George Ashley, II, 89, builder, lay minister
HUDSON—George Henry Ashley, II, 89, of Copake passed away Wednesday July 13, 2011 at the Fireman’s Home.
He was born in Old Chatham, June 17, 1922. He was the son of George Henry Ashley and Jenny Staats Ashley (later Batemen).
He attended and graduated from the Riders Mills Elementary School, New Lebanon High School and SUNY Cobleskill.
In 1942, he married Ruth Lou Wilber, whom he met when they were students at SUNY Cobleskill. They lived in Copake, she died more than 58 years later.
For 15 years, Mr. Ashley was a dairy farmer in Copake and Ancramdale. Then, for more than 30 years, he was a carpenter, working for various contractors in the Copake area, the Catamount Ski Resort and ultimately ran his own business as a builder and contractor.
In 1954, he and his family moved into a house on Taconic Street in Copake that he had helped build, and he continued to live there until 2007. He then moved first to the Payn Residence in Chatham and finally to the Firemen’s Home in Hudson.
Mr. Ashley was active in the Copake United Methodist Church, serving many years as a delegate to annual conferences, a member of the Board of Trustees, and on numerous church committees. After he retired, he went to Haiti to help build a mission school and he became a lay minister who sometimes conducted worship services and preached in Copake and other churches in Columbia County.
For many years, Mr. Ashley and his wife were members of the Copake Grange. They were active members of the PTA when their children were in school, and were members of several square dance groups. He was a volunteer fireman in the Copake Fire Department, a member of the Copake Zoning Board of Appeals for two decades, a member of the Roe Jan Historical Society and a member of the Republican Party throughout his life. During his later years, he enjoyed taking river cruises, visiting his son’s vacation home in Mexico, going to events at the Rider’s Mills School museum, and traveling anywhere that he could see historic trains, boats or canals.
Mr. Ashley was predeceased by his wife Ruth Ashley and his sisters Ida Tooley of Pittsfield, MA, and Helen Briggs of Red Rock.
He leaves one daughter, Susan Ashley of State College, Pennsylvania; three sons, George Ashley, III of Hatfield, MA, Walter Ashley of Cooperstown and David Ashley of Brooklyn; a grandson, Todd Ashley of Portland, OR; and many nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 24, 2011, 11 a.m. at the Copake United Methodist Church followed by a reception in the Church House next door. Interment will be in the Copake Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Peck & Peck Funeral Home, Copake. To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
Gloria Cox, 87, postal clerk, liked to read
HUDSON—Gloria Schermerhorn Cox, 87, of Philmont passed away Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born January 16, 1924 in Amsterdam, she was the daughter of the late John and Mabel (Christman) Yerick.
She was employed as a postal clerk in Philmont for more than 30 years. She was an active member of the Philmont Reformed Church and the Ladies Guild and volunteered at the Northern Dutchess Hospital and the Rhinebeck Library.
Mrs. Cox married her high school sweetheart, George Schermerhorn, July 27, 1945 when he was home on leave. They lived together in Philmont and Ghent until 1982, when he died.
She raised her two children and worked at the post office. In 1983, she moved to the Woods in Rhinebeck with her second husband, Hugh Cox, living there until 2008. They enjoyed traveling together. After leaving the Woods, she resided at Pine Haven in Philmont. She was an avid reader and loved spending time with her family.
Mrs. Cox is survived by: two sisters, Joan Morris of Glens Falls and Marcia (John) Metraw of Burlington, MA; two children, Glenn (Cynthia) Schermerhorn of Copake and Marsha (Thomas) Boyles of Old Lyme, CT; seven grandchildren, Kyle Schermerhorn of Phoenix, AZ, Shandra Schermerhorn of Stephentown, Alison and Grayson Schermerhorn, both of Copake, Thomas (Patricia) Boyles, Jr. of Uncasville, CT, George Boyles of Philmont, and Matthew (Jane) Boyles of Ivoryton, CT; seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and her lifelong friend, Betty Boswell of Philmont.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Philmont Reformed Church, Philmont 12565. Arrangements were with the Bates and Anderson-Redmond and Keeler Funeral Home, Hudson. To leave an online message for the family, go to www.batesanderson.com.
Timothy Shook, 48, country club chef
HUDSON—Timothy L. Shook of Stuyvesant Falls, died Monday, July 18, 2011 at Columbia Memorial Hospital after a long illness. He was 48.
Born in Hudson, May 14, 1963, he was the son of the late Leroy Shook and Elizabeth L. (Winfield) Shook of Rensselaer.
Mr. Shook was a cook/chef at Winding Brook Country Club in Valatie.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by brothers, Patrick Shook, Robert (Rachael) Shook, and one sister, Kimberly Shook.
Funeral services will be this evening Tuesday, July 19, 7 p.m. at the McDonald-Valenti-Richards Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. Pastor Ken Coddington of the Trinity United Methodist Church will officiate.
Family and friends will gather at funeral home at 6:30 p.m.
