Obituaries

ONEONTA - Richard L. Ackerly, 91, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown from health complications. He was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Ackerley of Margaretville and was born in Margaretville Aug. 11, 1933.
Rich was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Ada (Wart); brother-in-law, Clive...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Florence (Flossie) Barber Aldrich was born at Chase Hospital in New Berlin to William L. Barber and Alice Daniels Barber in 1943. She died Sept. 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. She was the youngest of four children. All of her siblings, Albert Barber, Dora Carr and Howard Barber, predeceased...

ONEONTA - Debra S. Annutto-Dauenheimer, 62, passed on April 14, 2025, at Sloan Kettering Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
Debbie was born Sept. 8, 1962 in Herkimer, the beloved daughter of Anthony M. Annutto Jr. and Judith A. (Sporer) Annutto.
Debbie graduated from Herkimer High School in 1980 and...

BAINBRIDGE - Debra Arotsky, 69, passed away unexpectedly March 17, 2025.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Al Arotsky, and children, Amanda (Joseph) Winans, Alan (April) McFee, Sara (Todd) Strong, Rebecca Arotsky (Will Vidler), and Sam Arotsky. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, Kaili and Richard Bryant...

UNADILLA - Stanley (Butch) E. Backus, 76, of Unadilla and Zephyrhills, Florida, went to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 at Gulfside Hospice Center in Zephyrhills.
He was born Sept. 2, 1948 in Bainbridge. He was the son of the late Paul Lee Backus and LaVerna Beers Foree. He was married to the love of his...

Margaruite Bailey, 96, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2025 at Chestnut Park Nursing Home, Oneonta.
She was born May 9, 1929 in Mount Pleasant, the daughter of William and Pauline (Weidmann) Alsina.
She married Theodore Brundage, together having a daughter, Pauline Violet Brundage Bose. Pauline's sons are Randy...

ONEONTA - Charles David Barnes, 83, passed away April 29, 2025 at his home, Hampshire House in Oneonta.
He was born March 30, 1942 in Oneonta, the only child of Charles H. and Lucy Marguerite (Wilber) Barnes.
David graduated from Oneonta High School in 1960 and SUNY Morrisville with an associate degree in automotive...

CARY, N.C. - Amanda Jane Barnette, known affectionately as Mandy and AJ, passed away Aug. 29, 2024, at 3:07 p.m. at REX Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was born Feb. 27, 1965, in Cooperstown.
Amanda was the youngest of four children, along with David, Victoria, and Megan. She was predeceased by her mother,...

ONEONTA - Rosemary Baskin died April 28, 2025. She was born in Endicott, to Dorothy (Colegrove) and Armando Parisella. Rosemary was a graduate of Vestal High School, where she was salutatorian, class of 1956.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Harpur College (SUNY Binghamton) and Master of Science...

WEST DAVENPORT - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of William R. Beams, a cherished father, grandfather and devoted husband, who left us Jan. 21, 2025. Bill was a remarkable man whose legacy of love, service and craftsmanship will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Born on Nov. 13, 1961 in...

ONEONTA - James "Jim" Benjamin, 63, of Oneonta, passed away on Feb. 10, 2025 after a brave battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Jim was a devoted husband, father, brother and friend, known for his deep love for family and his remarkable ability to connect with others.
Born on Jan. 17, 1962, Jim lived a life filled...