY/Palm Harbor, FL/wherever planes fly and cruise ships float, left us on Monday, July 25, 2022, to embark on one final adventure. Born May 2, 1950, in Cortland, she was the daughter of the late Jack Harmon and her mother, who survives, Ardeth (Busch) Harmon of Stamford. Dee began what would become 48 years of dedication to Jefferson Central School in 1955 when she attended Kindergarten. She graduated from Jefferson...

Cobleskill- Eleanor C. Walsh, 88, of Union St., passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2022, in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving family. Born January 30, 1934, she was the daughter of Eugene and Mary (Kelly) Caton. Eleanor married Francis E. Walsh on June 5, 1965, and he predeceased her on November 24, 2000.  They moved to Cobleskill from Brooklyn in June 1982. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cobleskill.  Eleanor enjoyed spending...

  A frog chorus vibrates through the swamp; a heavy door creaks ominously open; an old man falls asleep in his soup with a plop. Sound effects like these were the life’s work of Tom Clack, the Englishman whose onomatopoeic name was one of the most highly regarded in the business. From the rubbery cheese on a slice of pizza that stretched from room to room, to the frantic footsteps of the apartment-dweller who “forgot to add the fabric softener,” and thousands of...

Cobleskill- Fay Marie Emmanuel, 87, formerly of Millbrook, died Monday, June 27, 2022, in the loving care of her husband and family. Born March 7, 1935, in Dalton, PA, she was the daughter of the late William Floyd and Caroline L. (Hess) Richards. Fay retired as administrative assistant to the principal at the Millbrook Central School. She met her future husband, David J. Emmanuel, a math teacher at the school and they were then “high school sweethearts”, marrying on November...

Howes Cave- Lucy H. McKelvy, 95, of Barnerville Road died on Monday, June 20, 2022, at her residence in the loving care of her family. Born July 9, 1926, in Cuba, NY, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Marguerite (Fuller) Hamilton.  Lucy received her business degree from Bryan Stratton School of Business in 1945. She spent the next 20 years raising her family and in 1966, she, her husband and family moved to Howes Cave.  In 1967 she became a payroll officer for SUNY...

Cobleskill- Jane R. Smith, 92, of Clinton Circle died on Friday, May 27, 2022, at Golden Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Kingston where she has resided for the past few months. Born March 9, 1930, in Albany, Jane was the daughter of Elmer and Dorcas (Dudley) Ramsey.  She was a graduate of Albany Business School and went on to be a bookkeeper with various local businesses.  She retired from Rua & Sons after several years as their bookkeeper.  Jane assisted her...

Alyce Ruth Hewitt Mickel died peacefully in her sleep on December 18, 2021 at her home in Front Royal, Virginia.  She was 95, and ready to join her husband Robert E. Mickel, son Mark Hewitt Mickel, and a host of other friends and family that have preceded her on this new journey. Alyce was born in East Syracuse, New York on September 4, 1926 to parents Lockwood Hewitt and Mary Weston Hewitt.  She later welcomed a sister, Betty (Hewitt} Mudge.  In 1945 Alyce married Robert E....

Cobleskill- Margaret “Peg” E. Lohret, 87, formerly of High St. and Lincoln Ave., Cobleskill, died Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the Teresian House surrounded by her loving family. Born March 5, 1935, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of Frederick and Lillian (Haight) Fuss. After receiving her master’s degree, Peg was a medical secretary for the Visiting Nurses of Schenectady where she retired following many years of service.  She married John “Jack”...