Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: October 2014

Jane B. Curtis

May 6, 1923 - October 26, 2014

COOPERSTOWN - Jane B. Curtis, 91, a long-time resident of Cooperstown, died Sunday morning, October 26, 2014, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego.

Born May 6, 1923, in Rome, New York, Jane was one of eight children of Elmer and Arabella (Perry) Boyson.

After high school Jane attended the Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Missouri, where she met fellow student, Laverne A. Curtis. They were wed on January 6, 1945.

After brief stays in a few different towns in the Midwest, they settled in Cooperstown in 1948 in a home on Main Street. After six years the family spent the next two years living in various locations in New York State, returning to Cooperstown and settling on Chestnut Street. For many years, Jane served as a Unit Clerk at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown where she eventually retired.

In 1957, Jane and her family became members of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown where she was active in the Women's Fellowship.

Jane is survived by eldest son Gary and his wife, Mary, of Sunnyvale, Texas, daughter Holly McDonough and her husband, Tim, of Durham, North Carolina, son Jeffry and his wife, Diane, of Keystone Heights, Florida, and son Dr. Robert Curtis, D.C., of Long Beach, California. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Todd Curtis and his wife Jennifer, Jill (Curtis) Foye and her husband Brian, Melissa Nixon, Joseph, Elizabeth, Kevin and Owen McDonough, Jenny Grill and Krissi (Grill) Campbell; four great grandchildren, Victoria and Zachary Curtis, and Landry and Austin Foye; one brother, Herbert Boyson of San Antonio, Texas, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Dr. Laverne A. Curtis, D.C., who died May 8, 1997, and six siblings.

A Memorial Service to the Glory of God in Thanksgiving for the Life of Jane B. Curtis will be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2014, in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie Armstrong Rhodes, pastor, officiating. The service will be followed by a reception in the adjoining Chapel.

As an alternative to flowers, Jane's family suggests that those who so desire may make memorial gifts in her memory to Logan College of Chiropractic at Logan University, 1851 Schoettler Road, Chesterfield. Missouri 63017.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Kittie Leslie Johnson

August 4, 1957 - October 17, 2014

MIDDLEFIELD - Kittie Leslie Johnson, a local folk artist of Middlefield, died peacefully at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York, on October 17th 2014.

Kittie was born in Oswego County, Fulton, New York, on August 4th, 1957, the daughter of Rodney Erwin and Elizabeth Jeanne Johnson.

Upon graduation from SUNY Oneonta in the spring of 1980 with a degree in Fine Arts, she pursued painting full time. Kittie was a familiar face at local art shows and across the entire Northeast, displaying images of an earlier time. As a decorative painter, her commissions varied from small commemorative pieces to decorated furniture and full size room murals.

She was a longtime member of Cooper Country Crafts as well as other local artist groups. She was also very active as a volunteer at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital and Otsego Manor, visiting, and encouraging countless individuals.

Kittie was a member of both the Emmons and Cooperstown Junction United Methodist Church, where she frequently played the organ as well as the flute.

She was well known for her generosity when it came to helping out both local charities and rallying special causes. As a cancer survivor herself, she could always be found at the Relay for Life events across the region.

Kittie delighted countless numbers of shut-ins with colorful Easter Baskets and Christmas presents.

She was predeceased by her parents, Rodney Erwin and Elizabeth Jeanne Johnson, her brother, Kevin Johnson, and Roy Johnson, her uncle.

Surviving are her sister, Karen Rury (Edward) and their children, Sarah, Jessica (Jason) and Jonathan (Maura); her brother Mark Johnson (Gina) and children Matthew Carr (Heather), Benjamin and Samuel; her brother Seth Johnson (Doreen) and their children, Jessica, Scott (Amanda) and Weston. She is further survived by grand nieces and nephews Cameran Flint, Elliot and Aidan Rury, Nathan Rury, and Gabriel and Logan Johnson.

A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be offered at 2 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at the United Methodist Church at Cooperstown Junction, with the Rev'd. Dr. Charles J. Curley officiating.

Kittie will be laid to rest in the family plot in the Ira Union Cemetery on White Cemetery Road in Bowens Corners.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the United Methodist Church and earmarked for either Emmons or Cooperstown Junction. All gifts should be addressed to Karen Rury, P.O. Box 85, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.

Arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Richard W. Roediger

September 26, 1929 - September 28, 2014

RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Richard ("Rick") William Roediger, formerly of Richfield Springs, New York, and Spring Hill, Florida, passed away Sunday, September 28, 2014, with his family by his side at Valley Health Services in Herkimer, New York. He was 85.

Born September 26, 1929, at Jersey City Hospital in New Jersey, he was the son of Otto Richard and Hattie Sophie (Wassermeyer) Roediger. When he was young, his mother died unexpectedly, and her sister, Anna Wassermeyer, raised him and his sister, Anita, in Bergen, New Jersey.

On March 19, 1955, he married Dorothy Marie Romaine in Teaneck, New Jersey. They lived in Park Ridge, New Jersey, then Hackensack, New Jersey.

An auto mechanic by trade, Rick worked at Ford Motor Company in Mahwah, New Jersey, from 1955 until the plant closed. After moving to Warwick, New York, he worked as a shop mechanic at Stanley Chrysler Plymouth, and then relocated his family to Exeter, New York, in the early 1970s, working at Smith Ford and Don's Ford.

Following his retirement from the auto industry, Rick and Dot pursued their lifelong passion of buying and selling collectibles and antiques. They owned and operated Wagon Wheel Antiques on US Highway 20 in Richfield Springs, New York, where they lived from 1980 to 1994. Rick was never at a loss for words and could talk "shop" for hours. After wintering in the south for a number of years, they moved to Spring Hill, Florida.

Rick is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dot, of Clinton, New York; a devoted daughter, Diane Wells and her partner, Rob Fiorentino, of Springfield Center, New York; six grandchildren, Amber Lange and husband, Jaret, of West Sand Lake, New York, David Wells, Jr. and partner, Amy Wells, of West Winfield, New York, Nathan Wells and wife, Viki, of Endicott, New York, Brian Wells and wife, Mandie, of Sidney, New York, Sarah Wells and partner, Jared Carlton, of Edgewater, Florida, Denise Malyana of Florida; and nine great grandchildren, Mia and Sierra Lange, Kazmira Wells, Brian Wells, Jr., Amir and Sami Malyana, Kaylei Brown, Rena Gail Carlton, and Dennis Carlton.

In addition to his parents, Rick was predeceased by Anna Wassermeyer, a daughter, Gail Marie Wells, and a sister, Anita Roberts.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Spring Hill, Florida.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, New York.