Jack W. Kerr, JR – 68 – of Bath, NY died early Thursday morning (June 22, 2017) at his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a long illness.

Born in Hornell on August 26, 1948, he was the son of Jack & Helen (Weaver) Kerr SR.

Jack grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1966).  He was a Veteran of the US Army, serving his country during the Vietnam era from 1968-1970.  While in the Army, Jack was stationed in South Korea.

Following his honorable discharge from the military, Jack was employed for several years as a welder at Foster-Wheeler Corporation in Dansville, Morrison Knudson as well as various places throughout the country.  For 23 years, he served as a correction officer, primarily at Groveland Correctional Facility.  He retired November 27, 2007.

A resident of the Bath area for the past 35 years, Jack was a life member of the Bath VFW and a member of the New York State Correction Officer and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).  He was an avid hunter & fisherman who spent many hours afield with his best friend, Pete Watson.  He also enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and restoring old tractors.  Jack loved to travel and as a young man, spent two years traveling throughout the United States.  One of his favorite pastimes was simply spending long hours in his cabin in the woods with his canine companion, Tucker!

He was preceded in death by his father, Jack W. Kerr, SR; his long-time companion, Judy Lewis.

Surviving are his mother, Helen Kerr of Bath; 6 brothers, Greg (Linda) Kerr of Hornell, Steve Kerr of Bradford, NY, Dave (Kelly Stedman) Kerr of Bath, Karl (Fran Mae) Kerr of Bath, Dan (Deb Stanford) Kerr of Hornell and Jim Kerr of Bath; 3 sisters, Cindy Flanagan of Bath, Elizabeth Allaway of Daphne, AL and Susan (Marcus Bell) Potter of Daphne, AL; Judy Lewis’ extended family; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces & nephews.

At Jack’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Jack’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to Care First Hospice, 11751 East Corning Rd., Corning, NY 14830 or to Steuben County SCOPE, 7771 Telegraph Rd., Bath, NY 14810.

Charles Richard “Rick” Jones II – 74 – of 313 Church St., Breesport, NY passed away early Wednesday morning (June 21, 2017) at his home, following a long illness.

Born in Kingston, PA on March 28, 1943, he was the son of Charles & Elizabeth (Love) Jones.

Rick grew up in Mehoopany, PA and was a graduate of Tunkhannock High School (class of 1961). Following high school graduation, he attended Mansfield University but left college to join the US Air Force. He served his country from 1964-1968 during the Viet Nam era as a mechanic fixing and repairing US Aircraft. He was honorably discharged in 1968.

Following his discharge from the US Air Force, Rick returned to Mansfield University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

A resident of Elkland, PA for most of his adult life, Rick taught Earth Science and Math at the Elkland High School for more than 30 years. He retired from teaching about 20 years ago.

Rick enjoyed watching sporting events such as baseball, basketball & football and especially loved rooting for the Boston Red Sox. He was also an outdoorsman and in his younger years enjoyed hunting & fishing. Rick enjoyed his bi-weekly bridge games with his buddies. However, he thoroughly loved helping his sons with a variety of “handyman” projects.

He was married on September 1, 1969 to the former Norma Jean Murphy who survives. Also surviving are 3 sons, Norman (Kim) Jones of Lawrenceville, PA, Neil (Beth) Jones of Florida and Nathan “Nate” (Jennifer) Jones of Breesport; 1 sister, Barb (Art) Henning of Mehoopany, PA; 6 grandchildren, Ryker, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Logan, Carter & Parker; a nieces & several nephews.

At Rick’s request there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Joanne C. Pfaff – 79 – of 8590 Oak Hill Rd., Arkport, died Friday evening (June 16, 2017) at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, following a brief illness.

Born in Canaseraga, NY on April 18, 1938, she was the daughter of Erwin & Frances (Willitt) Rawleigh.

Joanne grew up in the South Dansville area and attended Dansville High School. She has resided in the Arkport for most of her adult life.

As an avid reader, Joanne would read just about anything that was available. She enjoyed spending time in her garden, raising both vegetables and beautiful flowers. Joanne enjoyed woodworking — especially “fret work” making decorative items. She also enjoyed collecting depression era glass and usually found these by going to various yard sales. However, Joanne’s true love was simply spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

Joanne was married on January 18, 1957 to Theodore “Ted” Pfaff who died in 1990. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Randy Rawleigh.

