Friday, May 27, 2011

Donald A. MacFarquhar

Wellsville, NY - Donald A. MacFarquhar of East Pearl Street passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Jones Memorial Hospital. He was born on May 29, 1935 in Brooklyn to Murdoch and Catherine Black MacFarquhar and on June 15, 1957 in Pella, Iowa he married Doris Dockendorff who survives.

Don earned a Civil Engineering degree from Iowa State University, an MBA degree from the State University at Buffalo and was a licensed Professional Engineer. He moved to Wellsville in 1958 to work at the Air Preheater Corporation. In 1967, he became Director of Public works for the Village of Wellsville and held that position until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure as Public Works Director he was closely involved with the construction of the police and central fire stations, the wastewater treatment plant, the water treatment plant and water intake and the village garage. Don prepared and implemented the plan to combine the Public Works Department and the former Water and Light Department into one department at substantial cost savings and was deeply involved in the community's recovery from the "Agnes" floods of 1972.

Don was a US Army Veteran, serving from 1953 to 1955 and was a member of the American Legion post 702 in Wellsville. He was a past member, director and Officer of the Wellsville Country Club and a member of the First United Methodist Church. After retirement, he and Doris spent winters in Florida and traveled extensively in the United States and overseas. They also enjoyed working on the restoration of the David A. Howe Library Auditorium and on other projects at the library.

Survivors include: his wife, Doris, sons and daughters in law, Gary and Karen MacFarquhar of Evergreen, CO., and Kenneth and Susan MacFarquhar of Palm Beach Gardens, FL., grandsons Dylan, Zachary and Aidan of Palm Beach Gardens.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday, May 29, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. Don's Funeral will be held on Monday at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church in Wellsville with Rev. Jerry Ward presiding. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery and memorials may be made to the David A. Howe Library or a charity of the donor's choice. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Jean Elizabeth Capizz

Wellsville, NY - A graveside service for Jean Elizabeth Capizzi will be on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm in Until the Day Dawn Cemetery in Angelica with Rev. Ralph Eastlack presiding. Mrs. Capizzi passed away on March 2, 2011 in Wellsville and was a former long time resident of Angelica. To read a complete obituary here, or to leave online condolences, please click here.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Dorothy Pauline Tarantine

Wellsville, NY - Dorothy Pauline Tarantine, born August 13, 1921 in Millersville, MO, died May 22, 2011 in Ithaca NY. She was the daughter of Alvin Lee and Nora Walker Niswonger. She was predeceased by her husband, Modestino (Mote) Tarantine and her brothers and sisters (and their spouses): Etta, Anna, Vesta (called Babe), Clola, Truman and Woodrow Niswonger. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Jo Hulbert and Karen Lee Tarantine, granddaughter Karen Margaret (Matt) Schindler, three great grandsons and many generations of nieces and nephews.

Her mother died shortly after Dot was born. She and her brother Woody were the only ones left at home so they were raised by their father with a lot of help from their sisters. As a result, Dot and Woody were very best friends.

Although they generally lived in Cape Girardeau, MO, they moved around the area when her dad was working with the companies building concrete highways in the area. She often attended multiple schools in one school year but graduated from Cape Girardeau High School. Sometimes the three of them lived on their own and sometimes they lived with one of the sisters. She was brought up with her nieces and nephews who were about her age.

Dot met her husband during the war when he was stationed in Cape Girardeau as a flight instructor. She was out with her niece one night and Mote asked to be introduced. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He was told that she had a boyfriend but he said he still wanted to be introduced. One of their first dates was to a restaurant for a spaghetti dinner. Dot had never had spaghetti and didn't know how to eat it or if she liked it. That was almost the end of the relationship! When Mote was transferred to Great Falls, Montana she followed and they were married there in 1944. Mote was shipped overseas to fly the Hump and so Dot went to Olean, NY to live with his sisters, Cara and Jo and his father, Jim Tarantine. While she was there she worked for Bradner's Dept. Store. After the war they lived for a short time in East Aurora where Mote sold cars and then came back to Wellsville when Mote took a job managing the Wellsville Airport on the Bolivar Road.

