HELEN B. KISNER
STANLEY-CAYUGA- Helen B. Kisner, 90, of Rte 90, Cayuga, died after a short illness at Clifton Springs Hospital on May 10.
Family and Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 14 at the Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home in Gorham. A memorial service will be Friday,May 15 at 11 a.m. at Number Nine Presbyterian Church, 4414 Number Nine Road, Stanley Rev. Ellen Johnson will officiate. Burial will be immediately in Number Nine Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Seneca No. 9 Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.
She was a member of the Seneca No. 9 Presbyterian Church for 50 years, and a lifetime member of the Reed Corners Grange. She wintered many years in Huntsville, Ala.
Mrs. Kisner is survived by her six children: Ethel Wilbanks of Dayton, Ohio; Janet and Bob Robson of Stanley; Karl and Donna Kisner of Romulus; Rev. Ellen and Rev. George Wooley, of Waterloo; Nellie and Gary Carroll of Tampa, Fla. and Kimber Kisner of Hollywood, Ala.; one brother, Jay Bacon of Milton, Pa.; one sister-in-law, Mary Frantz; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Osborne Kisner, who died in 1998; a brother, Robert Bacon; and two sisters, Lois Dieterick and Jane Frantz.
KAREN M. SNYDER
PENN YAN — Karen M. Snyder, 50, of Penn Yan, died Wednesday May 6, 2009 after a most courageous, and lengthy battle with cancer at Highland Hospital, in Rochester.
Friends called from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water St., Dundee.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 11 at the Penn Yan United Methodist Church, Penn Yan with Rev. Wayne K. Butler officiating. Burial followed in Hillside Cemetery, Dundee.
In her memory, memorial contributions may be made to Keuka Comfort Care Home, P.O. Box, 107, Penn Yan, NY 14527.
Karen was born July 18, 1958 in Lakewood, N.J., the daughter of Warren C. Johnson Sr. and Beverly A. Messenger. After earning her High School Diploma, she went to cosmetology and hair dressing school in Elmira to become a Certified Beautician. On May 11, 1974 in Barrington, she married David J. Snyder.
Karen started her own business, Shear Effects in Penn Yan, which she proudly ran for over 20 years; finally having to stop due to her illness in 2005.
Karen was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who truly loved her family and spending valuable time with them. A very crafty, creative, decorative individual, who was the epitome of style, Karen enjoyed knitting, gardening, flowers, and always had the TV on the QVC channel. She enjoyed traveling and loved the ocean.
She is loved and will be dearly missed by her husband of 35 years, David J. Snyder Sr. at home; a son, David J. (Tammy) Snyder Jr. of Himrod; a daughter Heather A. (Jason) Reed of Penn Yan, two grandchildren, Nathaniel D. and Natalie M. Snyder of Himrod; her father, Warren C. Johnson Sr. of Penn Yan; two brothers, “Gene” A. (Yong) Johnson of Penn Yan and Warren C. (Lori) Johnson Jr. of Himrod; a sister Cathy M. (“Skip”) Earl of Penn Yan; special friends, Butch and Sue Hampton of Penn Yan and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.
She was pre-deceased by her mother on September 16, 1992.
JEAN L. WAGER
PENN YAN — Jean L. Wager, 79, died Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at Penn Yan Manor Nursing Home.
Family and friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 8 at Weldon Funeral Home, 102 East Main St., Penn Yan, where a funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. The burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Penn Yan United Methodist Church.
Jean was born Aug. 6, 1929 in Montour Falls, the daughter of George and Persis MacDougall.
She was a member of the Methodist Church in Penn Yan.
She is survived by her sons, Craig A. (Jill) and Scott Wager, both of Penn Yan; a daughter, Brenda L Burke, of Bluff Point; grandchildren Brian, Geoffrey, Erika, Allyn, Ashley and Amy; a great-grandchild, Hunter and a sister, Mary Armstrong, of Penn Yan.
She was predeceased by her husband, Harold F. Wager in 2002.
NORMAN L. WILLSON
PENN YAN — Norman L. Willson, 74, of East Bluff Drive, died Sunday, May 11 at the Keuka Comfort Home after a brief illness. His beloved wife of 55 years, Barbara, was at his side.
Friends may offer their condolences to the family at the Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home, 2583 E. Main St., Gorham, on Thursday, May 14, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Memorial services will be held Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. at the Faith Community Church, 90 Lewis St., Geneva.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Keuka Comfort Care Home, 35 Rt. 54, Penn Yan, NY 14527; or to Faith Community Church.
“Norm,” the son of Edward L. and Mary Tinney Willson, was born January 11, 1935. He was raised from the age of 2 by his father and step-mother, Frances Millspaugh Willson.
Norm, Barb and sons were well known farmers in the Bellona area for over 37 years, having purchased the Willson family farm in 1963 and expanding it to include additional acreage in both Benton and Potter townships. Norm was devoted to improving agricultural techniques and output, and was well known among his colleagues for researching and implementing new methods of vegetable farming.
Believing deeply in “giving back to the community,” he was an avid volunteer throughout his lifetime. He was a 4-H Leader, a classroom assistant for second graders at Penn Yan Elementary School and Fort Myers Elementary School, a driver for the Penn Yan Ambulance Corp, and a Neighborhood Watchman for the Fort Myers, Fla., Sheriff’s Department.
A much-loved husband, father and grandfather, in addition to his wife, Barbara, Norm is survived by sons, James E. (Cynthia) Willson of Penn Yan and David C. (Susan) Willson of Bellona; mother-in-law, Maxine L. Betts; sisters-in-law, Barbara Lewis Willson Burke and Kay Betts Hetrick Oliver; brother-in-law, Gordon (Mary Lou) Betts; and numerous nieces and nephews. His “pride and joy” were his five grandchildren, Matthew Scott (Alaina Hey) Willson, Stephen Josiah Willson, Travis Edward Willson, Lindsay Kay Willson and James Fount Willson. He was predeceased by son, Scott Fredrick Willson.
Norm was an airplane pilot and a member of the Penn Yan Flying Club. A deeply religious person, he was a long-time member of the Faith Community Church in Geneva, and the Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Fla. He was outgoing and gregarious, always seeing the goodness in people, while ignoring human faults, and was admired and respected by both long and short-term friends.
