KATHERINE ‘KAY’ RUGAR BUDD

Katherine “Kay” Rugar Budd of Port Jervis, NY, formerly of Walden, NY and Otisville, NY, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010 at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. She was 69.

She was born December 25, 1940 in Walden, NY, the daughter of the late Eugene Effin Rugar and Katherine May Decker Rugar.

She worked for AHRC in Middletown as a teacher’s aide. She was a home healthcare aide for Orange County Homemakers Service in Middletown. Kay was a past member of the Civil Air Patrol and an avid race fan at the Orange County Speedway.

A family statement reads: “Kay’s family and friends were the most important part of her life and she will be sadly missed.”

Survivors include sons Asa Lennon and wife Christy of Pine Bush, NY, Paul Lennon and partner Beth McKane of Warwarsing, NY, Mike Lennon and fiancée Mary Brenner of Liberty, NY, Russell Anderson of Harpursville, NY and John Anderson and wife Danielle of Shohola, PA; brother Butch Rugar and wife Debra of Walden; sister Beatrice Rueter and husband Robert of Wallkill, NY; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by brothers Eugene, Daniel and William Rugar.

Services were held at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis, on Wednesday, January 27.

Cremation was at H.G. Smith Crematory, Stroudsburg, PA.

A burial of ashes will be held at the convenience of the family.

Contributions may be made to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, PO Box 12268, Newport News, VA 23612.

RALPH LLOYD GABRIEL

Ralph Lloyd Gabriel of Cochecton, NY, a lifetime resident of the area, passed away at his residence on Monday, January 18, 2010. He was 81.

The son of the late Charles Gabriel and Lydia Cochrane Gabriel, he was born August 22, 1928 in Cochecton.

Ralph was a retired heavy equipment operator for the Town of Bethel Highway Department, and was a former member of the Sullivan County Co-operative Extension.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Pearson Gabriel at home; sons Daniel Gabriel and wife Debra, Kenneth Gabriel and wife Diane and Christopher Gabriel and wife Sondra, all of Bethel, NY; daughters Cheryl Lynch and husband Peter of Woodridge, NJ, Lorraine Clifford and husband Patrick of Jeffersonville, NY and Charlene Sullivan and husband Shawn of Middletown, NY; brother Royden Gabriel and wife Dolores of Buena Vista, VA; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by sons James, Robert and Ralph; brothers Clifford and Donald; and sisters Dorothy and Gladys.

A funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 23 at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Huntington, NY. Fr. William Scully was the celebrant. Burial followed at Fosterdale Methodist Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550.

SEAN TIMOTHY HANOFEE

Sean Timothy Hanofee of Liberty, NY, executive director of the Lazarus I. Levine Residence Hall at Sullivan County Community College and a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY. He was 45.

The son of Cheselyn J. Lisecki Hanofee and the late Francis A. Hanofee, he was born June 5, 1964 in Liberty, NY. Sean earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of New Haven and an associate’s degree in engineering science from SUNY Farmingdale. He was an avid reader with a “soul of gold” who loved to make people laugh. Sean carried on his dad’s legacy as a public servant, serving several terms as a Town of Liberty Councilman; he had worked a number of years as district coordinator for New York State’s 98th Assembly District under the leadership of the late assemblyman Jake Gunther. He had served for many years as a Town of Liberty Democratic Committeeman. He was a member and trustee of the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church. A wonderful husband, father, son, brother, and friend, Sean will be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemarie Callihan Hanofee, at home; daughters Chezzy and Sandra, at home; his mother of White Sulphur Springs, NY; brother Martin Hanofee and wife Ellie of Anchorage, Alaska; and eight nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 28 at 11:00 a.m. in the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church, Route 52, White Sulphur Springs. The Rev. Bridgette LeConey will officiate.

Burial will be private in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs.

Contributions may be made to the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church, PO Box 308, White Sulphur Springs, NY 12787.

WILLIAM KITSON

William Kitson died January 13, 2010 at his home in South Carolina after a long illness. He was 65.

Born in New York City, Mr. Kitson was a son of the late John and Anna Gilmore Kitson. He graduated from Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical School with a specialization in electronics. His love for electronics was nurtured by his maternal grandfather, who taught him how to make radios.