Surviving are 1 daughter, Penny Jacobs of Dansville; 2 sons, Craig (Lucy) Pfaff of Nunda and Nathan (Heidi) Pfaff of Arkport; 2 sisters, Kathie (Bill Pryor) Pfaff of Arkport and Pam (Richard) Smith of Hornell; her sister-in-law, Carol Rawleigh of Delaware; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

At Joanne’s request there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY

Lyle E. Jackson – 83 – of Maple City Drive, Hornell, formerly of State Route 36, Canisteo, died early Monday morning (June 19, 2017) at his home, following a brief illness.

Born in Canisteo, NY on March 13, 1934, he was the son of Orvel & Helen (Simons) Jackson.

Lyle grew up in the Canisteo – Jasper area and attended Jasper Central School.  He was a Veteran of the US National Guard, serving several years in the 1950’s.

He was employed for several years at Ingersoll Rand in Painted Post and for many years owned & operated Jackson’s Body Shop, primarily in the 1970’s.  For about 16 years, Lyle was employed as a painter at St. James Mercy Hospital and for 16 years served as a delivery driver for Fred Roberts Auto Parts in Hornell, retiring 1 year ago.

Lyle was a member of the West Jasper Wesleyan Church.  He had a deep love of auto racing and was a “fixture” at Woodhull Raceway.  For over 20 years, he served as a “Push Truck Driver”, removing disabled cars from the track.  Throughout the years, Lyle rarely missed a race.

He was married on December 25, 1953 to the former Joyce Campbell who survives.  Also surviving are 3 sons, Mike (Marcie) Jackson of Canisteo, Mark (Gretchen) Jackson of Cameron and Jeff Jackson of Bath, NY; 1 daughter, Stacy (Jeff) Simms of Abilene, TX; 1 sister, Leah (Dale) Sherman of Greenwood; 9 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

At Lyle’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Lyle’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name be made to Care First Hospice, 11751 East Corning Rd., Corning, NY 14830.

Beverly J. Cleveland – 81 – of 181 Madison Ave., Hornell, died unexpectedly on Saturday morning (June 17, 2017) at St. James Mercy Hospital where she was taken by Hornell City Ambulance after being stricken at home.

A native & life resident of Hornell, she was born August 9, 1935, and was the daughter of Floyd & Mildred (Freeland) Fairchild.

Beverly attended Hornell High School and for about 15 years was employed at Westinghouse Corporation in Bath, NY.  For about 31 years she was employed as a winder at DYCO Electronics in Hornell, retiring in 1998.

She enjoyed crocheting and made beautiful afghans which she gave to her family & friends.  She was an avid Buffalo Bills Football Fan and also enjoyed following NASCAR.

Beverly was married on June 3, 1960 to John Cleveland SR who died September 13, 1984.  She was also preceded in death by her son, David Cleveland who died September 25, 1994; her grandson, Coen Moore; and her brother, Gordon Fairchild.

Surviving are 2 sons, John (Wendy) Cleveland of Hornell and Michael (Ginny Sheridan) Cleveland of Hornell; 1 sister, Charlotte Harding of Lakewood, CO; 3 brothers, James (Merry) Fairchild of Brockway, PA, John (Melva) Fairchild of Hampton, VA and Jeffrey Fairchild of Lakewood, CO; 4 grandchildren, Kailey Hamilton, Scott Cleveland, Cody Cleveland and Regan Cleveland; 1 great-grandson, Bronx Cage; her dear friends, John & Ann Mullen; several nieces & nephews.

At Beverly’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Beverly’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell American Legion Post 440, 72 Seneca St., Hornell, NY 14843.

Julia M. Beers – 22 – of 7997 Knolltop Court, Arkport, NY died Friday morning (June 9, 2017) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, following a three year battle with Crohn’s Disease.

Born in Syracuse, NY on November 30, 1994, she was the daughter of Thomas F. Beers and Mary Jo (Morrison) Beers.

A resident of Arkport, NY since the age of four, Julia was a graduate of Arkport Central School (class of 2013) and later attended SUNY Fredonia.

