Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: November 2024

Emily Ann Morris

1929 - 2024

COOPERSTOWN – Emily Ann Morris, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and sister, entered into eternal rest late Friday night, November 8, 2024, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, North Carolina. She was 95.

Born June 18, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Emily was one of six children of Clarence Henry Moran and Mildred Mary (Heist) Moran. In her youth, she attended St. Vincent de Paul School, and later graduated from Hillsboro High School. It was while she was on a hayride in Ohio that she met the love of her life, David G. Morris. They were married July 4, 1953, in Hillsboro, Ohio.

Due to Dave’s sales and management positions with Batesville Casket Company, the family lived in various places. It was while working with the Ingalls Funeral Home that Millie Ingalls encouraged the Morris family to move to and settle in Cooperstown, where they lived for 60 years.

During her years in Cooperstown, Emily enjoyed working for The Church Mouse Boutique on Pioneer Street, and also for a time ran a bed and breakfast out of their home, which she called “Evergreen.”

The family enjoyed horses and many other animals at their home on Middlefield Road. Emily and Dave also enjoyed many Sunday drives in their 1953 MGTD, which Dave had restored.

Emily is survived by 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 Cornelius, North Carolina, and Erin E. Budd and husband, Stephen of Huntersville, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, Adelia Wiley, Victoria Morris, Madelyn Maxbauer, Olivia Morris, Leland Morris, Alexander Mahlum, Zachary Mahlum, David Budd and Margaret Budd; seven great grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Hudson of Hillsboro, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased in 2021 by her husband of 67 years, Dave; a daughter, Mary Beth Morris (1981); an infant grandson, Samuel Vincent Morris (1997); two brothers, Dr. Vincent Stephen “Vince” Moran (1998) and Dr. Joseph Patrick Moran (2010); two sisters, Mary Delores Moran (1958) and Mary Elizabeth Moran (2014); and a nephew, Thomas Patrick Moran (2024).

Emily will be privately laid to rest in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Emily’s memory to Levine & Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078.

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.

Clyde G. Yakos

1938 - 2024

FLY CREEK VALLEY – Clyde G. Yakos, 86, of Fly Creek Valley, peacefully entered into eternal rest Monday afternoon, November 4, 2024, at his home following a lengthy illness.

He was born March 23, 1938, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, one of two children of Tony and Anna (Hribar) Yakos. Raised on the family dairy farm in Fly Creek Valley, he graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1957. He then attended the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Cobleskill where he earned an associate degree.

Clyde was inducted into the United States Army on August 7, 1962, and proudly served his country with Battery A, 68th Artillery American-British-Dutch-Australian Command as an Ordnance Supply Specialist. He received his Honorable Discharge on August 6, 1964.

After his discharge from the Army he began employment as an orderly at Holy Family Hospital, in New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he would meet his future wife. On September 11, 1965, Clyde married Margaret Anne Moore in a ceremony at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Erin Prairie, Wisconsin.

Later that year they returned to Fly Creek Valley where Clyde managed the family farm. In 1973, in partnership with his father, Tony, they opened Yakos Farm Supply. The store was closed in 1986. The farm was sold in 1987. After selling the farm, Clyde was employed at The Otesaga for 10 years, where he became a familiar site at buffets in the main dining room.

Clyde had been a member and former president of The Lions Club of Cooperstown, as well as a member of the Pierstown Grange.

Clyde is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret; their three sons, John Yakos and Karen Lyons of West Palm Beach, Florida, Robert and Amanda Yakos of Clemmons, North Carolina, and Randy and Jennifer Yakos Jennifer of San Diego, California; six grandchildren, Logan Yakos of West Palm Beach, Florida, Samuel Yakos, Nathan Yakos and Joseph Yakos of North Carolina, Jackson Yakos and Caitlin Yakos of California; and a sister, Elaine Yakos-LeBron of Ecuador.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date. He will be laid to rest in the family plot in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Richfield Springs.

Memorial donations may be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.

