Leota S. “Lee” Hermann, a resident of Callicoon since 1944, died Monday, March 6, 2006 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. She was 78 years of age.
The daughter of the late Harold E. and Mary A. Cargin Deighton, she was born on June 10, 1927 in Stalker, Pa. (Cooley Woods).
She was married to Paul W. Hermann on October 20, 1946. He died on October 20, 1986.
Lee graduated from Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon and was a member of the class of 1945. She continued to keep in touch with her classmates by organizing the class reunions.
An employee of the Sullivan County Democrat since 1972, she was principally responsible for the local correspondents’ columns, updating the popular Down the Decades column, social events and the obituaries of which she always said, “I’m going to write my own so they don’t miss anything.”
Always active and involved in community activities, she was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and served 45 years as organist, was a member of the Board of Administration, arranged the altar flowers, served as a 20-year director of the youth choir, was a past Sunday School teacher and supervisor and always worked on the kitchen committee. She was a past president and long-time secretary of the United Methodist Women. In 2001 she was honored with a special donation to missions in recognition of her long-time commitment to her church activities.
Mrs. Hermann was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808, Veterans of Foreign Wars and had served several times as president and secretary many times. She was also a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary to Sullivan County Council, District #2 and the Department of New York. She was awarded at the 2000 Gold Chevron Ball/Dinner with several pieces of Waterford crystal for her Distinguished Service to the VFW Auxiliary. As editor/manager of the state official communication, The Auxiliary News, she served 25 years and brought national recognition to the Department of New York 21 times for an outstanding publication. Mrs. Hermann had also served two times as secretary of the Eastern States Conference and was appointed to five national chairmanships for which she was recognized as an Outstanding Chairman five times, winning the coveted national plate.
She was a member of the Grover M. Hermann Hospital Auxiliary and a life member of the New York State Parent-Teachers Congress. She was a past president of the former Delaware Valley School PTA and had served a term as an associate director of the Hudson West District of the PTA.
Epitomizing the saying “ask a busy person if you want to get anything done,” she was also a member and past president of the Delaware Youth Center, and continued her support by chairing five card party/luncheons yearly to benefit the center, generating a large sum of money for their treasury. A member of the Delaware Valley Senior Citizens, she was a past president and enjoyed playing pinochle. Her other passion of game playing included Scrabble with a friend two times a week.
Mrs. Hermann was a member of St. Tammany Chapter No. 492, Order of the Eastern Star, in Callicoon, since 1945. She served as a past matron and 11 years as secretary. She was also a Past District Deputy Grand Matron of the Delaware-Sullivan District (in 1955).
To further her commitment to her community, she had served as a member of the Town of Delaware Bicentennial Committee. Her efforts for her community were recognized in 2001 when she was named the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce recipient of its “Pride of Sullivan County” plaque for the Town of Delaware.
She is survived by three daughters and three sons-in-law, Sandra and Arthur Flynn of Callicoon, Maj. Rhonda Sullivan and her companion, Robert Boone, of West Lake, La., Debora and Earl Bright of Gainesville, Ga., and son-in-law Bryan Sims of Swan Lake; nine grandchildren, Sara Lyon and her husband, Ted, of Lake Charles, La.; Tami Brown and her husband, Fran, of West Granby, Ct.; James Gibson of Texas; Stephen Flynn of Callicoon; Thomas Bradley Gibson of West Lake, La.; Kayla Breazeale and her husband, Kevin, and Christian Bright, all of Gainesville, Ga.; and Paul Sims and Phillip Sims, both of Swan Lake; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, Mason and Alyssa Lyon of Lake Charles, La.; Jacquelyn Flynn of Carbondale, Pa.; Sierra Flynn of Waymart, Pa.; Jenna, Tyler, and Jason Brown of West Granby, Ct.; and Breena Breazeale of Gainesville, Ga.; two aunts and an uncle; several cousins; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Fred and Eileen Hermann of Callicoon; and several nieces and nephews by marriage.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Barbra Sims.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Callicoon United Methodist Church with Pastor Peg Van Siclen officiating.
Burial will be made in the Callicoon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Callicoon United Methodist Church, Callicoon, NY 12723; Delaware Valley Youth Center, P.O. Box 354, Callicoon, NY 12723; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon.

