Gary L. Havens

Wellsville - Gary L. Havens, age 65, passed away on Sunday March 27, 2016 in his home on the upper Reddy Road. He was born in Wellsville on November 14, 1950 to Arthur L. and Betty L. Halsey Havens who both survive. On April 8, 1972 at the Christian Temple Church he married Darla J. Coats who survives him.

Gary is a lifelong resident of Wellsville who graduated from Wellsville High School in 1969. In July of 1970 Gary enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam from January 1971 to January of 1972. In May of 1975 he graduated from Alfred State Vocational School, Electrical Trades. Gary’s employment record started early and was varied. Starting with paper delivery and farm work, he progressed to stock clerk and carry out boy for the former Market Basket, later a gas station attendant and for a time he delivered flowers for Kerton’s Florist. He started work as a machinist at C & G Wheelpuller and then worked at Air Preheater as a machinist and in the Maintenance Department, and later at the West Valley Nuclear Demonstration Project. Gary’s final job was as an Electrical Trades instructor at the Belmont Vocational and Technical School for 25 years, which he loved. Gary’s first love was being with family. He was extremely proud of his sons and grandchildren, and enjoyed spending time with them and working alongside of them. His second love was being outside enjoying nature. His hobbies included researching Duke Hose Company and Wellsville Fire Department history, announcing baseball for the Wellsville Lions and for a time the Wellsville Nitros, running the clock during Wellsville Lions Football games, spotting for the Alfred State Pioneers football, watching the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Sabers and baseball.

He was a member of the Duke Hose Company where he has served as treasurer, the Wellsville Alumni Association where he was a past president, The American Legion Post # 702 and the V.F.W. post 2530 both of Wellsville.

Survivors include his wife Darla, his parents Arthur and Betty Havens; 2 sons Andrew L. (Nikki) Havens and Anthony “Tony” L. (Kelly) Havens all of Wellsville; 2 sisters, Glenn L. (Jeff) Olsen of New Haven, IN. and Genene L. (Wayde) Wolbach of Virginia Beach, VA.; 3 grandchildren, Destinee D. Power of Florida, Killian R. Groom and Gary L. Havens both of Wellsville; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gary was predeceased by a granddaughter, Andee Elaine Havens on October 6, 2015.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, March 31, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm and on Friday, April 1, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. His funeral service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 3:30 pm in the Funeral Home followed by a veteran’s service. Memorials may be made to the Grant Duke Hose Company #1, 80 Stevens Street, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Naomi Alice Cline

Belmont, NY - Naomi Alice Cline, a long-time resident of the Belmont, NY, area, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2016 at Absolut Care of Houghton Nursing Home. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt.

Naomi was born May 11, 1929, in Granger, NY, to Pauline G. (Lee) and William G. Patrick. She had 1 sister and 1 brother. After graduating from Belmont High School, she married Keith W. Cline, on May 24, 1952. They owned and operated a dairy farm together for 13 years in Angelica, NY. They had 3 sons and 1 daughter. Following the death of her husband in 1975, Naomi moved to Belmont. She retired in 1996 from the Belmont Court House, after 21 years of service as a Buildings and Grounds Cleaner.

Naomi cherished the time she spent with her family and friends, especially when she joined them at Saturday morning coffee hour. She had a wonderful smile that could light up a room. She is remembered fondly for often saying, “If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be.” Her favorite flowers were sunflowers. She was affectionately known as “G.G.” by her great-grandchildren.

Naomi is survived by 3 sons: Lynn Cline (Brenda) of Angelica, NY, Glen Cline (Patricia) of Scio, NY, Stanley Cline (Loretta) of Almond, NY; and 1 daughter: Lori (Douglas) Gavitt of Wellsville, NY; her 5 grandchildren: Brad (Paula) Markevicz of Irmo, SC, Casey Cline of Columbia, SC, Brandy [Peter] Galbraith of Portsmouth, VA, Nicholas (Jamie) Cline of Almond, NY, and Andrew Cline of Almond, NY; and her 4 great- grandchildren, Jamie and Nicole Cline, and Dominic and Harper Markevicz, all of whom brought great joy to her later years. She is also survived by her brother, Don Patrick of Belmont, NY, and several nieces and nephews. Naomi is predeceased by her parents, husband, and sister, Jean (Patrick) Graham. She was very much loved by family and friends near and far.

Friends are invited to call on Monday, March 28, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Belmont. Naomi’s funeral will be on Tuesday, March 29, at 11 am in the funeral home. Burial will follow the funeral at Until the Day Dawn Cemetery in Angelica.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Amity Rescue Squad ambulance service at P.O. Box 62, Belmont, NY, 14813, or the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department at 80 Schuyler Street, Belmont, NY, 14813. 

To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Ronald E. Boylan

Cuba, NY - Ronald E. Boylan, 85, of 4441 County Road 6, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2016 at the Wellsville Manor Care Center. He was born March 11, 1931 in Mumford, the son of Lester and Josephine (Boyce) Boylan.

