Godley, G. McMurtrie 1917-1999 Morris NY Obituary

G. McMurtrie Godley

MORRIS — G. McMurtrie Godley, a U.S. Ambassador, a career diplomat and an active public leader, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. He was 82. The cause of death was heart failure.
In the past 23 years since his retirement from the State Department, Godley was active in local community organizations.
Among other activities he served as chairman of the boards of Hartwick College as well as Fox Hospital, both in Oneonta. He was one of the founders and longtime president of the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown and went on to become its chairman of the board and at the time of his death he was chairman emeritus of the opera.
Ambassador Godley, known to his friends as "Mac" had an enormous zest for life and a generosity of heart, intellectual energy and spirit, some of his friends were quoted as saying.
His career as a diplomat as just as notable. As a junior Foreign Service officer, he attended the San Francisco Conference in 1945, when the United Nations was founded.
He was fluent in French and specialized in politico-military affairs. He had postings in Marseilles, Paris, Brussels, Bern and Cambodia. He served as ambassador to the Congo (1964-66), to Laos (1967-73) and to Lebanon (1974-76). He retired in 1977, due to cancer of the throat. He had also served in the Navy during World War II and the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Ambassador Godley was born in New York City on Aug. 23, 1917, to Frederick Augustus Godley and Anne Franchot Godley. His father was professor of architecture at Yale University and his mother was a descendant of Stanislaus Pascal Franchot, an 18th century settler of the Butternut Valley.
Ambassador Godley was educated at Hotchkiss and Yale (Class of 1939).
Ambassador Godley is survived by his wife of 33 years, Elizabeth McCray Godley; and two sons, George of London and Nicholas of Madagascar. In addition, he is survived by his brother, Frederick A. Godley of New Canaan, Conn.; and his sister, Anne Godley St. Goar of Brookline, Mass.; and seven adoring nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at 11:30 a.m. at the Zion Episcopal Church in Morris and will be followed by the burial service at Hillington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends could make contributions to: The Morris Emergency Squad; Fox Hospital Auxiliary, Oneonta; or the New York Sheriff's Association, Albany.

Published in The Daily Star on Nov. 9, 1999.


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Card, Luther Otis 1917-1999 Morris NY Obituary

Luther Otis Card Sr.

MORRIS — Luther Otis Card Sr., 81, of Morris, died at The Meadows in Middlefield on May 16, 1999.
He was born Sept. 3, 1917, in Morris, the son of Russell W. and Hazel Beth (Holbrook) Card.
He was married to Ruth Hackenburg in Auburn. She died in March of 1988.
He was a retired foreman for the New York State Department of Transportation and had formerly worked at the Raymend Corp. and the Stewart Ice Co.
He was a charter member of the Morris Emergency Squad and had served as a first aid instructor for many years. He was also a member of the Otsego County Peace Officers Association as well as the West Oneonta Baptist Church and also attended the Morris Baptist Church.
Luther is survived by a daughter, Patricia Sinclair, and her husband, Donald, of Dunnellon, Fla.; three sons, Darwin Card, and his wife, Sally, of Pittsfield, Russell W. Card, and his wife, Debra, of Morris and Luther O. Card Jr., and his wife, Janet, of Oneonta; two brothers, Gerald Card and his wife, Gertrude, of West Oneonta and Garieth Card of Gilbertsville; a sister, Joyce Ploutz of Otego; 18 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a sister, Hilda Stilwell.
Funeral services will be held at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris on Wednesday, May 19, 1999, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. J. Mark Norlund officiating.
Committal services and burial will follow in the Hillington Cemetery, Morris.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 1999 from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Those who wish, may donate to the Morris Emergency Squad in his memory.
Arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.

Published in The Daily Star on May 18, 1999.

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Eldred, Ernest D. 1917-1999 Mount Vision NY Obituary

Ernest D. Eldred

MOUNT VISION — Ernest D. Eldred, 81, of Mount Vision, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at his home.
He was born on Aug. 6, 1917, in the town of Otsego, the son of Mabel Naylor and Duane Eldred.
At his early age, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Courtney Hoose, Mount Vision, after his mother died.
He attended rural schools in Mount Vision and Laurens, and was married to Margaret V. Mattison on Oct. 28, 1938, in Laurens.
Mr. Eldred was a 50-year member of the Mount Vision United Methodist Church.
He worked for West-Nesbitt Feed Company in Oneonta for 40 years, having retired in 1982. He also served on their board of directors.
He served on the Laurens Town Board and was fire chief of the Mount Vision Fire Department for many years, and more recently was an honorary member.
After retiring, he worked on his daughter, Joan Bookhout's, farm, for several years. Ernest will always be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, and for his great sense of humor.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army Air Corp.
He is survived by two daughters, Joan M. Bookhout and Betty J. Craft, both of Mount Vision; five grandsons, Terry E. Bookhout and his wife, Dena, of West Oneonta, Todd K. Bookhout and his wife, Diane, of Otego, Troy E. Bookhout and his wife, Amy, of Bainbridge, Joel B. Craft and his wife, Lynda, of Portlandville and James S. Craft and his wife, Mellissa, of Unadilla; six great-grandchildren, Travis Bookhout, Terance Bookhout, Lexi Bookhout, Tyler Bookhout, William Craft and Jeremy Craft; a special friend, Sandra Rendorf of Johnson City; a sister, Afa Waters of Milford; three cousins, Lillian Hickling of Garrattsville, Marion Card of Florida and Vivian Briscoe of West Oneonta; and two sisters-in-law, Irene Mattison of Hartwick and Helen Carley of Milford.
He was also predeceased by his sister, Edna Bliss.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home in Oneonta with the Rev. John Wolf, pastor of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday.
Contributions may be made to the Laurens Emergency and Ambulance Squad, the Mount Vision Fire Department or the Catskill Area Hospice.

Published in The Daily Star on Feb. 5, 1999.

No place of burial is listed.  His parents are buried at Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.  Duane's parents were Deloss and Caroline Eldred.  

Rockwell, Muriel E. (Griffiths) 1917-1999 Morris NY Obituary

Muriel E. Rockwell

MORRIS — Muriel E. Rockwell, 81, of Morris and formerly of Edmeston and Norwich, died Tuesday, July 13, 1999, at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass.
She was born in Augusta on Dec. 7, 1917, the daughter of Lewis and Lillie (Munsell) Griffiths.
She was married to LeRoy Rockwell on July 29, 1936, in Oneida. He died Aug. 25, 1996.
She had been employed by the Simmons Precision of Norwich for many years.
She was a member of the Columbus Community Church for several years.
Muriel is survived by her children, Lester Rockwell and his wife, Hazel, of Madison, Thomas Rockwell of Madison and his companion, Carol Jordon, of Oriskany Falls, Carlton Rockwell of Edmeston, David Rockwell and his wife, Laurie, of Morris, Naureen Perkins and her husband, Douglas, of East Chatham and Elizabeth (Betty) Watson and her husband, DK, of Yakima, Wash.; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alberta Edick of Vernon and Reba Grems of Floyd; and her loving dog, Appey.
She was predeceased by a grandson, Christopher P. Rockwell.
Viewing and funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family.
Those who wish may donate to the Morris Emergency Squad in her memory.
Funeral arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.

Published in The Daily Star on July 15, 1999.