All Obituaries

Raymond Douglas Barney, 87, of West Remington St., Black River, NY, passed away October 18, 2021, at the Hospice Residence of Jefferson County at the Ellis Farm, after a long illness. Raymond was born September 4, 1934, to Floyd and Catherine (Cook) Barney.  He attended schools in Theresa and Copenhagen.  He married Sarah Wooledge on January 20, 1963, and the couple raised their children at Sarah’s childhood home in Black River.  Raymond retired as a bus...

Joshua James Jeremiah Johnson, 43, of 703 Coffeen St., passed away October 17, 2021 after losing a long battle with addiction. He was born on March 26, 1978 in Saratoga Springs, NY, son of Kenneth David Johnson and Tanya Marlene Collins. He attended Watertown High School and while in school he volunteered at the local nursing homes. He worked a short time for John Granger Paving in Watertown and also volunteered at Urban Mission. Joshua was the only son of Tanya Tibbles, they were best...

Richard L. Burnett, 83, of Watertown, NY, passed away October 7, 2021 in Auburn, Washington where he had been residing with his daughter the last two years. He was born on May 31, 1938 in Watertown, NY, son of Orlando and Evelyn (Sheitz) Burnett.  He graduated from Watertown High School in 1955. Richard worked for the U.S. Postal Services, as a mail carrier for 30 years, retiring in 1993.  Following his retirement he worked at the Federal Postal Credit Union, in Watertown, where...

Harry E. Bracken, 90, of North Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Sackets Harbor, N.Y., passed away October 9, 2021 at the Hospice Residence at the Ellis Farm in Watertown surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” (Gorri) Bracken; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Jeanne Bracken, of Spencerport, N.Y.; daughter and son in law, Diane (Bracken) and Lee Funderburk, of Greenwood, S.C.; brother, Raymond E. Bracken, Jr., of Franklin, N.C.; step-daughter, Gina...

John H. “Griff” Griffin, 66, of NYS Rt. 3 Carthage, NY, passed away October 7, 2021 at the Samaritan Medical Center. Born on November 21, 1954, son of Eva R. Mulverhill, he graduated from Carthage High School.  Following school he worked at DeFeriet Paper Co and he drove tractor trailer before becoming disabled. John was a free spirit with a great sense of humor and quick wit.  He was a “just” man that would treat people accordingly and he would go to...

Linda  L. Dygert, 74, of 23899 Valley View Dr., Calcium, NY, passed away October 6, 2021. I am heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, my beautiful mother and a mighty woman passed away peacefully at home with her daughter by her side and a wave of love from family and friends. She was born on November 1, 1946 in Albany, NY, daughter of the late Morris J. and Frances (Coble) Tyo Sr. Linda graduated from Watertown High School and moved to Rochester where...

Patricia N. Thot, 80, of 37012 NYS Rt. 37, Theresa, NY, passed away October 5, 2021 at her daughter’s home where she was surrounded by family and under the care of Hospice of Jefferson County. She was born on December 20, 1940 in Watertown, NY, daughter of the late Kenneth and Marguerite (Deacon) Fitzgerald. Patricia attended WHS. Following school she worked at the Acme Market as a Deli Manager before working at Fort Drum as a supply clerk. She entered the Army National Guard in 1974...

Douglas J. Clark Jr., 80, of 32592 County Rt. 143, Black River, passed away unexpectedly October 4, 2021 at the Albany Medical Center. He was born on May 25, 1941 in Felts Mills, NY, son of Douglas J and Pearl E. (Barber) Clark Sr.  Doug attended a one room school house in Felts Mills before attending Carthage Central School. Doug grew up working on the family farm “Clark’s Clearview Dairy Farm” in Black River that his parents owned and operated.  He...

Dennis J. Gillen, 60, of 242 Ward St., Watertown, NY, passed September 30, 2021 at the Samaritan Medical Center. He was born on September 19, 1961, in Watertown, NY, son of Leonard J. Gillen and Phyllis A. Brooks. Dennis graduated from Carthage High School in 1979. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1983 and his Master’s Degree in 1987 from SUNY Potsdam. He began his student teaching at J. William Leary Junior High School in Massena.  In the spring of 1984...

Sophie Elizabeth (Betty) Lawrence, 84, of 1201 Jewell Dr., Watertown, NY, passed away on September 30, 2021 at the Samaritan Medical Center. She was born on December 3, 1936, in Lyons Falls, NY, daughter of Joseph E. and Elizabeth (Toth) Lustyik. Sophie graduated from Port Leyden Central School in 1954 as the class Valedictorian. She was a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, where she earned her Masters of Science Degree in Library Science. Sophie was a school librarian...