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

Ronald F. Jex

1936 - 2024

COOPERSTOWN – Ronald F. Jex, a long-time member of the Cooperstown community who was active with his church, the Masons and Lions, and who will be remembered for his years managing the Cooperstown General Store on Main Street, peacefully entered into eternal rest in the early morning hours of Friday, November 1, 2024, at his home on Chestnut Street. He was 87.

Ronald Francis Jex was born November 23, 1936, in Lockport, one of six children of Nelson L. Jex, a native of Great Yarmouth, England, and Marian Loraine (Wilcox) Jex. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Buffalo.

He was inducted into the United States Army on September 19, 1960, and proudly served his country until receiving his honorable discharge from the military on September 18, 1962.

On September 14, 1963, Ron married Marti Huntress in a ceremony at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Vineland, New Jersey. In 1971, Ron and Marti and their young family moved to Cooperstown and settled into their home on Chestnut Street.

Throughout his life, Ron was a successful businessman for several retail stores. He owned and operated the Ben Franklin store in Fort Plain, managed the Cooperstown General Store on Main Street in Cooperstown in the space formerly occupied by the J.J. Newberry department store, and assisted Marti in owning and operating Ellsworth & Sill on Main Street up until just a few years ago.

On May 13, 1959, Ron was Raised a Master Mason in Kingston Lodge No. 10, Free and Accepted Masons in Kingston. After moving to Cooperstown, Ron affiliated with Otsego Lodge No. 138, F. & A.M. on December 28, 1973, and right up until his unexpected death was a dedicated and faithful Lodge Brother who rarely missed a meeting. He served the Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1980, was Treasurer from January 1985 until June 2022, and was currently serving as the Lodge’s Chaplain, a position he has held for many years. At the state level he served from 1988-1989 as Grand Steward for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, the position which bestowed on him the title of Right Worshipful Brother. This past June, Ron was honored for 65 years of loyal support and dedication to the Masonic Fraternity at an event attended by many Brother Masons and guests from throughout the state. He was also a member since 1996 of Otsego Chapter No. 26, Royal Arch Masons. Companion Jex kept this Chapter together whilst serving for over 10 years as the Excellent High Priest. Brother Jex will be greatly missed by his many Brothers and friends in the Masonic Fraternity, and he will be fondly remembered for his steadfast dedication to the Craft.

A Presbyterian his entire life, Ron was equally dedicated to his faith community, The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, which he joined on May 20, 1975. He served the church as a Trustee from 1988-1994, was ordained an Elder in 2020, and faithfully served as Financial Secretary from 1999-2021.

Since October of 1971, Ron has been a member and former President of The Lions Club of Cooperstown. As one of its’ oldest members, both in age and years of membership, he could still be counted on to be present at Club meetings and social gatherings. He was also a member of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579 in Cooperstown, and enjoyed history.

The Masons, Lions, church, business and especially family were all vital parts of Ron’s well-lived life. His presence on Chestnut Street, whether it was raking leaves, shoveling snow, walking their dog or arriving at church each Sunday arm in arm with Marti, will be greatly missed.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Marti; their two daughters, Dr. Sandra Jex, DVM and husband, Doug of Springfield, Vermont, and Lynn Jex Joyce of Clifton Park; and five grandchildren, Dr. Lauren Musial and husband, Dr. Shawn Musial, Alexander Warner and his fiancé, Lina Corbacho, Catherine Warner, Ryan Joyce-US Army, and Caitlyn Joyce.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by all of his siblings, Albert W. Jex (1997), Gertrude J. Jex (2015), Frederick N. Jex (2016), Nelsonia L. Murphy (2020) and Joanne F. Fligger (2021).

A Funeral Service will be offered at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 7, 2024, at The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Jessica D. Lambert, Lead Pastor officiating. A Masonic Funeral Service will be held at the start of the service, led by his friends and Brother Masons from Otsego Lodge No. 138, F.& A.M., as well as Brother Masons from through the Central Leatherstocking Masonic District.

Immediately following the services, all are welcome to gather in The Chapel adjoining the Church for a time of refreshment and fellowship.

The Service of Committal and Burial will be later that afternoon in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, with Military Honors to be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.

As an alternative to flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 5082-5088 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or Shriners Children’s, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.

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