All Obituaries

Eleanor Mae Bacon Fleming, 94, of 26446 County RT. 32, Evans Mills, passed away September 13, 2019, at the Samaritan Keep Nursing home where she had been a resident. She was born on February 21, 1925, in Watertown, daughter of Clinton A. and Ella Mae Wilkie Bacon.  She attended a Pamelia one room school house and Evans Mills High School. On July 18, 1946, she married Lyle C. Fleming at the home of her parents in Evans Mills. Mrs. Fleming, along with her husband, took over her...

William P. “Bill” Yard, 83, of 1211 Faichney Dr., Watertown, passed away September 12, 2019, at Upstate Medical University. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home 117 N. Massey St., Watertown. A prayer service will be held 9:15 a.m.Monday, Sept. 16 at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church with Rev. Herman Pongantung officiating. Born on February 4, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, son...

Margery E. Potter, 86, passed away August 15, 2019 at Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing where she had been a resident. Born on February 7, 1933 in Appleton, Wisconsin, daughter of Rudolf and Gladys M. DeLong Kanik, she attended school in Appleton, Wisconsin and Black River. Following school she married Sherwood Potter, of Black River, on January 25, 1948 the couple resided in Black River. She became a beautician in 1963 graduating from Watertown School of Cosmetology and...

Nancy I. MacKay, 69, of 30064 NYS Rt. 3 Black River, NY passed away August 11, 2019 at her home where she was under the care of her husband and Hospice of Jefferson County. She was born on May 26, 1950 in Rochester, NY, daughter of Leslie and Emily (Siebert) Scanlon. Nancy held various jobs throughout the US and worked many years for Boeing in Seattle Washington. While living there she met David MacKay who resided in Scotland and they married on August 25, 2001.  The couple resided in...

Merville E. Franklin, PHD, 72, passed away August 11, 2019 at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. He was born on October 28, 1946, in Barbados, the son of Weldon Grosvenor and Iona Corbett.  At the age of six he and his family moved to Brooklyn, NY where he graduated from high school and college. He went on to work for Mort Sweeney on Wall Street, was involved with the banking sector in NYC for several years before moving into heath care.  He became a phlebotomist and worked...

George J. Brinkley Sr., 97, of N. Main Street, Black River, passed away August 1, 2019 at the Hospice Residence of Jefferson County at the Ellis Farm. He was born on April 24, 1922, son of  Elsey and Dorothy (Leavitt) Brinkley and attended Carthage Central High School. Following school he entered the U. S. Navy  in 1942 and served on the USS Nevada during WWII.  He participated in the invasion of Normandy and Iwo Jima.  He was honoarbly discharged on December 13,...

Donna L. Clark, 79, passed away August 1, 2019 at the Samaritan Summit Village, where she had been a resident. She was born on July 2, 1940 in Watertown, NY, daughter of Donald L. and Ruth Hall Pledger, she graduated from Indian River High School in 1957. Upon graduation she worked at Mercy Hospital as a medical record admission clerk.  In 1961 she became a homemaker and raised her five children. She married William B. Clark on January 21, 1961 in the Village of Black River. ...

Joan Ann Sayre, 81, of 308 E 30th St. NYC, NY, passed away peacefully July 16, 2019 at Langone Hospital in NY. Joan was born in Mineola, NY, daughter of George Milton Sayre and Caroline Melton Sayre. She graduated as class valedictorian from Black River High School in 1955.  She went onto many scholarly pursuits of which she earned on scholarships.  She received her bachelor’s of nursing degree from Syracuse University in 1960 and was head nurse at the Syracuse/VA...

Margo Schirmer (Teacup), 71, formerly of Cemetery Road, Black River, NY passed away on July 16, 2019 at the Samaritan Keep Nursing Home where she resided for the past year. Born in Watertown, NY, the daughter of Lyle and Margaret (Grimshaw) Lobdell, she graduated from Watertown High School. A marriage to Eugene Shirmer, who she shared three children with, ended in divorce. She was employed for many years in the healthcare field, 10 years at the House of the Good Samaritan as an Operating...

Beverly C. Pierce, 74, of 133 Pratt St., Watertown, passed away July 13, 2019 at the Samaritan Keep Nursing Home where she had been a resident. She was born on April 24, 1945 in Watertown, NY, daughter of Elwood and Olive Davis Pierce Sr. Beverly has been a home maker most of her life.  She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and especially her grandchildren.  She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation in Adams.  She also enjoyed...