DeLANCEY - Russell W. Tait, 59, of Terry Clove Road, DeLancey, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, at Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown.

Born on Aug. 5, 1957, in Delhi, Russell was the son of Jacob W. and Lois N. (Thompson) Tait.

He was a 1975 of Downsville Central School.

Russell was a talented mechanic and enjoyed working on small engine equipment. Soon after graduation, he was employed by Melin's Yamaha in Oneonta and then Klinger Motorsports in Walton. He also worked part-time driving a tractor trailer for Mountain Transport in Hamden. For the past several years, he was a self-employed mechanic repairing ATVs and snowmobiles for friends and neighbors. Russ had a passion for riding motorcycles, snowmobiles and four wheelers.

Mr. Tait was predeceased by his father, Jacob Tait.

Russell is survived by his mother, Lois N. Tait of DeLancey; two brothers, Steven (Cynthia) Tait of DeLancey and Dennis (Nora) Tait of Sugar Hills, Georgia; one sister, Susan (Ronald) Butler of Stamford; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, at Hall & Peet Funeral Home, 134 Main St., Delhi, with the Rev. Derek Johnson officiating. Friends and relatives are invited to call on the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Please visit www.hallandpeet.com to share a condolence or story with the family.