Fred F. “Ted” Ames, Jr., 85, of Bath, NY died early Thursday morning (September 22, 2022) at St. James Hospital.

Born in Bar Harbor, ME on January 28, 1937, he was the eldest son of Fred and Florence (Harriman) Ames (deceased).

He graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1955, then attended the University of Maine, Orono, and graduated in 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Fred began a career as a civil engineer with the New York State Department of Transportation, Hornell Regional Office.  He retired in 1997 as the Regional Director of Transportation Operations.

Fred enjoyed photography and, at the age of 18, held the honor of being the youngest licensed movie projectionist in the State of Maine.  He was a member of the Bath Elks Lodge and volunteered with the Canaseraga ambulance.  Fred enjoyed flying, earning his Private Pilot License.  Fred was a lifetime member of the Penn Yan Flying Club and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.  He was a Buffalo Bills Football fan and avid golfer.  He enjoyed target shooting as a member of the Bath Rod & Gun Club. In retirement, Fred learned to play the violin and piano.  Several times a year he enjoyed traveling to Maine to visit family and friends, and to attend the annual Bar Harbor High School reunion.

Fred was married to Lynne M. Montgomery from 1961-1975.  In 1979, he married Dorothy Gemmell Ames, who died in 2016.

He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Ames of Rochester, NY, and Nadine Ames Rosenblum (Micah) of Towson, MD; his step-children, John Gemmell (Karen), Timothy Gemmell (Gail), Cynthia Stackpole (Robert), Linda Gemmell and Nancy Langton; his brother, Robert Ames (Judy) of Annapolis, MD; his sister, Dorothy “Dottie” Robins of Bar Harbor, ME; grandchildren, Harrison Rosenblum and Artemis Rosenblum; several step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, class-mates, and friends.  Fred will also be sadly missed by his dear friend and companion, Aileen Mahoney, and her family.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Peter Ames, his stepson, William Gemmell, and his step-granddaughter, Brittni Gemmell.

The family of Fred F. Ames, Jr. will receive friends on Saturday, (Oct. 1^st, 2022) from 12:00 PM  –  2:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY with a brief service to follow at 2:00 PM.  Final interment will be in Ledgelawn Cemetery in Bar Harbor, ME.  Information about the grave-side ceremony and reception in Maine will be available in the future.

Fred’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to The American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY  13220 (www.heart.org) or the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037 (www.humanesociety.org), or the Bar Harbor Historical Society, 127 West Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609  (www.barharborhistorical.org). Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Hornell, NY  /  Bath, NY

Kevin M. “Kayla” Brown – 62 – of 135 Water St., Bath, NY, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon (September 19, 2022) at his home.

Born in Olean, NY on May 13, 1960, he was the son of Milton & Virginia (Page) Brown.

Kevin grew up in Olean and was a graduate of Olean High School (class of 1978).  He had been employed in the housekeeping department of the former Castle Inn and had resided in the Hornell – Bath area for the past 10 years. He was an avid Buffalo Bills football fan and enjoyed reading mystery novels.

In addition to his parents, Kevin was preceded in death by his half-brother, Frank Anastasia.

Surviving are his sister, Gail Goodridge of Erie, PA; 2 half-brothers, Anthony Anastasia and Robert Anastasia; his aunt, Olive Clark; several nieces & nephews.

There will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Kevin’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY  14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Sheila Ann Dwight – 57 – of 7696 Ricks Road, Hornell (Town of Fremont), died Friday morning (September 16, 2022) at her home, following a long illness.

Born in Hornell on August 15, 1965, she was the daughter of Betty (Young) Shorts.

Sheila grew up in the Canisteo area and attended Canisteo Central School.  She was a veteran of the US Army National Guard, serving her country from 1982 – 1983.

Following her honorable discharge from the National Guard, Sheila briefly worked as a seamstress & sorter at the former Marion Rohr Corporation.  For several years she was a “Stay At Home Mom,” raising her children and taking care of her family.  For over 20 years, Sheila was employed at the Hornell High School Cafeteria, serving as a cook, server and eventually as kitchen manager.  She retired about four years ago due to ill health.

Sheila had a deep love of animals and for many years raised cows, chickens and pigs.  She also had a deep affection for her many border collies that she owned throughout the years.  Along with her husband, Kurt, she enjoyed rooting for the New York Yankees (MLB) and the Buffalo Bills (NFL).

As a young girl, Sheila’s family spent time on Loucks Pond in Avoca where she developed a love of the outdoors and fishing.  Throughout the years, she continued her love of fishing — especially on the Dwight Family Pond in Fremont.

