Gary G. Briggs, Ph.D. - Notice

Genesee, PA - A graveside service for Gary Briggs, will be Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 1:00 pm at North Bingham Cemetery with Rev. Greg DeSalvator presiding. Gary died on Monday, March 9, 2015. To read the complete obituary or leave on condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Patricia Tompkins - Notice

Scio, NY - Patricia Tompkins of Penfield, formerly of Scio, passed away on September 6, 2015. Pat was a career-long teacher, having taught in both Belmont and Scio Central School Districts. Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 25th at J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, 34 West State Street, Wellsville, from 2-5 pm with a memorial service to immediately to follow.

Jeffery Donald Zenoski

Belmont, NY - Jeffery Donald Zenoski, 53, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2015 surrounded by his family and friends in his home at 40 Willets Avenue.  He courageously fought a year and a half long battle with Multiple Myeloma. He was born January 21, 1962 in Cuba, NY the son of the late Donald and Maureen (Monroe) Zenoski. On August 20, 1994 he married Christa Sauer on Rushford Lake "at sea", who survives with their two children.

 Jeff was a graduate of Belmont High School and Alfred State College. He was employed by the Allegany County Department of Public Works. He was a past Chief of the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the NRA, the Belmont Sons of the American Legion, and the Belmont Conservation Club. He served on the Amity Town Board, he was Treasurer of the Allegany County GOP Republican Party, he was a former Little League and T-Ball Coach; as well as serving with several other organizations and committees throughout the years.

 Jeff was a loving son, husband and father. As a lifelong resident of Belmont he cherished his community and was a great friend to many. From his youth, Jeff was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting and spending time with nature. Nothing made him happier than a day of four wheeling and an evening with family and friends at his cabin on the hill. Jeff gave back by plowing driveways throughout the community in the wintertime and assisting as a handyman to anyone in need. He loved spending time in his garage whether it be welding and fabricating many creative projects or just relaxing listening to his radio.

Jeff's sense of humor and easy going outlook on life drew people to him. You could always count on him for a good laugh or a Jeff-ism "That will make you hide your own Easter basket".

Surviving in addition to his wife, Christa, is his daughter, Allea Anne Zenoski of Belmont, his son, Brennon Wade Zenoski of Belmont, three brothers, Tim (Kari) Zenoski of Bloomfield, Mark (Tammy) Zenoski of Charlotte, NC, and Joe (Stacey) Zenoski of Hickory, NC, his sister, Kelli Zenoski Bartlett of Belmont, several nieces & nephews, including, Riley (Chance) Zenoski, Madison Zenoski, Emily and Ian Zenoski, Katie Bartlett, Anna, Maryn and Emma Zenoski, his father-in-law, Rickie (Christel) Sauer, and mother-in-law Nancy Fordyce and his beloved dogs Daisy and Oscar. He was predeceased in addition to his parents, by his grandparents, Victor & Hilda Monroe and Walter and Helen Zenoski.

 Friends are invited to call on Sunday, September 20th from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Monday, September 21st from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 17 Schuyler Street in Belmont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 am at Holy Family Church in Belmont. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department, the Wilmont Cancer Center or Hope Lodge. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Brian S. Warner

Cuba, NY - Brian S. Warner, age 49, of the Rawson Road passed away on Saturday September 12, 2015 at home following a short illness. He was born in Cuba on March 4, 1966 to George L. and Carol “Kaye” Ferris Warner. 

Brian was a former resident of Belmont who attended Belmont Central Schools. He enlisted in the US Army and served with the1st Cavalry Division from 1983 until his discharge in 1989. Brian was employed by Kelly Construction in Friendship and enjoyed the out of doorsespecially hunting. For 14 years Brian rode both bare back horses and bulls in rodeos and in hisspare time he loved working with his own horses. He was a member of the AMVETS Post # 1 in Cuba and had been a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his mother, Kaye Warner of Belmont; his son Brian S. Warner II of Cuba; a daughter, Chelcy Warner of Batavia; 2 brothers, Craig Warner and Steve Warner both of Belmont; 2 nieces, Katherin and Morgan Warner; a nephew, Matt Warner; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Brian was predeceased by his Father, George Warner Sr. and his brother George Warner Jr.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, September 16, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Belmont. His funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 am in the funeral home followed by a burial with full military honors in Forest Hills Cemetery. Memorials in Brian’s name may be made to either the AMVETS Post #1 in Cuba or the American Heart Association. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Patricia Tompkins

Penfield, NY - Patricia  Tompkins formerly of Scio, NY, passed away September 6, 2015 at 89 years of age.  Predeceased by her husband, Gerald Tompkins; parents, Nora and Walter Perry; sister, Ginger; and daughter, Sue Bellinger.

Survived by sisters June Ferguson of Wellsville, NY, Peggy (Bill) Plump of Milford, DE and Linda (Sonny) Taylor of St. David, AZ; sons Steven (Debbie) Tompkins of Penfield, NY and Scott (Robin) Tompkins of Indian Land, SC;  grandchildren Brian (Cassandra) Black; Corey (April) Black, Lindsey (Jeff) McNinch, Alex Tompkins and Brooke (Chaz) Gaspar;  8 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Pat was a career-long teacher, having taught in both the Belmont and Scio Central School Districts.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 25th at J. W. Embser and Sons Funeral Home,  34 West State St, Wellsville, NY from 2 PM to 5PM with a memorial service to immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Penfield Public Library (1985 Baird Rd., Penfield, NY 14526).  Those wishing to donate can make checks payable to the library and designate “Shut-In Services, in memory of Patricia Tompkins” on the memo line of the check.