In 1951, they opened the Airport Drive-In to supplement their income and to serve pilots who flew into Wellsville. They were very famous for their BBQ sauce. Dorothy would peel and chop about a hundred pounds of onions every spring to make the sauce and get ready for the May 1 opening. They also had a unique style of coleslaw that they served with the fish fry. She made hundreds of thousands of hamburgers by paddling with a heavy, solid pancake turner so they could get just the right size and shape to meet their exacting standards. In the ensuing years, they started the Wellsville Flying Service. As that business grew they sold the drive-in and then oversaw the move of the airport to Niles hill where the facility was named "Tarantine Field". They both worked hard as partners in the business. Dot could do anything Mote could except repair and fly the planes! After retirement they enjoyed many years of travel to Canada fishing and to Florida for the sunshine.

Dot had a well-earned reputation as an amazing bridge player. She was part of a Wednesday afternoon group for most of the years she was in Wellsville and later joined some evening groups. Mote always said that if she heard the word bridge - even if it was part of a highway - she was ready to play cards. She was also a 50 year member of Beta Sigma Phi. Although she took up golf in retirement, she quickly became good at that and filled her china cupboard with trophies. She enjoyed social gatherings and was always smiling and friendly. Many people have described her as "just a sweetheart". Her demeanor was one of caring and love but she could be feisty when the occasion called for it. She was an amazing role model for her daughters and granddaughter.

Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church, 36 Maple Avenue in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am with Rev. Sean DiMaria as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Belmont.

Her passing is sad news for her family, but not bad news. She missed her husband terribly over the past four years and they are now reunited in God's love. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Father Bill Brown Missions c/o Immaculate Conception Church, 6 Maple Ave., Wellsville, NY 14895. Fr. Bill worked for Mote and Dot at the drive-in before he entered the priesthood. They were some of the first people to know of Bill's decision to become a priest. They felt great affection for Bill and always supported his work in Peru in any way they could. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Dorothy J. Mott

Wellsville, NY - Dorothy J. Mott, 79, of 3993 Fords Brook Road South Branch died on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Jones Memorial Hospital. She was born April 9, 1932 in Allentown, NY the daughter of the late Isaac and Lela (Kervin) Hardy. On March 25, 1950 in Allentown she married Neil B. Mott who predeceased her on January 30, 2003.

Dorothy was a 1949 graduate of Wellsville High School and a long time resident of the South Branch. She was employed at the Modern Diner in Wellsville for 30 years and was a charter member of the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps. She was very supportive of her children in their many sports and activities; especially the Wellsville Wrestling Team. She will be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by five sons, Neil (Margaret) Mott Jr. of Wellsville, Michael (Laurie) Mott of Springwater, Mark (Michelle) Mott of Elmira, Glen Mott of Wellsville and Kevin (Colleen) Mott of Hamlin, one daughter, Cheryl (Patrick) Carlin of Wellsville, 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, two sisters, Beatrice Davis and Margaret (Erwin) Buchholz both of Wellsville as well as several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Robert Hardy, and William and Harold Tingley.

Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 am in the funeral home with Rev. Ralph Eastlack presiding. Burial will be in Stannards Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Penny L. Mapes

Belmont, NY - Penny L. Mapes of 5151 Route 244 passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at the Highland Hospital in Rochester. She was born on May 10, 1944 in Wellsville to C. James and Helen E. Steenworth Manning. On July 3, 1992 in Belmont she married David Mapes who survives.

Penny was a lifelong resident of Belmont and was a home health aide for 10 years for the Southern Tier Home Health Care. She enjoyed making baby blankets for friends and also lap blankets for the elderly. Penny loved animals especially her pets.

Surviving besides her husband; a son, William Pettit of Ashtabula, OH; 2 daughters, Kelly {Troy) Wells of Canisteo and Lisbeth (Tre') Van Dyke of Alfred Station; a step son, Jeffrey (Martha) Mapes of Belmont; a step daughter, Leslie (Randy) Keesler of Belmont; 9 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Jon (Mary Ellen) Manning of Scio and Robert (Lynn) Manning of Belmont; several nieces and nephews.