Throughout her three year battle with Crohn’s Disease, Julia kept family & friends updated and informed about her struggles by posting on her daily blog on the internet.  She was always willing to share her story with others via her “internet diary.”  Julia was an inspiration to others because of her blog, which can be found at www.SincerelyJuliaMary.com .

Julia was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, James R. Beers.

Surviving are her father, Thomas F. Beers of Arkport; her mother, Mary Jo Beers of Buffalo; 2 sisters, Sarah Beers and Laura Beers of Arkport; paternal grandmother, Mary “Dona” Beers of Granville Summit, PA; maternal grandparents, Jim & Jackie Morrison of Arkport; several aunts, uncles & cousins.

At Julia’s request there will be no prior calling hours.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 8^th at 2:00 PM at the Granville Center Church of Christ, 1819 Beers Road, Granville Summit, PA 16926.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Julia’s family request that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Crohn’s & Colitis Research Fund, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655.    Click here to print a memorial form.

Harry Lorren Miller, formerly of Hornell and a longtime resident of Henrietta, died suddenly on January 27, 2017. Harry, affectionately known to family and friends as “Ace,” was 81.

Born in Hornell, NY, Ace was blessed with both a curious mind and an outgoing disposition. He distinguished himself early on when, as a 12-year old, he assisted in the rescue of another youth from the icy waters of the Canisteo River; the Boy Scouts of America awarded him a Certificate of Heroism in recognition of his efforts and the events were covered in the local papers.

He was a graduate of Hornell High School, where he was elected Senior Class President of 1953. He later attended Alfred University, from which he received his B.S. in Ceramic Engineering (1959) and where he continued on for additional years of graduate study in the same discipline. He received his MBA from the Saunders College of Business at RIT in 1982.

Ace also enjoyed a distinguished military service record. An ROTC graduate, he saw active duty as an infantry officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1959 to 1961; he was honorably discharged in 1969 after obtaining the rank of Captain.

Ace’s professional life was equally as notable and he earned the lasting respect of his colleagues. He spent nearly twenty years with the Pfaudler Company in Rochester as both a research and a production engineer; he then joined Thomas Electronics in Clyde, NY, and worked as a manufacturing engineer until his retirement in 2000.

In 1961, Ace wed to the former Joyce Capluzzi, also from Hornell, and in 1963 the couple settled in Henrietta and became proud parents to a son and a daughter. A dedicated family man, he was an enthusiastic supporter of his children’s academic and athletic endeavors through their college years and could often be found on the sidelines of a football field or in the stands at a volleyball game, cheering loudly for the home teams.

His love of woodworking created many cherished pieces of furniture that his family and friends will enjoy for years to come. An avid and lifelong sportsman himself, Ace especially enjoyed fishing and hunting and spent many a day in the remote woods near his cabin in Birdsall, NY, in pursuit of a wiley rafter of turkeys.

Always quick with a joke or a kind word and ready to lend a hand, his generosity of spirit will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his adored wife of 36 years, Joyce; his parents, Verna (nee Morse) and Paul Pascal Miller; his brothers Gregory, Bruce, and Leo; his sister-in-law Theresa Capluzzi; his brother-in-law James Capluzzi; and by his beloved companion of recent years, Judy French of Henrietta, NY.

Harry Miller is survived by his son, Scott (Danielle) and grandson, Prescott, of Hinsdale, IL; his daughter, Deanna, and his son-in-law Daniel Hayden of Victor, NY; his brother, Brian (Shirley) of Hornell, NY; his sister-in-law Bettelou (Bruce) of Corning, NY; his brother-in-law John Capluzzi (Kathy) of Hornell, NY; and by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

At Harry’s request there will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Local funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY

Harry’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to either Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450 or Camp Good Days & Special Times, 1332 Pittsford-Mendon Road, Mendon, NY 14506.

Kathleen S. “Kathy” Yeoman – 55 – a lifelong resident of Hornell, died Tuesday morning (May 23, 2017) at the Highland Park Rehab Center in Wellsville where she had resided for the past three weeks.

Born in Hornell on October 4, 1961, she was the daughter of Richard “Dick” & Dolores (Carey) Flaitz.

Due to her lifelong battle with diabetes, Kathy had resided at Elderwood at Hornell (formerly McAuley Manor) for the past 17 years.