Doris Sprague Doty

Wellsville, NY - Doris Sprague Doty died on August 5, 2015 at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, NY after a very short illness.  She was fortunate enough to fulfill her desire to live independently at home, with minimal assistance, until her admission to the hospital two days prior.

Doris was born on September 17, 1924 and was the only child of the late Harold and Nellie (Simon) Sprague of Dansville, NY.  She is survived by her three children, Don Pender and his wife Linda, Carol Winig and her husband Steven and Scott Pender and his wife Sindi all of whom live in Florida. She also has five grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She was predeceased by her grandson Jonathan Pender, who we like to think escorted her, along with Lucy her cat, as she left this world to enter the next. She is also survived by Bess Pender, her loving daughter-in-law.

Doris had an illustrious career teaching primarily kindergarten and occasionally first grade. She began her teaching career in Niagara Falls as a new college graduate. She is best known and fondly remembered by many former students in Dansville who would still recognize her and call out a “hello and you were my favorite teacher!”  Mom was very creative in her teaching methods and made learning a unique experience that created lifelong learning habits for her young students.  She moved to Florida in 1969 and while teaching kindergarten in the Broward County School System, her lesson plans were recognized for their creativity and were incorporated into Florida State University’s College of Education Curriculum as a model.

Doris married her college sweetheart, Dr. Mike Doty, and left Florida to move to Wellsville in 1975. She was fortunate enough to have made an incredible amount of wonderful friends in Wellsville. Those friends are the reason she was able to staunchly maintain the independent lifestyle that was so important to her, and for that, the family thanks you.

Friends are invited to join Doris’s family and celebrate her life at 11:00 am Thursday, September 17th (her 91st birthday) at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville, NY. Please come and share your memories. Memorial donations can be made to the Monday Club % Alice Stevens, Treasurer, 72 Chestnut Street, Wellsville, NY 14895. Burial will be at Greenmount Cemetery in Dansville. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Joyce Leonard Weimer

Joyce Leonard Weimer completed the journey home to heaven on September 5, 2015 after five years of breast cancer.  She was born December 14, 1951, married to Alyn Weimer on Friday, March 13, 1970.

When she was 21 when she asked Jesus to be her Savior.  That became the center of her life from then on.  They raised two beautiful children, Tricia Herritt (Richard) Andover, NY and Ryan Weimer (Mary) Scio, NY who added to the family beloved grandchildren Wesley, Olivia & Carolyn Herritt and Jack and Benjamin Weimer.

She graduated from Bolivar Central, Rochester Business Institute and received her bachelor degree from SUNY Empire State College while working and raising her family.

Throughout her life she was very active through her church, community service, employment, music, hobbies, reading, and people.  Joyce could be counted on for fund raising from marching band to her United Way work.  She was introduced the income tax VITA/EITC program to Allegany County United Way.  She served statewide on CSEA Board of Directors and was state Insurance Chair for 25 years.  While employed at Alfred State College for 37 years, she worked on both the Wellsville and Alfred Campuses.  The Student Activities Center was her longest involvement organizing activities and the Wellsville Intramural program.  She completed her career as the Director of International Education recruiting in Southeast Asia and Mexico for international students as well as coordinated on campus regulations and study abroad programs.  For three years she organized and hosted the downtown Children’s International Festival.  Throughout her career she was active on several committees at Alfred such as Cultural Arts, Summer Orientation Co-Chair, Middle States, EAP Director, former CSEA union president and in other offices.  Her involvement in organizations was all about connecting people to benefits, at no cost when possible.

She is also survived by a brother James Leonard (Sherry)Little Genesee  and their children Jammie Swanson (Thomas) Hamlin, NY; Pelle Ayers (Jerry) LeRoy, NY; Tara Leonard (Spencerport); sister-in-law Joan Tucker, Scio, NY, her children Troy Tucker (Rhonda) Danielsville, PA; Tanya Scholla (Doug) Scio, NY and her 103 year old mother-in-law Margaret Weimer.  Also surviving are Joyce’s Aunt Marion Barney, Hallsport, NY, and Uncle Art Leonard, Green Valley, AZ plus several cousins, nieces and nephews.  Many special friends, Rock Lake Ontario family and her church families at the Allentown United Methodist Church and at the Wellsville C&MA Church.  Her life was blessed.

She was predeceased by her parents, Ken and Violet Leonard,(Little Genesee, NY) brother Kenneth Leonard (II); grandparents George Arthur and Gertrude Leonard;  grandparents Harold and Osee Barney. Father-in-law Albert Weimer and brother-in-law CD Tucker, Scio, NY

A celebration of life will be held Sunday September 20, 2015 at the Lake Lodge, Alfred, NY.  Arrangements will be made by JW Embser Sons Funeral Home, Wellsville, NY. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Memorials can be made to Allegany County United Way, PO Box 12, Wellsville, NY 14895 or Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Elm & Carlston, Buffalo, NY 14263

Her ashes will rest in a green everglade on a piece of paradise on earth.