She was married on May 12, 1984 to Kurt Dwight who survives.  Also surviving are 2 children, Nicole (Joe) Harris of Hornell and Justin (Mandi) Dwight of Sykesville, MD; 1 sister, Dawn (Glen) Burritt of Canisteo; 6 grandchildren, Aeriana Bourgeois, Derrick Harris, Lincoln Harris, Collin Wheaton, Raiden Dwight and Savannah Dwight; several nieces & nephews.

At Sheila’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Sheila’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY  14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Daniel J. “Dan” Witzmann – 63 – of 8 Olive Place, Hornell, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon (September 12, 2022) at St. James Hospital.

Born in Yonkers, NY on September 8, 1959, he was the son of Herbert & Helene (Bardeen) Witzmann.

Dan grew up in the Hornell – Canisteo area and was a graduate of Canisteo Central School.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert & Helene Witzmann; and his sister, Laura Witzmann.

Surviving are 4 sisters, Diane (Pam) Griffin of Hornell, Linda Witzmann of Hornell, Mary Kay (James) Beaver of Hornell and Tracey (Moe) McNamara of Rochester; several nieces & nephews.

At Dan’s request there will be no calling hours.  A private Memorial Service was held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Dan’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Hornell, New York

Lynn J. Frost, 63, of 37 Sawyer St., Hornell, NY passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

He was born in Dansville, NY on December 15, 1958.

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents Bernard Frost and Hilda (Stein) Cartwright.

He left behind siblings David (Tina) Frost and Kimberly (Jeff Todd) Frost; his son, Lynn Pete VanBuren; his uncle Merle (Carol) Stein, his aunt, Margaret Barber; nephews, nieces and cousins.

A memorial service will be private with only immediate family members present.  Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY  14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Carolyn B. Lunn – 95 – of 1190 County Route 66 (The Woodlands), formerly of 7586 Airport Rd., Hornell, died early Friday morning (September 9, 2022) at her home, following a brief illness.

A native & life resident of Hornell, she was born October 22, 1926, and was the daughter of Arthur & Mildred (Collins) Brunskill.

Carolyn was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1945).  Following graduation, she was employed as a sales lady at the former Tuttle & Rockwell Store and later as an operator for New York Telephone.  For several years, Carolyn worked as a Kitchen Aid at the former Bethesda Community Hospital and later as a cook at the former Blue Angel Restaurant.

For a time, she worked at the former Mercycare Nursing Facility and at St. James Mercy Hospital, retiring in 1989.  Following her “retirement,” Carolyn served as a home care health provider in the Hornell area.

Carolyn was a member of Christ Episcopal Church of Hornell.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and making porcelain dolls.

She was married on November 13, 1954 to Truman Lunn who died in 2006.  She was also preceded in death by her son Thomas Shroyer who died in 1989; her daughter, Rebecca Sue Williams who died in 2019; 2 brothers, Bill Brunskill and Mason Brunskill; 3 sisters, Catherine Brill, Ella Mae Wilkins and Mary Howe.

Surviving are her daughter, Cindy (Donald) Wells of Ogdensburg, NY; 3 sons, Wesley Lunn of Canaseraga, Steven (Paula) Lunn of Conesus, NY and Michael (Nicole) Lunn of Modesto, CA; 1 sister, Helen Frost of Mesa, AZ; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

At Carolyn’s request there will be no calling hours.  A private graveside services will be in Heritage Hill Cemetery in Arkport at the convenience of the family.

Friends are invited to attend a “Celebration of Life” to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the Fremont Fire Hall beginning at 12:00 Noon.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Carolyn’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to CareFirst Hospice, 3805 Meads Creek Rd., Painted Post, NY  14870 or to the Fremont Fire Department, PO Box 462, Arkport, NY  14807

To leave an online condolence or print a memorial form, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Kenneth P. “Ken” Drouin – 73 – of 39 Pine Hill Dr., Alfred, NY, died early Monday morning (September 5, 2022) at Corning Hospital, following a long illness.

Born in Methuen, MA on November 16, 1948, he was the son of Alfred & Lorraine (Racicot) Drouin.

Ken grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire where he attended Nashua High School.  He was a Veteran of the United States Marine Corp., serving his country from 1966-1969 during the Vietnam Conflict.  While stationed in Vietnam, Ken engaged in combat and was wounded with shrapnel.

Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, Ken resided in California for several years and later lived in Oregon.  While living in Oregon, he owned & operated a successful cabinet making business with his brother.  Ken moved back to Nashua, NH for a time and later returned to California where he served as an explosives inspector for the United States Department of Defense.  He has resided in Alfred since 2008.

