RICHARD L. ALLISON

ALBANY, NY — Richard L. Allison, a life-long area resident, died May 5, 2004 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. He was 51.

The son of Robert F. and Bernice Stephenson Allison, he was born October 10, 1952 in Liberty. He was the widower of Shelma Allison.

He was an operating engineer with Union Local #12 of Lancaster, CA and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was also a fishing guide on the White River in Arkansas.

Survivors include his parents of Albany; two sisters, Joan Marshall of Smallwood and Patricia Bielby of Blossvale; a brother, Robert M. of Central Bridge; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Graveside services and interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at the Kenoza Lake Cemetery with Pastor Bill Hagerty officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Albany Community Hospice, 315 Manning Boulevard, Albany, NY 12208.

LAWRENCE COMFORT

KALISPELL, MT — Lawrence H. “Larry” Comfort of Kila, MT, a former resident of Matamoras, PA and an employee of the Town of Lumberland Highway Department until 1991, died January 11, 2004 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, MT. He was 70.

The son of the late Miles and Lottie Smith Comfort, he was born November 16, 1933 in Honesdale, PA.

He was the widower of Mary L. Deterick Comfort who died in 1974.

He was a past member of the Mahogamack Hook and Ladder Company of the Port Jervis Volunteer Fire Department. He was a police officer in Westfall Township, PA until 1974 when he went to work for the Town of Lumberland Highway Department, and was a member of the Lumberland Fire Department.

Survivors include a son Troy and his wife Robin of Walton; four daughters, Marilyn Hallock and her husband Richard of Sparrowbush, Lottie and her husband Daniel of Tampa, FL, Nikki Jo DiPalma and her husband Chris of Glen Spey and Zoette McMickle and her husband Mac of Kila, MT; a brother, Clarence of Matamoras, PA; 10 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Ronald, who died in 1992.

There will be no visitation.

Graveside services and interment will be held on Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Matamoras, PA, the Rev. Emil Winkelspecht officiating.

CASPER V. “CAPPIE” JAGGIE

SUN CITY, AZ — Casper V. “Cappie” Jaggie of Sun City, AZ, a retired furniture salesman and former longtime resident of Port Jervis, died May 8, 2004 at the Sun Health Long Term Care Facility. He was 91.

The son of the late John and Hattie Montague Jaggie, he was born February 11, 1913 in Starbrick, PA.

He was a member of AARP; Elk’s Lodge No. 645, BPOE, Port Jervis and was a former member and trustee of the Deerpark Reformed Church, Port Jervis.

An Army veteran of World War II, he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in the combat zone and was a former member of the Roosa-Fleming VFW Post No. 161.

He was retired from Levin Furniture Store, Port Jervis, where he was a salesman for 25 years.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Harriet Ruggles Jaggie, at home; a son, Joel and his wife Anne of Sun City, AZ; two sisters, Mabel Sheilds of Port Jervis and Virginia Wood of Corry, PA; a niece, Deedee Backus and her husband Edward of Greenville Township; and other nieces and nephews.

Friends called and Elks services were held on May 11 at the Gray Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Funeral services were held on May 12 at the funeral home, the Rev. Betsy Diver officiating.

Interment was in Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddlebackville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care Services and Residence, 12740 N. Plaza del Rio Blvd, Peoria, AZ 85381.

GRACE MARIE NEARING

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Grace Marie Nearing, a longtime area resident, died on Sunday May 9, 2004 at the Glen Arden Health Care Center in Goshen. She was 82.

The daughter of the late Fred and Elizabeth Mittan, she was born in White Mills, PA and graduated from Hawley High School and Benjamin Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

She was secretary to Court Officials for almost 24 years. She was a member of the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church, the Eastern Star and the Republican Club.

She was the widow of Robert A. Nearing, Sr.

She is survived by two sons, Robert and his wife Maryann of Honesdale, PA and Dennis and his wife Carol of Lake Huntington; one daughter, Linda and her husband Ronald Sharpin of New Center MA; seven grandchildren, Todd of Lake Huntington, Heather Stephens and her husband Wayne of Honesdale, Sean and his wife Beret of Cochecton, Patrick of Honesdale, Alyssa of Levittown, PA, Andrew and Christopher Sharpin of Newton Center, and great granddaughters, Libby Stephens and Isabel Nearing; two sisters-in-law, Alma Bischoff, Ann Nearing and brother-in-law Roland Nearing; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brothers Lawrence (Dutch) Mittan, Carl Mittan and sister, Alice Kellam.

Friends called at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, Narrowsburg, on Wednesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 13. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m., Reverend Robert McLeod officiating. Burial will be immediately following the service at the Fosterdale Cemetery, Fosterdale.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church.

WILMA J. WILSON

ELDRED, NY — Wilma “Billie” Janette Wilson of Eldred, a longtime area resident and president and CEO of Aqua-shade, Inc., in Eldred, died May 1, 2004 at home. She was 85.

The daughter of the late Harold Thomas and Marie Dorothy Laufenburg Lake, she was born April 18, 1919 in South Bend, IN. She was the widow of Robert Goodrich Wilson who died March 28, 1977, after 34 years of marriage.

While living in Dobbs Ferry, she was an active member of the League of Women Voters, the Welcome Wagon and the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society.

She was a member and trustee of the Eldred United Methodist Church, a past treasurer of the Highland Chamber of Commerce and an active participant in the Highland Senior Citizens. She was an avid bridge player with the Milford Bridge Club and was a volunteer for the USO during World War II.

A founding member of the Highland Beautification Committee (now known as the Sullivan County Renaissance Community Improvement Organization), she took great pride in helping out her local community. She supported the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation and local churches, police departments and fire departments as well as being active in her community and active in her life.

Survivors include four daughters, Mary Kathleen Starbard and her husband Don of Kings Beach, CA, Carolyn “Lucky” Jean Haslam and her husband John Boyd of Craig, CO, Deanna Gail Halliday and her husband Clay of Davis, CA and Janette Marie Hawkins and her husband Robert of Washington, D.C.; a son, Thomas “Bud” Jeffrey of Eldred; eight grandchildren, Maggie and Bobby Starbard, Christina, Amy and Rebecca Rintoul, Scott Halliday, Connor and Abby Hawkins; a brother Thomas “Bud” and his wife Nancy Lake of New Carlisle, IN; a sister Dorothy Marie Kerver and her husband Jack of Houston, TX; a brother Charles and his wife Marion of Milwaukee, WI; and her companion and fiancé Louis Maudsley of Eldred. She was predeceased by a son, Robert “Bobby” Charles, who was killed in 1968 while serving in the Vietnam War, and three sisters, Carolyn Goss, Charlotte Esmay and Helen Marie Lake.

Friends may call at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home, Route 97, Barryville, on Friday, May 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the Eldred United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m., the Rev. Linda Bohs officiating.

Interment will be in the Eldred Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 63,Eldred, NY 12732 or to the Eldred United Methodist Church, 60 Airport Road, Eldred, NY 12732.