Kathy grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1979). In her younger years, she was employed as a receptionist at Ed’s Computers in Hornell. She enjoyed music, dancing and had been an avid Buffalo Bills Football fan.

In recent years, Kathy enjoyed her daily “one-on-one” time with her mother and also loved watching and laughing at the antics of her grandsons. She also enjoyed the “Music Therapy” that she received at the nursing home.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard E. “Dick” Flaitz who died March 6, 2008.

Surviving are her son, Corey (Amanda) Yeoman of Bolivar; her mother, Dolores Flaitz of Hornell; 5 brothers, Dan (Wendy) Flaitz of Bath, Steven (Cheryl) Flaitz of Hornell, Edward (Michele) Flaitz of Hornell, Christopher Flaitz of Hornell and Greg (Lori) Flaitz of Hornell; 2 grandsons, Harrison Yeoman and Dunkin Yeoman; several aunts, uncles, nieces & nephews.

The family of Kathleen S. “Kathy” Yeoman will receive friends on Friday from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY where a Memorial Service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 3:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.

The family would also like to thank all the people responsible for giving her the best quality of life possible at Elderwood (formerly McAuley Manor) in Hornell and more recently at Highland Park in Wellsville.

Kathy’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 13067, Alexandria, VA 22312. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

Vivian M. “Bea” Haring – 92 – of Bethany Village, Horseheads, NY died Monday, March 13, 2017 at the Bethany Village Nursing Facility, following a brief illness.

Born in St. Mary’s, PA on December 8, 1924, she was the daughter of Dennis & Ruth (Logue) Canty.

Bea grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1942). She resided in Canisteo for about 65 years and has lived in Horseheads since 2013.

Having trained at St. James Mercy Hospital to become an Operating Room Technician, she was employed for many years at both St. James Mercy Hospital and also Bethesda Community Hospital as an O.R. Technician. Later she served as a Home Care Provider for many area families, caring for the elderly.

Vivian had a great love for her family and also for her dogs. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed reading murder mysteries and books about dogs, both fiction & non-fiction. Bea enjoyed listening to big band music and chocolate. She was a daily walker & hiker long before the “fitness boom”. She would take her dogs for long walks, usually twice per day.

She was married in 1949 to Gilbert Haring who died in 1995. She was also preceded in death by 2 brothers, Jack Canty and Donald Canty; 2 sisters, Eleanor Jankowski and Patricia Curran.

Surviving are her daughter, Pamela “Pam” Haring of Weston, CT; her son, Patrick Haring of Destin, FL; her granddaughter, Rachael Haring of Galveston, TX; her sisters, Nancy Douglass of Horseheads and Shirley Bettinger of Georgia; her brother, Jerry (Ruth) Canty of Hornell; several nieces & nephews.

At Vivian’s request there will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 2:00 PM the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. Final interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Bea’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell Humane society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

James R. “Russell” Amell II – 56 – of 7 Preston Ave., Hornell, died unexpectedly on Thursday (May 18, 2017) at his home.

Born in Ferndale, MI on June 23, 1961, he was the son of James & Elizabeth (Newell) Amell.

Throughout the years, Russell resided in many locations including Texas, Arkansas, Arizona and Tennessee and has been a resident of the Hornell area for nearly 20 years.

Russell worked in the construction industry and was a self-employed drywall hanger. He enjoyed watching basketball & football on TV and was an avid New York Giants football fan. He was passionate in the love of his family and was a true friend, always trying to help others.

He was extremely proud of his two children, James Russell (Amy) Amell III of Hornell and Shanna (Jon) Stoltzfus of Andover. Russell loved spending time with his four grandchildren, Leah Stoltzfus, Lindsey Stoltzfus, Owen Stoltzfus and Kelci Amell and would often crawl on the floor and play with them. He is also survived by his brother, Bryan (Kay) Amell of Tennessee and his sister, Kathy Amell of Michigan; many nieces, nephews and many loving friends.

The family of James R. “Russell” Amell will receive friends on Wednesday from 12:00 (noon) until 2:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY where a Memorial Service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 2:00 PM with Pastor Matt Sassano officiating and Rev. Dan Kenyon.

Russell’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.