Ron was raised in the Caledonia, Mumford and Leroy area and has resided in Cuba for the last 20 years. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving from 1946 to 1948. He was a truck driver for CMI Concrete for many years and later worked with the janitorial staff at various schools in southern Monroe County. He enjoyed riding horses, car shows, the great outdoors and fishing.

He is survived by one son, Michael B. Boylan of Caledonia, one daughter, Ronda Elaine (Scott) DeHollander of Myrtle Beach, SC, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, several nieces & nephews, and special friends, Beverly Card and Scott & Marti Card of Cuba.  He was predeceased by three sisters and one brother.

The family is thankful for your prayers. Ron will be laid to rest with his siblings in Leroy, NY at a later date. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Cuba Volunteer Fire Department. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth Embser Wattenberg

Wellsville, NY - Elizabeth Embser Wattenberg, a social worker and health care organizer, who was the director of the Allegany County Office for the Aging and the founder of Rural Health Resources, a consultancy for regional medical networks, died on Friday, March 11, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, following a brief illness. She was 69.

Elizabeth, known as Betty, devoted her career to improving the quality of life for residents of Western New York, largely through her efforts to establish or strengthen elder care, dental and mental health, and emergency services in rural areas. As the president of Rural Health Resources, founded in 1998, she focused on programs for volunteer personnel of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams. Working with the Southern Tier Health Care System and the New York State Department of Health, Betty traveled across the state to coordinate emergency care, enhance grant initiatives, and develop strategic partnerships in rural health. She retired in 2013.

In the 1980s, Betty became the director of the Office for the Aging, where, together with her dedicated staff, she worked to identify needs and develop resources for aging populations and their families. Building upon many years of social work and advocacy, Betty then left county government to join the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where she was a clinical instructor and coordinator of the Community Oriented Primary Care project based at Cuba Memorial Hospital. Betty was also an enthusiastic and outspoken member of the Boards of Wellsville Central School and Jones Memorial Hospital.

During her tenure at the Department of Social Services of Allegany County, in the 1970s, Betty was an aging services specialist. She developed programs such as a training course at BOCES designed to teach students how to care for homebound elderly, which provided mentorship and career opportunities in the healthcare field. She also worked with her good friend and colleague, Dorothy Thomas, on several nonprofit projects—they were known locally as the “Dynamic Duo”—including the Wellsville Child Care Center and the Community Express, Allegany Country’s first public transportation service, which ran for eighteen years. In all of her work, Betty wanted to make things a little better, healthier, and easier for everyone.

Elizabeth Jane Embser was born on February 6, 1947, to Richard and Louise Embser of Wellsville. An editor of the school newspaper and member of the speech team, she graduated from Wellsville High School in 1966. Betty studied at Trocaire College, in Buffalo, where she was Student Government president. She later earned a BA at SUNY College at Buffalo, a Masters in Community Service Administration from Alfred University, and a certificate in Health Care Development from Cornell University.

A gracious host and a lively presence at any party, Betty had a deep curiosity about the world. In 1971, she lived for several months in Paris with her sister, Linda, intending to travel in Europe and volunteer at the 1972 Munich Olympics. When she returned home to Wellsville for a brief visit, her father said she had “better get a job.” He sent her to Angelica to work in social services. And that was where her career began.

Betty married Mark H. Wattenberg in 1982 at the United Nations Chapel in New York City. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Brendan, of Brooklyn, New York; her sisters, Linda and her husband George Lewis, of Salem, New York; Gail Embser, of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Susan Embser, of Durham, North Carolina; her brother, John and his wife Diana of Wellsville; her godchildren Shannon (Pickup) Leonida, of Raleigh; Michael Lewis of North Attleboro, Massachusetts; and Jenevera Embser, of Rochester; close family friends Vincent and Carole Darden, of Syracuse; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Betty, who treasured the value of friendship, was also lucky to have shared many life adventures with her high school classmates Kathy Farnsworth, of Ellicott City, Maryland, and Peggy (Cronk) Towers, of North Salem, New York.

Passionate about her work on behalf of the elderly, upon her retirement from the Office for the Aging, in 1992, Betty’s colleagues presented her with a clock, built by Wally Higgins, an Alfred artisan, inscribed, “Aging is for Everyone.” It was a motto Betty lived by.

Friends are invited to visit the family on Tuesday, March 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm, and again on Wednesday, March 16 from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. Burial will be Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Allegany County Area Foundation, 6087 State Route 19N, Belmont, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

James Paul Sweet

Wellsville, NY - James Paul Sweet, 65, died Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the Jones Memorial Hospital following a prolonged illness.

Jim was the oldest of three boys to Marcella (Colburn) and Paul Sweet. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Paul Sweet.

Born and raised in Wellsville, Jim attended Wellsville High School where he played tennis for the Lions. He went on to play for Ithaca College and eventually coached his older son Brian on the Wellsville varsity tennis team in the 1990s.

