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.
