All Obituaries

Rhonda J. Evans, 70, of Cayuga St., Homer, passed away following a brief illness on Friday September 30, 2022 at Crouse Hospital, Syracuse. A lifelong area resident, Rhonda was born October 14, 1951 the eldest child of John and Frieda Streiff Evans and was a graduate of Tully High School. Rhonda had most recently been employed at the Preble Hotel. She had also worked as a bartender in the area at several veteran’s clubs, mostly the Cortland VFW and American Legion. She had previously...

Stanley G. Rice, Sr., 91, of Kissimmee, FL, passed away September 17, 2022. Mr. Rice was born and raised in Cortland, a son of the late Grant and Marguerite Gilkerson Rice. He had been a resident of Florida for the past 30 years. He was the former owner of the Birches Hotel in Alexandria Bay and had worked at Homer National Bank until 1970. Stan was a devout Christian and was an active member of the Homer Baptist Church. Surviving is his wife of 71 years, Joyce Kibbe Rice of Kissimmee,...

Mary McEvoy Watson, 92, formerly of 87 Cayuga Street, Homer, passed away on September 14, 2022 following a lengthy illness. She was born January 16, 1930 in Preble, NY, a daughter of the late George and Helen Kane McEvoy. Mary graduated from Homer Central School in 1947, she attended Hobart and William Smith college for 2 years and graduated from the Rochester Business Institute in 1950. Mary and her husband owned and operated Bernie's Variety Store on Route 281 in Homer from 1963 to...

Leona May Prentice Toolan, 68, of Route 11, Homer, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022. Leona was born May 3, 1954 in Livingston Manor, NY, a daughter of the late Elmer and Betty Elizabeth McIntosh Prentice. For many years she was employed as a CNA and had worked at the Cortland Nursing Center, Highgate Manor, and the Greenbriar. Leona had an especial affinity for her dementia and Alzheimer's patients. Surviving is her husband 47 years, James P. Toolan, Sr., her two loving sons,...

Matthew B. Swindon, 49, of 1793 State Route 13, Cortland, passed away following a brief illness on August 17, 2022 in the Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca. A lifelong area resident, Matt was born March 25, 1973, a son of Wayne and Karenlee Ribble Swindon. The ‘Busch Master’ had been an operator at Suit-Kote for the past 10 years. He loved being with his children and grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was active member of the NRA. Surviving is...

Doris E. Brohard, of Homer, passed away following a brief illness while under the care of Hospice and her loving family at the age of 95. She was born January 25, 1927 in Easton, PA, the daughter of the late Charles F. and Arabella Carkhuff Will. Doris was a longtime and active member of the Homer Congregational Church. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Surviving are her three daughters, Trudy (Paul) Cappy of Avon Park, FL; Jeanne Brohard of Homer and Susan (Jim) Canzler of Endwell;...

Edward J Michaels of Homer, NY passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the age of 92. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 54 years, Irene; parents, Charles and Antoinette; brother, Zeno; and daughter, Michele.   He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Christy Michaels of Homer, NY; Matthew and Jerilyn Michaels of St. Francis, MN and four grandchildren, Kyle, Katelyn (husband Patrick Sharkey), Kathryn, and Kurt. After high school, Ed was a contestant...

Joseph Paul Simon, 89, of Preble, NY passed away after a brief illness on July 28, 2022, at Guthrie Hospital in Cortland, NY. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, from 2PM to 4PM at the Donald L Barber Funeral Home, 5016 US Route 11, Homer. Services will be held at St Leo's Catholic Church in Tully, NY at 10 AM on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Joe was born on May 1, 1933, in Cortland, NY to John Paul and Lillian (Call) Simon. Joe was a dairy and cabbage farmer all his...

Peter J. Hoffmann, 74, passed from this life on July 18, 2022, at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, with Doris – his devoted wife of 54 years – by his side.  He was the son of the late J. Leo and Alice Hoffmann and brother to the late Michael Hoffmann.  In addition to his wife, he is survived by: his two sons, Stephen (Alise) of Elmira and David (Amanda) of Avon; six cherished grandchildren, Harper, Camdyn, Theodore, Abraham, Robert, and Franklin; his...

Marie Lynoor Gates went home to be with her Heavenly Father on July 14, 2022. She was born on September 18, 1930 in Buffalo, New York to Father William Gates Jr. and Mother Ethel Walz. Along with her parents she is predeceased by her brother Richard Gates. On April 1, 1950 Marie married Preston George Renner and they spent 37 wonderful years together before Preston’s passing. They lived in East Syracuse, New York and later settled in Clay, New York and had three daughters and one...