Lloyd C. McMurdy

1927 - 2018

COOPERSTOWN – Lloyd Charles McMurdy passed away November 27, 2018, from metastatic multiple myeloma following a couple years at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. 

He was born January 22, 1927, to Lillie Roth McMurdy and Ollie McMurdy. In his youth he was active in 4H and sports, and graduated the top of his class in 1944 from Jefferson Central School. In late 1944 he was stricken with polio, which affected the use of his right arm. With all the challenges he faced, he coped with a smile and never felt disabled. 

In 1949 he graduated from Cornell University. He joined GLF – which became Agway – in the accounting department and began pioneering their large frame computer system. He worked as the Information Technology Manager for Agway Petroleum, retiring after 45 years to enjoy spending time with his family.

On October 29, 1955, Lloyd married Mary Sue Hedman. He was most noted as a gentleman. He was also a great provider, wonderful husband and father and loving grandfather. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Sue Hedman McMurdy and a brother, Roy Arthur McMurdy.

Lloyd is survived by his daughters, Marjorie Anne McMurdy Struckle (David) and Cheryl Lee Kane (John); grandchildren Melissa Struckle and Danielle and Jeffery Kane; a sister, Lillie McMurdy Koenig; a brother-in-law, Edward Hedman; and many nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, December 1, 2018, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. 

At 3 p.m. there will be a funeral service with the Rev. Betsy Jay, Chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating. 

The Service of Committal and Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday, December 3, 2018, at White Chapel Memory Gardens in Dewitt. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Cooperstown Center for their excellent care of Lloyd during his stay there, as well as the Bassett Oncology Department. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Louis Busch Hager Cancer Center Fund, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY  13326.

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.

Millie A. Merrifield

1931 - 2018

HARTWICK - Millie A. Merrifield, a long-time resident of Hartwick, died Saturday morning, November 3, 2018, at her daughter’s home in Bridgehampton. She was 86.

Born at the family farm on Kelsey Hill in Edmeston on December 27, 1931, she was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hutira) Sterusky. She was a 1950 graduate of Edmeston Central School.

In 1958 Millie met the love of her life, Franklin D. Merrifield. They were married on September 19, 1959, in New Berlin and had a beautiful union for 58 years. They made their home first in Schuyler Lake and then for 50 years in Hartwick.

Throughout their marriage, Millie and Frank were active members of the Schuyler Lake Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Together they loved reading and studying the Bible and teaching people about the hope it holds out for everlasting life here on earth. Millie loved her life of caring for others and making a loving, warm and secure home for her children, elderly parents and husband. She adored her garden and animals, never losing her love of “life on the farm”. She and Frank together enjoyed travelling, making many trips abroad and spending many winters in the Southern California and Florida sunshine. A description of her life would be incomplete if it didn’t include her delight of a beautiful meal and passion for shopping!  

She is survived by many dear friends in the Schuyler Lake Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses; two daughters, Ginger (Tim) Lucas of Bridgehampton and Melissa (Duane) Piatt of Soldotna, Alaska; and grandchildren Zoe Lucas, Zack Piatt and Eve Piatt. She is also survived by two nieces, Connie (Henry) Gregory and Laurie (Lenny) Melillo, both of Garrattsville. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Frank, in November 2017, and one sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Ward, of Edmeston. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 18, 2018, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 7396 State Highway 28, Schuyler Lake.  

Interment will be private in Hartwick Cemetery.

The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown is serving the family. 


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.

Lois J. Gengenbach

1933 - 2018

COOPERSTOWN – Lois J. Gengenbach, a long-time resident of Cooperstown, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 30, 2018, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. She was 84.

Born November 29, 1933, in Hudson, she was a daughter of Michael and Helen (Hover) Bessman. She married William H. Gengenbach, also from the Hudson area, on September 4, 1954, at The Church of St. Mary in Hudson.

Following her husband’s graduation from Cornell University in 1955, Lois and Bill moved back to the Hudson area to be near their respective families. In 1962, the Gengenbach family moved to Cooperstown where Bill began work as an agent for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Otsego County. From 1973 to 1982 they owned and operated a farm in Hartwick Seminary and later settled into their home on upper Main Street in the Village.

For many years, Lois was employed as a personal health aide at The Upstate Home for Children and the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home.

Throughout her entire life, Lois was a faithful Roman Catholic, and for many years was a devoted communicant of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown. She will be fondly remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

Lois is survived by five daughters and three sons-in-law, Karen Beebe of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Laurie Gengenbach of Julian, North Carolina, Susan and Todd Snelson of Oneonta, Barbara and Michael Hatalla of Clifton Park and Maria and Godwin Cotter of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada; three sons and one daughter-in-law, William “Billy” Gengenbach of Hawaii, Brian Gengenbach of Worcester and Mark and Lori Gengenbach of Havre de Grace, Maryland; many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren; one brother, David Bessman of Albany; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Bill, who died May 12, 1997; one son, Michael Paul Gengenbach who died June 5, 2018; a son-in-law, Wayne Beebe, who died December 6, 1999; a brother, Michael Everett Bessman who died April 7, 1998; and a sister, Pauline H. Kirsch who died May 10, 2018.

The Gengenbach family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. Assisting will be Fr. David Wm. Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Index.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.

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.