Theron Lawrence Robertson of Homosassa, Fla., formerly of White Sulphur Springs where he was a farmer, died Friday, March 3, 2006 at the Brentwood Health Care Center in LeCanto, Fla. He was 90.
The son of Wilbur Leander and Gertrude A. Lawrence Robertson, he was born November 15, 1915 in White Sulphur Springs. He was the widower of Marion Robertson.
He is survived by a granddaughter, Brenda Robertson Buta of Hernando, Fla.; two sisters, Betty Lyman of Maine and Jeanette Worden of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a brother, Frederick Robertson, of Woodbourne. He was predeceased by a son, Theron W. Robertson.
Funeral services were held at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville with Pastor Bridgette LeConey officiating.
Burial was made in Laurel Hill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Richard S. “Dick” Lowrey of Livingston Manor died Sunday, March 5, 2006 at Achieve Rehabilitation & Nursing Facility, Liberty. He was 81.
The son of Lawson G. and Ella D. Spaulding Lowrey, he was born July 25, 1924 in Minneapolis, Minn. He was the widower of Shirley Baldwin Lowrey.
He was the proprietor of Armonk Insurance Agency, a past president of the Lions International of Livingston Manor, a Rotarian of Westchester County, and a Boy Scout Leader.
He is survived by two sons, John L. Lowrey and his wife, Debra, of Parksville and David M. Lowrey and his wife, Karen, of Armonk; two daughters, Leslie B. Farmer of New Hampshire and Cynthia L. Woodard and her husband, Michael, of Livingston Manor; one sister, Nancy Stipe of Missouri; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 10 at Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor with Rev. Joan Laliberte officiating.
Elizabeth Valentin
Homemaker, 44
Elizabeth Valentin of Liberty, a homemaker and a former Orange County resident, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. She was 44 years of age.
The daughter of Carmen Carrion Rivera and the late John Rivera, she was born May 18, 1961 in the Bronx.
Survivors include her husband, Antonio Valentin, at home; three sons, Jacob John Rivera, serving in Iraq; Elizar Pineiro of Liberty; and Antonio Valentin, at home; a daughter, Victoria Ann Rivera, at home; her mother, Carmen Rivera of the Bronx; two brothers, John Rivera and his wife, Rachel, of Calif. and David Rivera and his wife, Tashia, of the Bronx; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. in the Harris Funeral Home West Street at Buckley, Liberty with Monsignor William Collins officiating.

Wayne Wilmand Bernhardt, a correctional officer at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Woodbourne and lifetime area resident, died Monday, March 6, 2006 at home. He was 59.
The son of Irving F. and Alvena Stephenson Bernhardt, he was born October 14, 1946 in Monticello.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam Conflict.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Mapes Bernhardt, at home; a brother, Russell Bernhardt and his wife, Annette of Bethel; a son, Dale Bernhardt and his wife Kris, of Bowling Green, KY; stepchildren, Ronald Mapes and his wife, Tricia, of South Fallsburg, Kristen and Jason Rosen of Monticello, John Barton of Mongaup Valley, and Kelly Barton of Rock Hill; nine step-grandchildren; one niece, Cheryl Bernhardt and one nephew, Roger Bernhardt.
Funeral services will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Bill Hagerty will officiate.
Burial will be in Kenoza Lake Cemetery, Kenoza Lake.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Mr. Tanasij Oparyk of Eldred, a retired carpenter for H.L. Lazar, Inc., Manhattan and longtime resident of the area, died Monday, March 6, 2006 at Bon Secours Community Hospital. He was 86.
He was born November 23, 1919 in Ukraine. He was a member of St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Glen Spey. He was also a strong supporter and member of various Ukrainian organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Bencal Oparyk, at home; a stepson, Dan Malafy and his wife, Adelia, of Buchanan; two grandchildren, Laryssa Malafy and Alex Malafy, both of Buchanan; and a sister, Mary, in Ukraine. He was predeceased by a sister, Parashka.
Friends may call at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main Street, Port Jervis today from 5-8 p.m. The Panachyda Service will be at 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11 with a Liturgy Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark Hirniak officiating.
Burial will be at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Hamptonburg.
Contributions may be made to any Ukrainian or American organization of the donor's choice.

George H. Reebe of Parksville, the retired owner of Reebe Excavating in Staten Island and a long time area resident, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 83.
The son of the late William and Anna Marx Reebe, he was born June 14, 1922 in Staten Island.
He served our country in the US Navy during World War II as an Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class stationed in San Diego, CA. He established Reebe Excavating in 1956. He enjoyed flying, riding his Harley and hunting and built his own airport in Parksville. He had been a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Staten Island and the Tall Cedars Masonic Lodge in Staten Island.
Survivors include a son, William G. Reebe and his wife, Charlene, of Forked River, NJ; a daughter, Joan Symanski and her husband, Joseph, of Parksville; a sister, Marguerite A. Kempe and her husband, Paul, of Mohawk; a brother, Richard Reebe and his wife, Jean, of Staten Island; five grandchildren, Nicolas Symanski, Meridith Symanski, Chris Reebe, Cristen Reebe and William Reebe; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Harris Funeral Home West St. at Buckley, Liberty.
Funeral services will be Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. Audrey Pedersen will officiate.
Burial will be private in the St. Aloysius Cemetery, Livingston Manor.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Catskill Regional Medical Center - Oncology Unit, Harris, NY 12742.

Charles E. Fahy, of Westbrookville, a retired construction worker and resident of the area for many years, died Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at Bon Secours Community Hospital. He was 71.
He was born March 19, 1934 in Brooklyn, the son of the late Edward P. and the late Maude Cox Fahy.
He was a widower of the late Doris Coda Fahy who died December 9, 2000.
An Army veteran, he served during the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include a sister, Anne Crawbuck and her husband, Fowler, of Fort Lee, N.J.; a brother-in-law, Vincent Coda and his wife, Amy, of Sparrowbush; his fiancee, Fran Brennan, of Sparrowbush; a niece, Valerie Katz, of Riverdale; two nephews, William Coda and John Coda, both of Sparrowbush.
Friends may call today at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main Street, Port Jervis from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Jeanne Hendricks will officiate.
Burial will be at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sparrowbush.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark, Inc., 202 Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771.