Ken was a New York Yankees Fan (MLB) and also enjoyed rooting for the Pittsburg Steelers (NFL).  His greatest joy, however, was simply spoiling his grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his daughter, Ann-Marie Navez; his brother, Ronald Drouin; and his grandson, Joshua Mejia.

He was married on April 16, 1984 to the former Robin Gilcreast who survives.  Also surviving are his son, Matthew Drouin of Palms Springs, CA; 2 grandchildren, Maria (Joshua) Rowe and Joseph Mejia; 3 great grandchildren, Miguel Carranza, Cristobal Cortez JR and Nirvana Rowe; several nieces & nephews.

At Ken’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Ken’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN  38105.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Sawyer E. Karns-McManus – 8 month old son of Nick & Nykole Karns-McManus was taken into the Loving Arms of Jesus in Heaven Thursday morning (September 1, 2022) surrounded by his family.

Born with a heart defect on December 31, 2021, Sawyer fought courageously with “Everything He Had” right up to the very end.  While on earth for only a brief time, he was deeply loved & cherished by his entire family and was an inspiration to everyone.

Although he is now an Angel in Heaven, Sawyer will never be forgotten and will always be loved by his mommy & daddy, Nick & Nykole; his sisters, Spencer Loporto, Gulianna McManus & Kinsley Karns; his paternal grandparents, Tim (Ann) McManus of Hornell and Mary Ann Didio of Cohocton; his maternal grandparents, Daniel Karns of Jamestown and Cindi (Jeff) Craig of Harbor Creek, PA; his paternal great-grandparents, Andy & Margie Didio of Hornell; his maternal great-grandparents, Keith (Darlene) Garfield of Scio; many aunts, uncles & cousins.

Daddy, please don’t look so sad,
Mama please don’t cry,
Cause I am in the arms of Jesus
and He sings me lullabies.

Please, try not to question God,
Don’t think he is unkind.
Don’t think He sent me to you,
and then He changed his mind.

You see, I am a special child,
and I’m needed up above.
I’m the special gift you gave Him;
the product of your love.

I’ll always be there with you
and watch the sky at night.
Find the brightest star that’s gleaming,
That’s my halo’s brilliant light.

You’ll see me in the morning frost
that mists your window pane.
That’s me in the summer showers;
I’ll be dancing in the rain.

When you feel a little breeze
from a gentle wind that blows,
That’s me, I’ll be there
planting a kiss upon your nose.

When you see a child playing
and your heart feels a little tug,
That’s me, I’ll be there,
giving your heart a hug.

So Daddy, please don’t look so sad,
Mama please don’t cry.
I’m in the arms of Jesus
and He sings me lullabies.

                                            Author~Claudette T. Allen

The family of Sawyer E. Karns-McManus will receive friends on Saturday, September 17, 2002 from 4:00 PM  – 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St, Hornell, NY.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Sawyer’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Jason Hale Freeman, 49, of 161 Maple St, Hornell died on August 7^th, 2022.  Jason was born in Boston, MA on April 24, 1973.

He is survived by his mother, Carla Conrad Johnson; his stepfather, Jeffery Johnson; his sister, Johanna (David Kaplan) Freeman and his nieces, Sylvie Kaplan and Nadia Kaplan, all of Gainesville, FL; his aunt, Alexa Conrad (Maurice) Arce of Randolph, NJ; his stepbrothers, Kurt Johnson and Kyle Johnson of Rochester, NY; his stepsister, Keegan (Johnson) Manchester of Leominster, MA; and his paternal uncle, Jon Hale of Rochester, NY.  He was predeceased by his maternal uncle, Randall Conrad of Lexington, MA, and by his father, Lee Hale of Hornell, NY.

He was a 1991 graduate of Alfred-Almond Central School, where he excelled at downhill skiing and was an avid skateboarder and snowboarder. His wit, personality and mischievous sense of humor brought him many friends. After graduating from AACS, Jason completed one year of college at Rochester Institute of Technology but decided not to continue; he enlisted in the United States Air Force in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. After completing Basic Training, in addition to the Air Force Training Ribbon and a National Defense Service Medal he was awarded a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. He was trained as a Security Specialist, and received an Honorable Discharge after completing his additional commitment to the Air Force Reserves.

