OBITS: Post-Star 8 Feb 2005; Glen Falls, Warren co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Post-Star http://www.post-star.com Cameron, Annette I. WARRENSBURG -- Annette I. Cameron, 95, of Marion Avenue, passed away Monday morning, Feb. 7, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital following a long illness. Born Sept. 16, 1909, in Johnsburg, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Elizabeth (Stackhouse) Cross. She lived her entire life in the Warrensburg-Johnsburg area. On July 17, 1937, she married John G. Cameron at the United Methodist Church of Johnsburg, and they shared 42 years together. For many years, she was the head cook at Maxam's Boarding House in Garnet Lake, and also at the former Pillar's Restaurant in Warrensburg. Among many hobbies, Annette enjoyed cultivating raspberries, and she also took pride in her flower and vegetable gardens. Many of her achievements included working with under-privileged children. She and Millie Lawrence were the founders of Warrensburg Head Start, teaching cooking, canning and sewing in her home to many of these students. She also taught cooking and nutrition in many local homes for a while through a Cornell University program. Besides her parents, her husband, John G. Cameron, passed away in 1979; a son, Stephen Cameron, passed away in 1996; two sisters, Geneva and Laura Reynolds; and a brother, Clifford Cross, all predeceased her. Survivors include one daughter, Louisa Cameron of Warrensburg, with whom Annette resided with; one son, Michael Cameron and his wife, Debbie, of Laurel, Md.; one daughter-in-law, Jolene Cameron of Maryland; four grandchildren: Michael R. Cameron and his wife, Elizabeth, Stephen and Benjamin Cameron, and Jennifer Cameron; also many nieces, nephews, and cousins. There are no calling hours scheduled. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, with James Allen Baker, Layman of the Baptist faith, officiating. Interment will take place at Wesleyan Cemetery, Garnet Lake Road, Johnsburg, at a time convenient to the family. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made, in loving memory of Annette, to Warrensburg Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 157, Warrensburg, NY, 12885. Published in the Post-Star from 2/8/2005 - 2/9/2005. Owens, Michael F. NORTH CREEK -- Michael F. Owens, 51, of 4189 state Route 28, passed away Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. Born Sept. 22, 1953, in Buffalo, he was the son of Audrey (Kretzmon) Owens of Cheektowaga and the late Leo J. Owens. Michael was raised in Cheektowaga and moved to Pottersville permanently in 1979. He worked in many different trades throughout his life. He worked with Niagara Transformer, Grassel Fiberglass Co., Adelphia Cable Co., Roger Peet's Garage, Louis Smith Sewage, Legacy Timber Frames, Mountain Contracting, Town of Johnsburg and most recently with Eric Pieper Contracting as a carpenter. He was a member of the Pottersville Volunteer Fire Co. and his favorite pastimes included blue grass music, roller-skating, trains, fishing, exotic birds and maple sugaring. Besides his father, he was predeceased by his infant daughter, Brittney L. Owens, who died on Oct. 30, 1985. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Trudy Owens of North Creek; his children: Hope A. Flynn and her husband, Dennis, of Gansevoort, Carmen M. Owens and his companion, Becky Hilton, of Brant Lake, James T. Owens and Katelyn E. Owens, both of North Creek; two brothers, Craig Owens and David Owens, both of Cheektowaga; two sisters, Gail Smith and her husband, Louis, of Pottersville, and Judith Mueller-Paddock of Orchard Park; his brother-in-law, Eugene Dutcher and his wife, Judy, of Pottersville; three grandchildren: Daniel, Ashley and Amber Flynn; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins; and many good friends. A memorial service to celebrate Michael's life will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Christ Church in Pottersville, with the Rev. Michael Webber officiating. There are no calling hours scheduled. Michael's family would like to express a deep thank you to Dr. Biss and his staff at the Adirondack Cancer Care Center. Memorial donations may be made to High Peaks Hospice, 286 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY 12801. Arrangements are under the direction of Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, Warrensburg. Published in the Post-Star on 2/8/2005. Pfiitze, Frieda E. WEST HEBRON -- Frieda E. Pfiitze, 93, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at North Adams Commons in North Adams, Mass., where she had resided since 1992. She was born in Plottnitz, Germany, on Oct. 23, 1911, the daughter of Max and Anna (Beck) Uebrick. Frieda and her family moved to the United States from Germany when she was 16. She was a retired employee of the Sheridan Catheter Corporation in Argyle. Her hobbies were cooking, gardening and knitting. