Philip H. McGuire (1924 – 2012)
MELLENVILLE—Philip H. McGuire, 88, of Mellenville, a longtime area resident, passed away peacefully at home, Thursday, October 18, 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
Born in Philmont, February 1, 1924, he was the son of the late Albert and Georgianna (Haywood) McGuire.
Mr. McGuire was a veteran of World War II. He retired from United Aircraft in East Hartford, CT. He was a Peace Corps volunteer and then worked for AID in Lesotho, Africa, for many years. He was also a volunteer with the Mellenville Fire Department.
He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Kendrick McGuire, in 2004. He is survived by: his three daughters, Phyllis Breton, Marcia Nadeau and her husband Paul, and Lauren Lapenta, all of CT; two grandsons; several great grandchildren and his two sisters, Greta Miller and Gay McGuire, both of Philmont. Funeral services will be private at Mellenville Union Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, Greenport.
Mary R. Gorton (1943 – 2012)
PITTSFIELD, MA—Mary R. Gorton, 68, of Southeast Hollow Road, Berlin died suddenly Monday, October 22 at Berkshire Medical Center after being stricken at her home.
Born Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1943 in Cambridge, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Florence Mason Peckham.
She was the loving and devoted wife of Martin D. “Marty” Gorton, Sr. whom she married July 21, 1962 at the Sacred Heart Church in Berlin.
A lifelong resident of the area, Mrs. Gorton was a 1962 graduate of the Hoosick Falls High School. After raising her family, she was the owner/operator of Clip ‘N’ Curl, which she operated out of her home starting in 1984. She also worked part-time as a postal clerk at the United States Postal Service in Cherry Plain. Mrs. Gorton was a charter member (1976) of the Landmark Baptist Church in Berlin, where she served as church treasurer and taught Sunday School for more than 20 years. For the last nine years, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs. Her hobbies included gardening, arranging flowers and birds.
Survivors include: her husband of 50 years, Marty; her daughter, Christine Gorton Dietsch and her husband Kevin of Cumming, GA; her daughter-in-law, Heather Gorton of Cumming, GA; her grandchildren, Kelton Patrick Dietsch and Paige Marie Gorton; siblings, Susan Begin of Williamstown, MA, Linda (Richard) Okerman of Hoosick, Evelyn (Jay) Iskowitz of Bennington, VT, Harold (Marilyn) Peckham, Jr., of Hoosick Falls; a sister-in-law, Wanda Peckham of North Carolina; several in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was predeceased by a son, Martin Douglas Gorton, Jr., and a brother William Peckham.
Funeral services were held Saturday, October 27 at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon Springs, 31 Main Street, where Pastor James A. Knox officiated. Interment followed in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Stephentown.
Memorial contributions may be given to the church in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown 12168.
Arrangements were with the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 State Route 43, Stephentown.
Eloise McWhorter Moore (1929 – 2012)
DENVER, CO—Eloise McWhorter Moore, 82, of Hudson, departed this life to the embrace of The Lord, October 11, 2012.
Born October 26, 1929 in Alabama, she was the eighth child of the late Georgia (Charles) and Harvey Williams, Sr.
She migrated to Hudson for work in April 1952. She was employed by the New York Training School for Girls until retiring in November 1982.
She was active in her church. She was a member of the Senior Usher Board, president of the Daughters of Shiloh, member of the Senior and Combined Chorus, Senior Missionary secretary and Sunday School teacher. Mrs. Moore also served as secretary of the Hudson High PTA in 1968, secretary of the Elizabeth Kimbrough Temple #1184 IBPOE and treasurer of the Columbia County Branch of NAACP.
Those left to cherish her memory include: her two sons, Jeffery (Elinore) McWhorter and Harvey McWhorter, both of Denver; her beloved sister, Reverend Mable L. Blanks of Guyton, GA; her niece, Dorothy Holloway of Hudson; a sister-in-law, Bettye J. Williams of Montgomery, AL; her closest friend, Hazel Murray of Hudson; her adopted daughter, Toni Cross of Hudson; three grandchildren, Jeffery McWhorter, Jr., of Denver, CO, and Todd Watson and Tihesa Scott of Los Angeles, CA; three great-grandchildren; her God-children; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by her husbands, Glosper McWhorter and Winston P. Moore; her brothers, Harvey, Wash, James, Harvey and Arthur; her sisters, Catherine, Mary and Jane.
Services were held Monday, October 29, 2012 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 14 Warren Street, Hudson.
Burial was in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave a message for the family.
Irene E. Degnen (1920 – 2012)
PHILMONT—Irene E. Degnen, 91, of West Taghkanic, passed away at the Pine Haven Nursing Home, Friday, October 26, 2012 after a short illness.
Born October 30, 1920 in Rockville Centre, she was the daughter of the late Katherine (Smith) Reaves and Benjamin J. Reaves.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Genevieve McClusky, her daughter-in-law, Nancy Degnen and her brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Irma Degnen.
Mrs. Degnen is survived by: her husband of 71 years, John R. Degnen, Sr., of West Taghkanic; four sons, John (Donna) R. Degnen, Jr., of West Coxsackie, Dennis (fiancée Lucy) Degnen of Ravena, Robert Degnen of Woodside and Gregory (Jodie) Degnen of Jupiter, FL; two daughters, Maureen (Wayne) Hiserodt of Ancramdale and Ann Marie Weber of Philmont; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; her nephew, Charles McClusky of Gainsville, FL, and his family and wonderful caring neighbors and friends.
Mrs. Degnen loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. Her home was always open to children for playing, meals and overnight visits. She was proud of her heritage as a member of the Cherokee Mohegan Pequot Indian Tribe. Mrs. Degnen enjoyed listening to the radio for current events and politics in the world.
Mostly she was grateful to God for the long and healthy life she was able to share with her husband and family.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday, October 29 at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson.
Burial was in Cedar Park Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave a message for the family.