John J. Austin
July 30, 2012

Mr. John J. Austin, 88, of Center Street, Fort Plain, New York died early Monday, July 30, 2012 at his daughter’s home.
Born on January 22, 1924 in Fort Plain, NY, he was the son of Charles Austin and Mabel Wick Austin.  
He was a graduate of Fort Plain High School, class of 1942 and a lifetime resident of Fort Plain.
Mr. Austin was an Aerospace Engineer for General Electric in Utica from September 8, 1953 until his retirement in May 1986.
Mr. Austin is a Veteran of the US Army-Air Corp, serving from 1942-1946.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Fort Plain.
Mr. Austin was the Head Alter boy for the former St. James Roman Catholic Church.  He was a Little League Baseball Coach and an      animal lover. He also loved camping.
On January 6, 1945 in Shrewsbury, England, John was married to Margaret R. Scott.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Sdrewski, Marie Austin, Mabel Murphy, Katherine VanArsdale; brothers, Edward Austin, Charles Austin and Peter Austin.
Mr. Austin is survived by his wife, Margaret Scott Austin of Fort Plain, NY; daughter, Patricia Austin Klemme of Palatine Bridge, NY; son, John J. Austin, Jr. and his wife, Dorothy of Ashland, MA; 3 grandchildren, Jonathan C.S. Klemme of Ithaca, NY, Megan P. Rae Klemme of Japan, John J. Austin, III of Natick, MA; 3 great-granddaughters, Caroline M. Austin, Charlotte M. Austin, Emily M. Austin; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Prayer service was held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 9:30am at the Chapel of Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, 34 Center Street, Fort Plain, NY followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Reid Street, Fort Plain, NY with Father Dennis Murphy and Father John Roos      co-officiating.  
The family received relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home.  
Burial will take place at Fort Plain Cemetery with Military Honors by the US Army.
In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Mr. John J. Austin may be made to the Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter, Inc., 133 Hilltop Road, Sprakers, NY 12166.
Please sign the online guestbook for Mr. Austin at  www.houghtalingandsmith.com.

Fannie L. Jones
July 30, 2012

Fannie L. Jones, a resident of the Palatine Nursing Home since 2006 and previously of Fort Plain and Sharon Springs, died Monday, July 30, at the home after a short illness.  She was 85.
Fannie was born in Sharon Springs on December 4, 1926, the     daughter of the late Marvin and Laura (Lane) Cummings.
She was a 1944 graduate of Sharon Springs Central School and a longtime machine screen print operator at the former LaSalle Labs in Canajoharie, retiring in 1996.
She was married October 2, 1948 to Calvin Jones. He died in 2001.
Survivors include two sons, Bruce (Susan) Jones of Fort Plain and Wayne (Judy) Jones of Little Falls; a daughter, Joanne (Robert) Patrei of Fort Plain; a brother, Francis Cummings of Schenectady; two        sisters, Elizabeth Tyler of Sharon Springs and Bernice Garth of Mason City, IA; five grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Carole Jones, in 1998; and three siblings, Walter, Robert, and Ruby Cummings.
A service will be held 11:00am Thursday, August 2, at the Lappeus Funeral Home, 113 Park Street, Sharon Springs.  Visitation will be 9:30-11:00am prior to the service.  
Burial will follow in Frey’s Bush Cemetery, Minden.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Service, 46 W. Grand Street, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428; or to the American Cancer Society.

Jean Spicer
May 4, 2012

At rest, Mrs. Jean Spicer Dern died May 4, 2012 following a brief    illness.
A Service of Remembrance will take place on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 2 o’clock at the Canajoharie Reformed Church, Front Street, Canajoharie, NY 13317. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Interment took place in Canajoharie Falls Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter, 133 Hilltop Road, Sprakers, NY 12166 or The Canajoharie-Palatine-Root Community Chest, P.O. Box 36, Canajoharie, NY 13317.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lenz & Betz Funeral Home, 69 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY 13317.