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Hans; two sons, Walter Pfiitze Sr. and George Pfiitze; two brothers, Max and Walter P. Uebrick; and two sisters, Martha Poitch and Margaret Zacheus. Survivors include one son, Ernest Pfiitze of Chicopee, Mass.; two sisters, Barbara Green of Middle Grove and Hilda Jones; one brother, Ernest Uebrick of Wilton; five grandchildren: Walter E. Pfiitze Jr. of Greenfield, Frederick Pfiitze and Debra Covell, both of South Glens Falls, Heidi Tosh of Greenfield and Hans Pfiitze of Gansevoort; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at McClellan Funeral Home, 19 East Broadway, Salem. Spring burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Salem. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of service on Thursday. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12180. Published in the Post-Star on 2/8/2005. Pratt Jr., Arthur QUEENSBURY -- Arthur Pratt Jr., 86, of Eldridge Road, passed away suddenly Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born at Standing Rock, a Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation, on June 8, 1918, in Fort Yates, N.D., he was the son of Indian Sioux Chief Arthur W. and Marian (Duffy) Pratt. Being raised in North and South Dakota, he attended and graduated from Pierre Indian School. His family then moved to relatives' property on Wolf Pond Road in Stony Creek, where he also attended and graduated from Hadley-Luzerne High School. In his younger years, Art was well known for his square-dance calling, his fiddle playing, and driving racecars, which, while he lived in California, earned him the title of California Sprint Car Champion for two years in a row. He was a foreign car mechanic by trade, working on and building racecars for various drivers, including himself, and Parnelli Jones' first racecar. Art was the square-dance caller during the early 1940s at The Paddock, located behind Ashes Hotel in Warrensburg. He also owned and operated Stony Creek Inn for six years during the 1970s, owned a water-skiing school in Florida and Lake Luzerne, and was very clever at building log homes and making furniture from native standing trees. Besides his parents, his first wife, Marie Kehoe Pratt; one son, Arthur Pratt III; four brothers, Bernard "Beanie," John, Raymond, and Lawrence Pratt; and three sisters, Pauline Freeman, Helen McBride, and DorothyPhelps, predeceased him. Survivors include his loving wife of 22 years, Hilda (Cross) Pratt of Queensbury; two daughters, Cathryn and Yvonne of Louisiana; one stepson, Frank Finch of Saratoga Springs; one sister, Phoebe Kwarta of Queensbury; one brother, Vincent Pratt of South Dakota; three grandchildren: Lakota Muenala, Ariyana Muenala, and Noah Pratt of Louisiana; his second wife, Judith Behm Wilson of Louisiana; and several nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. Friends may call upon the family Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury. The Adirondack Fiddlers will meet at the funeral home at 7 p.m. to pay respects jointly. At Art's request, there will be no funeral services. Burial will take place at Knowlhurst Cemetery, Stony Creek, in the spring, at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in loving memory of Art, to West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main St, Queensbury, NY 12804. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad for its prompt response and utmost professionalism and care given to Art in his final hours. Published in the Post-Star on 2/8/2005. Smith, Kenneth J. WHITEHALL -- Kenneth J. Smith, 93, formerly of Saunders Street, passed away on Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, in the tender care of the Indian River Nursing Home, following a long illness. Born on March 8, 1911, in Easton, Pa., he was the son of the late John and Edna (Bartholomew) Smith. He and his loving sister, Emma Smith Canfield, spent their early childhood on their grandparents' canal boat on the Champlain Barge Canal until settling in Whitehall. Ken's life was in Whitehall while working for F. H. Kingsley & Sons Garage and caring for his loving wife of 60 years, Eliza Jane Inglee Smith. During World War II, Kenneth served in the United States Army 91st Infantry Division in Italy, where he was wounded and earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in combat. After retiring at 65, Ken spent his time training his son's harness horses and racing them at Yonkers, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Eliza Jane Smith, whom he devoted his life and love to. Survivors include his one son, Richard Smith of Whitehall; one sister, Emma Smith Canfield of Troy; and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams St., Whitehall. The American Legion Post No. 83 will conduct a wake service at 8 p.m. Interment will be in the spring at Greenmount Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation in Ken's name to the Whitehall Youth Football League, c/o John Hoagland, P.O. Box 58, Whitehall, NY 12887. Published in the Post-Star on 2/8/2005. Swift, Jane Kelly GLENS FALLS -- Jane Kelly Swift, 83 , passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at Winter Park Hospital, Winter Park, Fla. She was surrounded by many loved ones. Jane was born in Staten Island, N.Y., on April 30, 1921. She was the daughter of the late Augusta (LeClair) and Joseph P. Kelly. Jane was raised in Glens Falls. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy in 1939. She then attended and graduated from Albany Business College in 1941. Jane was a Civil Defense volunteer during World War II. She trained others to observe and identify aircraft flying in Northern New York State during the conflict. Jane married John L. Swift on June 5, 1943, in Greenville, S.C. She and her husband raised four children. Since her husband was in the Air Force, Jane lived in many locations; Pampa, Texas, Munich, Germany, Mobile, Ala., Orlando, Fla. and Limestone, Maine. Even though she loved to experience the different locations, in her heart her home was always in the Adirondacks. Jane and the children moved back to Glens Falls in 1966, when John was sent to Vietnam. Soon after, John retired from the Air Force and the family remained in Glens Falls. Jane was an avid reader and incredibly knowledgeable about many subjects. She had keen interest in history and current politics. Jane had an unending curiosity about the history of her Irish heritage, the family's genealogy, and the Adirondacks. She had a great laugh, a beautiful smile, and the brightest blue eyes on earth, a wonderful sense of humor and an ability to tell the most entertaining and colorful stories of her experiences. Her life's passion however, truly was her family and friends. She had great faith in God and in that, she was always an inspiration to others. Besides her parents, her brothers Howard LaClair, Roger Kelly and Martin Kelly predeceased Jane. Jane is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, John Swift of Glens Falls, and her devoted children; her daughter Leslie and her husband, Clayton Dethlefsen of St. Petersburg, Fla., son David and wife, Cathy Swift of Queensbury, son Dan and wife, Kathie of Plattsburgh, and daughter Lynn and her husband, Ed Malaret of Nashua, N.H. Jane's grandchildren include Mark and his wife, Beth Dethlefsen of Manasass, Va., Robin (Dethlefsen) and her husband, Reed Hammond of St. Petersburg, Fla., Erin Dethlefsen of St. Petersburg, Fla., Ryan, Christen and Mary Swift of Queensbury, Kaden and Mike Swift of Plattsburgh, and Gabriel Malaret of Nashua, N.H. Jane's great grandchildren include Valerie Howard Dethelefsen and Shaen Holmes Dethlefsen and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. Family and friends may call on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Radloff Funeral Home, 136 Warren St., Glens Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church, 62 Warren St. on Friday, Feb. 11, at 9:30 a.m., with the Rev. James Mackey, pastor, officiating. Internment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, South Glens Falls. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a remembrance in Jane's name to the Guardian Angel Program at St. Mary's - St. Alphonsus School, 10 Church Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801. Published in the Post-Star from 2/8/2005 - 2/9/2005.