All Obituaries

Frances (Murray) Dafoe, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away surrounded by her children and grandchildren on January 19, 2019, at the age of 89. Frances was born on September 14, 1929 to Mary and Martin Murray and grew up in Gooseville Corners. She married Robert Dafoe and they moved to Cortland, New York before settling in their home of many years in Little York. They had eleven children. Frances was preceded in death by her husband Robert (73) in December...

Paul C. Burhans, 81, formerly of West Scott Road, Homer, passed away on January 10, 2019. A lifelong area resident, Paul was born June 13, 1937 a son of the late Paul and Laura Bell Burhans. He was a 1955 graduate of Homer Central School and a graduate of Cobleskill College. He was employed for many years as a salesman at Agway. In 1979, Paul and his wife, Joyce, founded Country Acres Pet Services, which is now operated by their granddaughter.  He was also the dog control officer for...

Aletha L. Crosley, 95, of Carroway Hill Road, Homer, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 21, 2018 in the Cortland Regional Medical Center. Born Aletha Mary Long, July 17, 1923, a daughter of the late Lester and Helen Burns Long. She was a 1941 graduate of St. Mary’s School. Aletha married her husband, Charles R. Crosley on June 17, 1944 in St. Leo’s Church, Tully. She worked for several years as a crossing guard at the Homer Intermediate and Jr. High...

Cynthia L. McMahon, 79, of Port Crane, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by the comfort of her loving family on December 12, 2018. Cynthia was born November 12, 1939 in Cortland, a daughter of the late Mark and Melba Holzkamp Hyde. She lived in the Port Crane area since 1965. She worked at several restaurants as a waitress, hostess, and bartender. She retired as a security guard at Securitas in Binghamton. Surviving are her four children, William (Shani) McMahon of...

Calvin N. ‘Jim’ Griswold, of Preble, passed away surrounded by his family on December 11, 2018 following a period of declining health at the age of 92. A lifelong resident of Preble, he was born January 1, 1926, a son of the late Earl and Clara Root Griswold. Jim truly loved the Preble community. He served fifteen years as the Preble Town Justice and was a 71- year member of the Preble Fire Department. Jim retired, after 25 years of service, from the NYS Department of...

Daniel D. Maxfield, Sr. passed away Friday, November 30th 2018 at his daughter Brenda's (Kevin Irving) home, 20 Skyline Drive, Oswego, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's.  Born in Speedsville, just outside of Caroline Center, NY, April 26, 1933 the son of the late Christopher and Josephine (Pinayza) Baiguini, and adopted son of the late Olin and Hester Maxfield, he resided at 1312 Gallagher Road, Cortland. He retired from Pall Corp of...

Betty J. Fisk, of State Route 41, McGraw, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the age of 93. A lifelong area resident, Betty was born October 18, 1925, a daughter of the late Francis and Grace Euson Craft. She was a longtime and active member of Church of the Redeemer (Memorial Baptist). Betty was a housekeeper at the Cortland Holiday Inn for many years, retiring in 1990. She is survived by her son, David Fisk of Syracuse; her adopted daughter, Judy...

It is with great sadness that Jason and Jessica Wood VanPatten, of Douglas St., Cortland, announce the passing of their precious little angel, Annabelle Sara VanPatten on Saturday, November 10, 2018.  In addition to her parents, Annabelle is survived by three siblings, Christian, Madeline and Trevor VanPatten; grandparents, Vicki VanPatten of Cortland; Robin (Wilson) Wood-Drew of Remsen and Robert (Anne) Wood of Whitesboro. Also surviving are two uncles, Jeffrey VanPatten and Andrew...

Donald D. Ripley, 96, of River Street, Homer, passed away on October 31, 2018 while under the care Hospice and his loving family. Born on Copeland Avenue in Homer on July 12, 1922, a son of the late Harold and Beryl Howe Ripley. He was a 1940 graduate of Homer Academy. In 1942, Don enlisted in the US Navy, serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood. The ship shot down a Japanese kamikaze plane which fell on her flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the...

James A. Vaber, 85, of East River Rd., Homer, passed away unexpectedly on October 30, 2018. A lifelong area resident, he was born March 30, 1933 a son of the late John and Tressa Campbell Vaber. Jim graduated Homer High School in 1951 and faithfully served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He retired in 1996 from Homer Central School where he was worked in the maintenance department. He had been previously employed by Brewer Tichener. Jim was a member, for more than...