David G. Morris

1928 - 2021

COOPERSTOWN – David G. Morris, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Monday morning, April 26, 2021, at his beloved home, Evergreen, in Cooperstown following a lengthy illness. He was 92. 

Born November 30, 1928, in Lena, Wisconsin, Dave was a son of Ralph and Ruth (Pelkey) Morris. It was while he was on a hayride in Ohio that he met the love of his life, Emily Moran. They were married July 4, 1953, in Hillsboro, Ohio.

Dave held various sales and management positions with Batesville Casket Company. During his career he achieved Salesman of the Year and was inducted into the Masters Club. It was while working with the Ingalls Funeral Home that Millie Ingalls encouraged Dave and his family to move to and settle in Cooperstown.
 
At the age of 55 Dave retired from Batesville. He was one never to sit idle, so he began a career as a real estate broker with Hubbell’s Real Estate in Cooperstown. Always a people person, he really enjoyed this job, and kept working until his late 80s. 

Dave was a horseman, owning several horses through the years. Well into his 70s, he would travel to the western high country of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana to join cattle drives. He and his family crossed Michigan on horseback several times on the Shore-to-Shore trail. This gave him the opportunity to be on horseback for weeks at a time. He will be fondly remembered for being an old cowboy at heart.

Dave was an avid skeet shooter and hunter, having harvested many nice whitetail bucks. He and Emily enjoyed many Sunday drives in their 1953 MGTD, which he had restored. 

Dave is survived by his wife of 67 years, Emily A. Morris of Cooperstown; two sons, David A. “Tony” Morris and wife, Lynda of Traverse City, Michigan and Daniel P. Morris and wife, Nancy of Cooperstown; two daughters, Ellen A. Morris and husband, Stephen Mahlum of Cooperstown and Erin E. Budd and husband, Stephen of Huntersville, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, Adelia Wiley and husband, Brian, Victoria Morris, Madelyn Maxbauer and husband, Andrew, Olivia Morris, Leland Morris, Alexander Mahlum, Zachary Mahlum, David Budd and Margaret Budd; great grandchild Lillian Maxbauer; a sister, Mary Lou Hains of Sabina, Ohio; a cousin, Don B. Morris of Leesburg, Ohio; the Rolfe family of Bainbridge, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Margaret Hudson of Hillsboro, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Beth Morris; an infant grandson, Samuel Vincent Morris; and a sister, Virginia Rose.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at a later date at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Dave’s memory to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820. 

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.

Frances E. “Casey” Ives

1924 - 2021

MILFORD – Frances E. “Casey” Ives, who served for many years as a Registered Nurse at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, sadly passed away Saturday morning, April 17, 2021, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. At the age of 96 she almost beat COVID-19. 

Born May 22, 1924, in Hopedale, Massachusetts, she was a daughter of Alfred Joseph Howarth and Violet Turner Howarth. Raised in Massachusetts, she moved with her family as a teenager to New Jersey. After graduating from high school she attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and earned a bachelor’s degree. In 1948 she married Fred Jones and moved to Wisconsin. 

After their marriage ended in divorce, Frances came back East to live with her parents in Delaware County where they had a large horse farm in Fergusonville. Realizing she needed to make a career for herself, Frances enrolled at the Columbia University School of Nursing in New York City and graduated in 1958 as a Registered Nurse. She returned to the Oneonta area and was employed for many years at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. It was there that she received her nickname, “Casey.” At the time, her last name was Jones, and because of her quick ways and mannerisms, a patient called her “Casey Jones” and the name stuck. In her retirement, she continued caring for people and helped out at The Meadows in Cooperstown. 

Never one to sit idle, Casey had many hobbies and interests throughout her life. A talented and excellent seamstress, she was an avid quilter, spun her own wool, and created museum quality reproduction clothing for various historical periods. She also enjoyed other types of craft work and had a large collection of antique dolls. From her time spent on her parent’s farm, she grew to understand and appreciate horses, and became especially proficient at riding side-saddle. Casey truly lived life to the fullest. 

Casey is survived by her daughter, Patty Lyon and husband, Steven of Arnold Lake; two sons, Perry and David Jones; stepchildren Julie, Susan, Charles, Ralph, Dick, James, Betty and Tim; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her second husband, Charles Ives, and a sister, Ruth Haynes. 

Due to the on-going pandemic that has touched her family’s life, there will be no gathering or services. For now, please remember the times spent with Casey, her spunkiness and go-getter personality, smile, and know that she is at peace. 

As a way to honor Casey’s life, please consider a memorial donation to the Hartwick Fire Department Company No. 2, 4877 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, 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.

John W. Wirchansky

1942 - 2021

COOPERSTOWN - It is with great sadness that the family of John W. Wirchansky announces that he peacefully went home to be with the Lord on April 1, 2021. His final days were spent surrounded by family.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary; children, David and April (Jon); grandchildren, Michael, Jaesyn, Josiah, Jasper, Kiana; sister, Eileen Cunningham; niece, Leslie; nephew, Cameron; cousin, Eleanor Johnson; and nu- merous other family and friends.

John, 78, was born in Yonkers, to John and Anna Wirchansky.

He graduated from A.B. Davis High School, SUNY New Paltz and Columbia University.

He was a high school social studies teacher at John Jay High School in Katonah for more than 30 years where he was very active in student activities. He also taught at the Chapel Field Christian School in Pine Bush. After retirement John worked as a substitute teacher at Laurens Central School for several years.

Teaching and mentoring students brought John great joy and satisfaction. He was a dedicated member and deacon at the First Christian Church of South Valley. He loved to sing, garden and spend time with his grandchildren.

John was a strong, honest, proud and good man. He was loved and will be missed by many.

A private service will be held at the family's request.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John's name to the John Jay Retirees Scholarship Fund, c/o Ernesta DelNegro, 159A Heritage Hills, Somers, NY 10589, or Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28201.


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.