OBITS: Post-Star 3 Jun 2005; Glen Falls, Warren co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Post-Star http://www.post-star.com Austin, I. Lorraine HUDSON FALLS -- I. Lorraine Austin, 90, of Lower Dix Avenue, went into the arms of the Lord, on Thursday, June 2, 2005, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born on Sept. 25, 1914, in Hudson Falls, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Viola (LaPoint) Mondoux Sr. Lorraine was a 1930 graduate of St. Mary's School in Hudson Falls. She married R. Edgar Austin Sr. on May 11, 1935, at St. Paul's Church in Hudson Falls. He died in 1971. She was a communicant of St. Mary's/St. Paul's Church in Hudson Falls. Lorraine was an excellent cook. She loved spending time with her family, spent many hours watching television and enjoyed tending to her lovely home. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Gary L. Austin; a brother, Joseph Mondoux Jr. and a sister, Bertha Mae Gaulin. Survivors include her son, Richard E. Austin and his wife, Linda D., of Hartford; a sister- in-law, Helen Mondoux of Hudson Falls; three grandsons, Staff Sgt. Jason G. Austin and his fiancee, Janet, of Madison, Ala., Andrew Austin of Warrensburg and Matthew Austin of Hartford; one aunt, Viola Penders of Hudson Falls; three nephews, Michael Mondoux and his fiancee, Susan Meehan, of Hudson Falls, Bernard Gaulin of Hudson Falls and John Gaulin and his wife, Kathy, of Virginia; and one niece, Susan Ringer and her husband, Jeff, of Hudson Falls. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary's/St. Paul's Church, on the park in Hudson Falls. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Paul's Cemetery, on Vaughn Road, in the town of Kingsbury. Lorraine's family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Charles R. Wood Cancer Center, Pruyn Pavilion, Glens Falls Hospital, 100 Park St., Glens Falls, NY 12801 or the charity of one's choice. Published in the Post-Star from 6/3/2005 - 6/4/2005. Ekseth, Oed CROWN POINT -- Oed Ekseth, 88, of Monitor Park Road, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt. Born in Tromham, Norway, on June 21, 1916, he was the son of Ole and Anna (Johanson) Ekseth. Mr. Ekseth was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, and retired from the U.S. Air Force after any years of service. Oed was a resident of Crown Point since 1975, and was a communicant of the Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Marie Ekseth, on Feb. 4, 2005. Oed is survived by a sister, Ethel Rao, of Bristol, Conn. There will be no calling hours. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, June 6, at the Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor., will officiate. The Rite of Committal will take place at the family plot of the Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery of Crown Point at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga. Published in the Post-Star on 6/3/2005. Gumuka, Norma J. LAKE GEORGE -- Norma J. Gumuka, 78, of Courthouse Estates, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born on Jan. 22, 1927, in Amsterdam, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Rose Kozlowski. Mrs. Gumuka graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School, in Amsterdam, Class of 1944. She married Richard Joseph Gumuka on June 3, 1945. Mrs. Gumuka and her husband owned and operated Nordick's Tavern in Schenectady from 1947-1954. In 1954, they purchased the Fernwood Inn property in Lake George, which became Nordick's Motel and restaurant. Mr. and Mrs. Gumuka retired in 1985. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church of Lake George and a member of the Lake George BPW. Mrs. Gumuka enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and gardening. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Edward Kozlowski; and her brother-in-law, Alolph Jasper. Survivors include her husband, Richard J. Gumuka of Lake George; one son, Dennis R. Gumuka and his wife, Athena, of Ballston Spa; one grandson, Michael T. Gumuka of Ballston Spa; one granddaughter, Alexi C. Gumuka of Ballston Spa; and one sister, Eleanor Ceil Jasper of Amsterdam and Lake Worth, Fla. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 50 Mohican St., Lake George, with the Rev. Bernard R. Turner, pastor, officiating. A Rite of Committal will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Steadwell Avenue, Amsterdam. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Stafford Funeral Home, Inc., 90 Montcalm St., Lake George. The family has suggested that memorial contributions may be made to the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main St., Queensbury, NY 12804. Published in the Post-Star on 6/3/2005. Neff, Evan A. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Evan A. Neff, 86, of Winter Haven, Fla., died Sunday, May 15, 2005. A native of Breckinridge, Colo., he moved to Winter Haven area 30 years ago from Hudson Falls. Mr. Neff served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving aboard the Aircraft Carrier Langley. He was owner of Neff Trailer Sales in Hudson Falls. Mr. Neff was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Haines City, Fla, a member of Haines City Lodge and the Scottish Rite Shrine. He is survived by his wife, Jean Neff of Haines City, Fla.; two sons, Evan A. Neff and Jim B. Neff, both of Gig Harbor, Wash.; a daughter, Carolyn R. Bennett of England; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, Fla. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 21 South Second St., Haines City, FL 33844 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823. Condolences may be sent via www.oakridgefuneralcare.com. Published in the Post-Star on 6/3/2005. Olsen, Ruth E. QUEENSBURY -- Ruth E. Olsen, 80, passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born on Sept. 17, 1924, in Mount Kisco, N.Y., she was the daughter of Harry and Helen (Christuphersen) Carlson Sr. Ruth retired from AT&T as a telephone operator after many years of service. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Oscar Olsen. Survivors include her brother, Harry Carlson Jr. of Lake George; and her half sister, Edith Turner of Massachusetts. Funeral services and burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are under the direction of Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road, Queensbury. Published in the Post-Star from 6/2/2005 - 6/3/2005. Reed, Cecil A. "Bill" WARRENSBURG -- Cecil A. "Bill" Reed, 81, formerly of River Street, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Westmount Health Facility in Queensbury follow a long illness. Born March 29, 1924, in Luzerne, he was the son of the late Charles and Goldie (Putney) Reed. Bill attended Gailey Hill one room school house in Luzerne, and became a lifelong resident of the Warrensburg area. He drove pulp truck for over 30 years with various logging companies in the area. He drove for Joseph White of Hadley before taking ill in 1983. Bill's five brothers: Clinton, Clifford, Charles, Ernest and Ernest; six sisters, Viola, Eva, Bertha, Beatrice, Nellie and Blanche; son, Robert Reed and grandson, Adam Baker, have all predeceased him. Survivors include Isabell Reed; sons: William of Florida, Gerald and his wife, Maryellen, Wayne and his wife, Joyce, Bruce and his wife, Karen, all of Warrensburg, Earl and Elaine of Connecticut, Dale of California, and Edward and his wife, Terri, of Massachusetts; daughters, Joan Monahan and her husband, Ron, of Fort Ann, Ruth McNeill of Warrensburg, and JoAnn Lovett of Connecticut; a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" McKinney of Warrensburg; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call on Bill's family from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Committal services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Warrensburg Cemetery. His family extends a special thank you to the staff at Warren County Residential Hall and Westmount Health Facility for the outstanding care and compassion they provided. In lieu of flowers, Bill's family suggest donations be made to the Warren County Residential Hall, Activities Fund, Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885. Published in the Post-Star on 6/3/2005. Seelye, Evelyn (Washburn) KINGSBURY -- Evelyn (Washburn) Seelye, 77, of Vaughn Road, went into the arms of her Lord, on Thursday, June 2, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital, after a long battle with cancer. Born on Aug. 1, 1928, in Clemons, she was the daughter of the late Arthur G. and Evelina (Granger) Washburn of Hudson Falls. She graduated from Hudson Falls High School in 1946. On June 21, 1947, she married Marshall B. Seelye of Kingsbury at the Gospel Lighthouse Assembly of God Church in Hudson Falls. Evelyn retired in 1976 from Seelye's Auction House in Queensbury, a business she and her husband began in 1963. She was the firm's bookkeeper and was involved with her husband as a full partner in all of their business ventures. Until 1993, the Seelyes spent 17 winters in Englewood, Fla. She was a member of The Oneida Community Church in Queensbury as well as the Queen Anne Seniors in Fort Ann and the Seelye Genealogical Society. Evelyn enjoyed sewing, needlework and especially traveling. She had visited all 50 states as well as seven provinces of Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Along with her husband, Evelyn drove an 18 wheeler through 48 states in one and one half years. She enjoyed every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. Survivors in addition to her husband of 57 years, Marshall B. Seelye of Kingsbury, include one son, Martin A. Seelye and his wife, Arlene, of Hudson Falls; one daughter, Judith L. Shaw and her husband, William, of Sunrise, Fla.; three grandchildren: Kimberly Lane and her husband, Chris, of Glens Falls, Cory Seelye-Dixon and her husband, Robert, of Glens Falls and Chad Seelye of Hudson Falls; one brother, Albert Washburn and his wife, Ruth, of South Glens Falls; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Oneida Community Church, Oneida Corners in Queensbury with pastor David McCane officiating. Burial will be private at Pine View Cemetery in the town of Queensbury. The family suggests that memorials take the form of donations to the Oneida Community Church, Oneida Corners, Queensbury, NY 12804. Arrangements are under the direction of Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls. Evelyn's family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at the Charles R. Wood Cancer Center, especially Dr. Sponzo, Jean VanAuken, Donna Boss, Rose Trainor and Mary LaFrance. Published in the Post-Star from 6/3/2005 - 6/4/2005. Shea, Agnes Griffin HOOSICK FALLS, NY -- Agnes Griffin Shea, 95, formerly of Hoosick Street, died Wednesday evening, June 1, 2005, at Hoosick Falls Health Center. Born in Bennington, Vt., on March 7, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Catherine Lee Griffin. She was raised in Bennington, and moved to Hoosick Falls following her marriage, where she lived most of her life. Agnes was a homemaker and a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls. She loved her family and took great interest in all that they did. Agnes was the widow of the late Francis T. Guiden, who died in 1939, and the late Jeffrey J. Shea, who died Feb. 27, 1980. She is survived by three daughters: Ann Graney of Hoosick Falls, Kay McCauley and her husband, Larry, of Salem, N.Y. and Noreen Shea of Johnstown, N.Y.; grandmother of Paul J. Graney of Hoosick Falls, Patricia Ellement of Queensbury, William Graney of Hillsdale, N.Y., Mary Suite of Hoosick Falls, Kathy McCauley of North Ferrisburgh, Vt., Nancy Kenney of Montour Falls, N.Y., James McCauley of Kodiak, Alaska and John McCauley of Montour Falls, N.Y. She is also survived by 15 great -grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson, Robert Graney, who died Aug. 19, 2000; her brothers, James, Edward and John Griffin; a sister, Margaret Curran and a twin sister, Alice Griffin. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 10:00 a.m. from Robson-Reinfurt Funeral Home, 72 Main St., Hoosick Falls and at 10:30 a.m at the Immaculate Conception Church, Hoosick Falls, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Liam Condon, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Salem. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Hoosick Falls. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church, P.O. Box 269, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 or to the Hoosick Falls Health Center, 21 Danforth Street, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090. Condolence book and directions at (www.Robson-Reinfurt.com). Published in the Post-Star on 6/3/2005.