Mr. Kitson served in the U S Navy during the Cuban missile crisis, working primarily in radio and electronics. His long career in electronics included years with Sony, Lucent, and Black Box (Intel). Mr. Kitson was a member of St. Simon and St. Jude Episcopal Church in Irmo, SC.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Smith Kitson; daughter Stephanie Kitson (Gary) Ames of Camden, SC; son Scott William Kitson, of Greenville, SC; grandchildren Gary Byron Ames III and Natalie Anna Catherine Ames of Camden; sisters Margaret and husband Arch MacIsaac of Irmo, SC, Anna Altbach of Neversink, NY and Marie and husband Bill Graby of Callicoon, NY; brothers Thomas and wife Linda Kitson of Obernburg, NY and Martin Kitson of Grahamsville, NY; 16 nieces and nephews; and 14 great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John Thomas Kitson.

The funeral was held Saturday, January 16, at St. Simon and St. Jude Episcopal Church with interment in the church memorial garden immediately afterwards.

Memorials may be made to the church’s youth or music programs of St. Simon and St Jude Episocal Church, 1110 Kinley Rd, Irmo, SC 29063.

THADDEUS ‘TED’ MANOUSE

Dairy farmer, business professional, devoted husband and father, Thaddeus “Ted” Manouse of Winter Haven, FL, formerly of New Milford, CT and Callicoon, NY, passed peacefully January 10, 2010. He was 74.

Ted was born on November 2, 1935 in Callicoon, the son of the late Helen and Thomas Manouse.

He was a 1954 graduate of Delaware Valley School in Callicoon. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1954 to 1956 and received a Good Conduct Medal.

He married Ruth Kurzweil on September 9, 1956 in Callicoon.

He was employed by the Eastern Artificial Breeders. Later, he owned and successfully operated a dairy farm in the Beechwoods. Ted moved his family to Connecticut in 1971; there he began a 20-year career with the Prudential Insurance Company. He was president of the Pop Warner Football program, member of the Lions Club, and was twice the president of the Danbury Association of Life Underwriters. He moved to Florida in 1998.

He enjoyed watching football and NASCAR, solving crossword puzzles, listening to Elvis, reading, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren.

Ted is survived by his wife Ruth; sons John of Bridgewater, CT, Chris of Naugatuck, CT, Todd and Barbara of Holly Springs, GA and Robert and Jennifer of New Milford, CT; grandchildren Bradley, Mary, Christian, Aaron, Jack and Brady; sisters Jeanne Grau of Walker Valley, NY, and Tina Holbert of Lackawaxen, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by brother Jack; and sisters Lorraine Smith Ciarelli and Helen Robbins.

A private memorial service is planned for the spring.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society; cancer.org and/or American Diabetes Association; diabetes.org and/or The National Kidney Foundation; kidney.org .

NILES A. SHAFFER

Niles A. Shaffer of Waymart, PA died Sunday, January 17, 2010 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, PA. He was 74.

Born October 30, 1935 in Carbondale, PA, he was the son of the late Bennie and Emma (Shaffer) Shaffer.

He was the husband of the former Dorothy Arnold. They were married June 6, 1953.

He had been employed as a cement truck driver for E. Tetz and Sons, Inc. of Middletown, NY. He was a member of the Church on the Hill, Carbondale, PA and the National Rifle Association. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed woodworking.

He is survived by sons Bennie Shaffer and wife Paula of Beach Lake, PA and Kirk Shaffer of Cranston, RI; daughters Crystal Shaffer of Newfoundland, PA and Penny Jaggars and Rev. Barry who are currently serving as missionaries in Uruguay; grandchildren Jennifer Bartlebough of Carbondale, Brandi Smith of Honesdale, Dannielle Jaggars of Scranton, PA. and Michael Shaffer of Newfoundland, PA; sister Delores Shaffer of Houston, TX; and nieces and nephews.

The funeral was held Friday, January 22 the Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Carbondale, with the Rev. Barry Jaggars, his son-in-law, and the Rev. Clarence Spencer Jr., pastor of the Honesdale Assembly of God Church, officiating. Interment took place at Avoy Cemetery, Lake Ariel PA.

SHIRLEY M. TRANSUE

Shirley M. Transue of Matamoras, PA passed away Friday, January 8, 2010 at her home. She was 89.

She was born on June 20, 1920 at Matamoras, the daughter of the late Frank Scales and Florence Cook Scales.

Shirley married Norman H. Transue, who predeceased her.

She is survived by son Lee Transue and his wife Jo Anne of Tafton, PA; daughter Donna McCooey of Sparrowbush, NY; grandchildren Christopher, Brannon and Taya Transue and Tommy, Kyle and Ryan McCooey; 11 great- grandchildren; two cousins; and her pet and companion, “Missy.”

Private services and interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

Contributions may be made to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, PO. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.