Penny was predeceased by her parents and a brother Ray.

Friends are invited to call on Friday, May 13, from 7 to 9 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Belmont. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2 pm in the funeral home. Burial will take place in Forest Hills Cemetery and memorials may be made to the Allegany County SPCA. To leave online condolences please visit ww.embserfuneralhome.com.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Lenora T. (Presutti) Vacante

Belmont, NY - The friends and family of Lenora T. (Presutti) Vacante are invited to a graveside service on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 11:00 am at St. Mary's Cemetery in Belmont. Mrs. Vacante passed away January 11, 2011. To leave online condolences or read her obituary, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Virginia Mae Lindsay,

Wellsville, NY - Virginia Mae Lindsay, 93, of 30 Chestnut Street passed away on Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at the Wellsville Manor Care Center. She was born October 14, 1917 in Grinnell, IA the daughter of Adinirum Judson and Sarah (McCool) Blakely.

Virginia grew up in Iowa then lived on the east coast until her 80's, moving to Wellsville in 2001. She felt at home immediately and enjoyed her life here to the fullest. Known as "Ginny" to all her many friends, she was an avid and formidable bridge player (especially with her long time partner Sid), participating in numerous tournaments over the past decade. She was well known for her wonderful Christmas cookies that she shared with friends & family, continuing to do all her own cooking & baking from scratch until a few months ago. She loved plants and propagated her African Violets for years, and tended a large family garden well into her 80's. She was a devoted sports fan, actively following just about every televised sport from golf to hockey to football & baseball, rodeo to NASCAR! She loved bird watching & kept her bird feeder filled all winter. She was a devoted mother & looked forward to her weekly lunch downtown on Wednesdays with her daughter Nancy. Last October 2010 her family celebrated her 93rd birthday with a reunion bringing all the children, grandchildren and her newest great grandchild from around the world. We will all miss her fabulous warm smile and company.

She is survived by two daughters, Ann B. Lindsay and her husband Robert Richmond of Boston, MA and Nancy J. Meyers of Wellsville, one son, Michael M. Lindsay of Phoenixville, PA, three grandchildren, Meridith Ann Richmond, Jacob Meyers and William Benjamin Meyers, one great granddaughter, Emma Li Xu Ming Meyers, one sister, Harriett German of New Sharon, IA, her former husband, William S. Lindsay of Aston, PA, a devoted "daughter", Kathy Perkins of Belmont and a special friend, "Buster" (Luke) Hollod of Wellsville as well as several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by two infant children, Richard Allen Lindsay and Janet Kay Lindsay and an adopted son, David Thomas Lindsay.

Friends are invited a memorial service on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 3:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 West State Street in Wellsville with Monsignor Vincent Becker presiding. A reception will follow at 30 Chestnut Street in Wellsville. Memorial donations may be made to the Wellsville Community Center, 194 N. Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895.To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Michael Shane Ayers

Bolivar, NY - Michael Shane Ayers devoted son, brother and uncle, age 34 of 129 Olean Street passed away Friday, April 29, 2011, at Jones Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was born on March 9, 1977 in Olean; he was the son of Carol J. Ayers who survives.

Mr. Ayers was a devoted son, brother and uncle who enjoyed being around family. He was very active in the Bolivar Community. He attended and was very active in the West Clarksville Baptist Church. Prior to his accident he was employed by Ron Treehouse at the former Bowl-O-Var Lanes. He played football for Bolivar graduating as a Wolverine football player.

Surviving besides his mother includes: 4 sisters, Barbara (Terry) Baker, Kimberly (Ken) Dickerson, Angela Schoenherr and Christina (Paul) Edwards; a brother, Darron (Becky) Ayers. Several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by his older brother Gene Ayers; a maternal grandmother, Helen Mix and a nephew Shaun Chambers.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, May 4, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2 pm in the funeral home with Rev. David Herne presiding with burial in the Maple Lawn Cemetery. To leave on line condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.