It was at Ithaca College where Jim met his future wife, Beverly. They married in 1974. In 1978, Jim and Bev made the life-altering decision to join the Peace Corps and move to Nepal where they lived for more than five years.

Without a doubt, Jim’s greatest joy in life was watching his two boys grow up. From Little Dribblers, to Little League, to both of his sons playing three sports throughout their high school days, Jim never missed a game. More recently, while visiting his sons in Las Vegas he was happy sitting next to them for hours at a time while playing video poker.

He also enjoyed participating in, watching, and coaching many sports. Jim spent many summers at the family cottage at Rushford Lake, fishing, boating, and water skiing. He was a loyal Buffalo Bills fan. (He always was proud that he was in attendance for the epic comeback when the Frank Reich led Bills came back against the Oilers in the 1993 NFL Playoffs.) Each year Jim and his closest friends took a fishing trip – where they shared more stories than fish. Jim loved being in the outdoors and spending time hunting, even on days when he came home empty-handed. His time spent at camp with his family and friends was something he always cherished.

Jim unselfishly gave of his time to instill his love of baseball to the youth of Wellsville by coaching Little League for many years. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was a member of the Wellsville Lions Club – even serving as an endman in the Minstrel show.

Right out of college Jim began working as Production Control Manager at Friendship Foundry, but his passion was always writing. As owner of the Southern Tier Off Road Center, Jim began writing his “STORC Droppings” column. Eventually this led to him working for the Wellsville Daily Reporter where he covered high school sports for the surrounding communities. Each day as he left for work, he would tell Bev that he was, “off to make someone a hero.” 

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Beverly; his two sons, Brian and Kevin, both of Las Vegas, Nevada; his mother, Marcella of Wellsville; and two brothers, Bill (Janet) of Wellsville, and Doug of Fort McKinney, Texas.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Wellsville Little League or a charity of the donor’s choosing.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Anita M. Keib

Wellsville, NY - Anita M. Keib, age 81, of Field Street passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the Wellsville Manor Care Center. She was born on August 2, 1934 in Wellsville to Kenneth Eli and Ruby Keiler Gleason.

Anita was a longtime resident of Wellsville who graduated from Wellsville High School. She worked for the former First Trust Union Bank in Wellsville and for Fleet Bank in Rochester. Anita returned to Wellsville and spent the next several years working for Dresser Rand until her retirement in 2000. She enjoyed gardening, reading and spending time with her family. 

Survivors include her son Daniel (Sharon) Keib of Wellsville; a daughter Kandra (Kevin) Garwood of Placerville, CA.; 4 grandchildren, Sarah Keib, Ryan Keib, Jade Monarski and Garrett Garwood; 6 great grandchildren; a sister, Loraine (Robert) Moran of Wellsville; a brother, David (Barbara) Gleason of Texas; several nieces and nephews.

Anita was predeceased by her parents and her son Joseph Keib.

At the request of the family there will be a private service to be held at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville with burial in York’s Corners Cemetery. Memorials in Anita’s name may be made to the David A. Howe Library or to the Emerald Hook and Ladder Fire Company or to the charity of the donor’s choice. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneral.com.

Thomas Keith Bogle

Buffalo, NY - Thomas Keith Bogle, 57, passed away on February 4, 2016 in Buffalo. He was the son of the late David and Ida May (Marsh) Bogle. “Tommy” was raised in Wellsville and is survived by three sisters, Bonnie Knight, Amelia Abbey and Leisha Smith, one brother, Daniel Miller, three grandchildren, and several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased in addition to his parents, by a sister Florence, three brothers, William, Harold and Brian, and his son Curtis Rahill. A private memorial service is planned for a later date.

Rose-Marie A. Florentine

Wellsville, NY - Rose-Marie A. Florentine, 68, of 56 E. State Street passed away on Monday, February 29, 2016 at Jones Memorial Hospital with her loving family at her side. She was born on February 11, 1948 in Wellsville, the daughter of John H. and Nancy (Frungillo) Ellis. On August 22, 1970 in Lackawanda she married Jack S. Florentine who survives.

Rose-Marie was raised in Wellsville and was a 1967 graduate of Wellsville High School. She also graduated from Bryant & Stratton College in Buffalo. She was a well know employee at the Wellsville Veterinarian Hospital for 40 years; retiring in 2015. Rose-Marie was loved, respected and a true friend to many.

Surviving in addition to her husband are three children, Bernadette (Gary) Hall of Erie, PA, John Florentine and Timothy Florentine both of Wellsville, four grandchildren, Rachael Florentine, John Florentine Jr., Camryn Hall and Cassidy Hall, a niece, Jill (Michael) Haney, a great niece, Tiffany, a great nephew, Kody.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, March 3rd from 3:00 to 5:00 & 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Friday, March 4th from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the SPCA Serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.