Ricky A. Yerdon, Assembly of God Pastor In Cherry Valley, Deputy Sheriff, Dies at 53

CHERRY VALLEY – Pastor Ricky A. Yerdon, 53, who presided at the Cherry Valley Assembly of God Church for 11 years and was also a sheriff’s deputy, passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 30.
He was born on Sept. 7, 1954, in Cooperstown, son of Raymond and Marian (Bouck) Yerdon. On June 10, 1973, he married Shirley Lockwood at First Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley.
He was a 1972 graduate of Cherry Valley High School, and served in the Army in 1972-79.
After basic training in Fort Dix, N.J., he was assigned to Kornwestheim, Germany, and West
Point, among other postings. He was a self-employed contractor until 1983, when he began working for the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, most recently serving as a district attorney’s investigator.
As a pastor, he was always saying “keep it simple, keep the faith,” and he was happiest at
church with his church family. He always put God first. He is now walking streets of gold.
Although we will miss him, he is happier in heaven. He was the most honest man known, a loving husband, father and grandfather. His children were his pride and joy, and he always made sure his family was provided for. He was well loved and respected as a man of God and as a man of the law. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed raising cows.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Shirley Yerdon; two daughters, Annette Plows and Alisha Yerdon; grandchildren, Scottie Plows, Cherokee Yerdon and Adam Plows; his parents, Raymond Sr. and Marian Yerdon; three brothers, Michael, Raymond Jr. and Tim; sister Cindy Borchert, and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a son Adam in 1998 and an uncle, Albert Yerdon. Funeral services were held Monday, July 7, at the First Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley. Burial with military
honors followed in the Cherry Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cherry Valley Assembly of God Church, Box 524, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home.

Dick Olmstead, 82; Cooperstown Native

COOPERSTOWN – Cooperstown native Leonard H. (Dick) Olmstead, 82, died Wednesday morning, July 9, 2008, at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City.
He was born Nov. 19, 1925, at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Hospital, a son of Walter E. Olmstead, Sr. and Mildred (Butler) Olmstead. He married Beverly J. Cornell on Nov. 7, 1953, at the Cooperstown Methodist Church.
Raised in Cooperstown, Dick attended CCS and later Morrisville Tech. At the age of 16, he started a sign-painting business and was a self-employed sign painter most of his life. He was the
City of Binghamton’s sign painter for 25 years.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly, of Binghamton; one daughter, Connie Trout, and her husband, Richard, of Port Crane; one sister, Mrs. Wanda Richards of Cooperstown; two grandsons, Jonathan and Chris; four greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Walter E. Olmstead, Jr., and Robert V. Olmstead,
and two sisters, Mrs. Jean Pike and Mrs. Joan Larsen. A graveside service will be at
3 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, with the Rev. Samuel B. Abbott,
rector of Christ Church in Cooperstown, officiating.
Funeral arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Andrew Lee Ellis, 23, Dies in Route 28 Crash

HARTWICK – Andrew Lee Ellis, 23, of Hartwick, died Monday afternoon, July 7, 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Born June 24, 1985, in Houston, Texas, Andy was a son of Gene and Carol (Klingensmith) Ellis.
At age 1, Andy and his parents moved to Hartwick, and throughout his youth he was employed in the family business, A&J’s Windows and Doors in Milford.
An honors student in the BOCES program, he graduated from Cooperstown Central School in 2004. To celebrate the end of school, he and his buddy, Tom West, traveled cross-country.
Upon his return, Andy worked for Home Depot and Colonial Plumbing, then Gilbert Lake
State Park.
For the past year he was a mechanic with CooperstownMedical Transport. Throughout his brief, but well-lived life, Andy always enjoyed fly-fishing, playing the guitar and working in his shop
with his brother, Justin. Andy and Justin were inseparable. He and Justin, a 2008 graduate
of Cooperstown Central School, had recently registered at SUNY Delhi to attend college
together this fall, where Andy planned to study to become a vocational teacher.
Andy will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
He is survived by his mother and father, Carol and Gene Ellis; his brother, Justin Ellis,
and his maternal grandmother, Maud Klingensmith, all of Hartwick; his paternal grandparents,
Mary and Bob Ellis of Smithtown, L.I.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Jack Klingensmith. Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, 5-8 p.m. Friday,
July 11, when Andy’s family will be in attendance.
Funeral services, with burial in Hartwick Cemetery, will be private, with the Rev. Richard
Stackhouse, pastor of the Hartwick United Methodist Church, officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Hartwick United Methodist Church, Box 576, Mount Vision, NY 13180.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in
Cooperstown.

Marjorie Logan Burial July 12

COOPERSTOWN – A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Marjorie E. Logan, mother of Marjorie Landers of Cooperstown, will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.
She had passed away on March 12. Aresident of Venice, Fla., for the past 28 years, Mrs. Logan
was a frequent visitor to Cooperstown in the summer months and assisted her daughter
and son-in-law, Marjorie and Ed Landers, at The White House Inn on Chestnut Street.

Labels: Obituaries