Jason decided to return to school and enrolled at Alfred State College, earning an Associate’s Degree in Building Construction with a concentration in Masonry. After graduation from ASC, he packed all his belongings into a van and moved to the trendy city of Portland, OR, where some of his Alfred friends had already relocated. In Portland Jason worked at several different companies, putting the knowledge he had acquired at ASC to good use and acquiring new skills from on-the-job experience. At Whitaker/Ellis Builders, he was a Form Builder and Concrete Finisher on commercial multi-story building projects. At Hammer and Hand he worked as a carpenter on the restoration and remodeling of historic homes. He tested and inspected fire sprinkler systems and their related components at Metro Safety and Fire. He studied hard to pass tests and gained professional credentials from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) and the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). He also passed the qualifying exam for the Oregon Contractor’s License.

After 16 years in the rainy Pacific Northwest, Jason moved to coastal Georgia in 2014 and was hired as Office Administrator at Southeast Nursery, a major wholesale plant nursery on St. Simons Island. Jason loved the nursery environment. He quickly became skilled at plant identification and scientific nomenclature, which was necessary for accurate management and care of plant inventory, correct order fulfillment and related bookkeeping. In 2020 he became Nursery Operations Manager.

Jason followed politics closely and was extremely knowledgeable about the candidates and issues, both statewide and nationally. He was an avid reader of nonfiction and fiction. His favorite character in literature was Sherlock Holmes and he enjoyed seeing how Holmes and his partner Watson were portrayed by different actors over the years on film. He enjoyed reading James Bond novels and followed those film adaptations as well. Jason loved motorcycles and trucks, doing most of the necessary repairs himself, and he deeply appreciated music of all kinds.

Jason’s personal mission was rescuing dogs from shelters or other facilities, including private homes, that had been reported to animal welfare authorities for animal abuse. He adopted dogs of different breeds and sizes over the years and literally saved their lives with the best veterinary care and food, and most of all, with abundant love.

He was naturally artistic, working with wood, glass, metal, and other materials in his spare time. Several years ago, on a visit to Hornell Jason impulsively made several unique, unpainted birdhouses in his stepfather Jeff’s wood shop. They are still placed above the family garden in Hornell, beautifully weathered now. More recently he taught himself to paint landscapes and abstract scenes in acrylics, which he found relaxing and rewarding. He loved offering his family their choice of paintings as gifts.

He loved to cook, and he enjoyed learning to make southern delicacies such as fresh collard greens cooked for hours with bacon. He often collaborated on meals with Shasta Fahs, his dear friend and companion since 2015, at her house in Brunswick. Whether it was a simple cookout on the grill or a full-fledged Christmas dinner for a crowd, Shasta and Jason were a good team, and they turned every gathering into a special occasion.

Jason was thrilled to become an uncle in 2013 and again in 2017, and drove to visit his nieces Sylvie and Nadia in Gainesville whenever he could, and he loved bringing presents for them. Jason was a loving son, stepson, brother, uncle, and stepbrother who genuinely cared about every member of his family.

At the family’s request there will be no prior calling hours. A Celebration of Life for Jason Freeman is being planned for the Fall of 2022.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, New York.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jason’s name may be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Donald Howard “Don” Spittler, a resident of Hornell for over fifty years, died at the age of 75 on Thursday, August 11 in East Aurora.

Born on November 24, 1946 in Springville, NY, Don was the son of the late Genevieve and Howard Spittler. 

Don was a 1964 graduate of Springville Griffith Institute High School, where he lettered in golf, football and basketball.  He continued his education at Indiana State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1968. 

From 1968 – 2006, he served as a teacher in the Hornell City School District.  During his tenure at the school, Don also served as the coach of the varsity swim team.  He was known as a motivational and strategic coach who helped build the program into a regional powerhouse.  Former students and swimmers would often comment on the impact he had on their lives.

Don had an adventurous spirit whether he was traveling cross-country on his motorcycle, deep sea fishing, scuba diving or pressing his luck at the casino.

He was a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, an avid golfer and an entertaining storyteller.  Don especially enjoyed his summers at Chautauqua Lake and gatherings with family and friends over the Christmas holidays.  He usually arrived at the family home at the very last minute with his arms filled with unwrapped gifts.

Surviving are two brothers, Dr. Terry (Mary) Spittler of Geneva and William (Amy) Spittler of Norwich; three sisters, Jeaneen (the late Michael) Fitzpatrick of McKinney, TX, Margaret (Emmanuel) Spittler of Colden, and Dr. Holly Spittler of Bradford, PA; as well as by many nieces and nephews.

Don will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor and kindness.  The family would like to acknowledge and thank Don’s special colleague, neighbor and friend, Marcia Santelli.

A memorial service will be held on September 24, 2022 at 12:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St, Hornell, NY.  A “Celebration of Life” luncheon will follow at 1:00 PM at The Main Place, 251 Main Street in Hornell, NY. Burial will be held in Maplewood Cemetery in Springville, NY.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com