Index Deaths of local interest in Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties are: • *William H. Kilts, 74, Milford. • *Clifton W. LaGasse, 60, Davenport Center. • *Mary Rose Lake, 81, Hilton. • *Donald H. Latimer Sr., 82, Columbia, Tenn., native of Deposit. • *Agnes Van Aken, 92, Guilderland. *Full obituary in today’s Daily Star.

DAVENPORT CENTER — Clifton W. LaGasse II, 60, of Davenport Center, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, in the town of Meredith.

"Boy," as he was fondly known by his family and friends, entered this life July 30, 1945, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. The long-sought-after son of the late Clifton W. ("Frenchie") LaGasse Sr. and Elaine S. (Georgia) LaGasse; he was raised and educated in Cooperstown.

He attended Cooperstown Central School until his junior year, at which time he left school and enlisted in the United States Army. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War and received his honorable discharge March 10, 1969.

Upon returning to New York State, "Boy" became employed at Remington Arms in Ilion. Throughout his life, though, auto-body repair was to be his main vocation. Upon leaving Remington Arms, he returned to Cooperstown and entered into partnership with Walt Staffin and opened Railroad Avenue Garage. After this business venture, he went into the painting business with his father. He later was employed at Iver Berry’s car dealership, which later became Odbert’s, as well as several others, including True Value Motors and T & F Body Works in the Oneonta and Davenport areas.

"Cliffy," as he was also known, enjoyed being outdoors, doing farm work, and taking care of horses for friends in the Davenport area.

Perhaps he will be best remembered for his love of people and his desire to help anyone who needed assistance. "Boy" will also be remembered for his love of practical jokes, and especially for his faithful companion: a stuffed Rottweiler dog that would ride in the passenger seat of his car fooling many people who thought it was real. One of his more memorable pranks took place recently at Wal-Mart in Oneonta, where he purchased a turkey call in the sporting goods department and, hidden from view, proceeded to use it each time someone picked up a Thanksgiving turkey from the meat department.

"Boy" will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

He is survived by his beloved daughter, Tammy Sickmon, and her husband, John, of Fort Mill, S.C.; one grandson, Garrett Clifton Sickmon; two sisters, Mrs. Emma ("Petie") Cornell of Prattsville, and Mrs. Clara ("Patty") Cross and her husband, David, of Cobleskill; his stepmother, Dorothy LaGasse of Cooperstown and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

"Cliffy" also leaves behind many good and faithful friends. They include Dick and Janie Brown of Davenport Center, Ellis and Sallie Harrington and family of Cooperstown, Mike and Rita Detore of Davenport and Ted Gano.

A funeral service in celebration of the life of Clifton W. LaGasse II will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, in the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, with Cliffy’s nephew, Justin Howard, pastor of the Wesleyan Church in Phoenicia, officiating.

"Boy" will be laid to rest, with military honors, later this spring next to his parents in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, Jan. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. when the family will be in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, those who so desire may make expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts to the East Meredith Fire Department, 6192 County Highway 10, East Meredith, NY 13757, or the American Heart Association, Heart Gifts Processing Center, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049, or the American Diabetes Association, Always and Forever Memorial Program, PO Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

Funeral arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

William was born April 21, 1931, in Middlefield, the son of Earl and Ella (Olds) Kilts. In his younger years, he was a self-employed logger drawing pulpwood. Everyone knew Bill and his logging truck by his CB handle, "The Cherry Picker." Later, he was employed by the Town of Milford for more than 15 years as a heavy equipment operator. Throughout his life he had a number of interests: Golfing when he was young; watching baseball, especially his favorite baseball team, the Yankees, on television; listening to and sharing the information he received from the weather channel; watching cooking shows on the food channel; watching Westerns, especially Westerns starring John Wayne; watching "The Honeymooners" and Pink Panther movies and listening to Johnny Cash.

Bill also enjoyed raising rabbits, tending his vegetable and flower gardens, and hunting as well as feeding and watching every type of bird while, at the same time, trying to outwit and keep the squirrels from eating the seeds he put out every day for his birds. Notwithstanding all of his interests, his favorite pastime was always his family. He loved spending time and sharing activities with each and every member of his family. To his grandchildren he was "Poppy," a name he carried with honor and pride.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Rosemary Kilts, whom he married in June 1981; his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Christopher Dennis and their children, Ashley and Dustin Dennis of Hartwick; his daughter, Brenda Kilts and her companion, Edward Hoffman, together with his grandson, Jack Bottita Jr., of Westville; his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Tina Kilts and their children, Caitlyn, Logan and Brendon of Milford; and his son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Leicia Kilts and their children, Nikki and Kimberly of Westville. He is also survived by two sisters, Ruby Chase of Milford and Dorothy Konchar and her husband, Edward, also of Milford and one brother, Ceylon Kilts and his wife, Dolores, of Cooperstown. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by three sisters, Fanny Dart, Clara Brechbuhl and Marion Madison, and by three brothers, Earl, Stanley and Richard Kilts.

Funeral services for Bill will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church with the Rev. Swidar Samuel, pastor, officiating.

Visiting hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home at 28 Pioneer St., Cooperstown and at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church on Friday from noon until the time of the service.

Spring burial will be in the Westville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who so desire make contributions in Bill’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 5 Oak St., Sidney, NY 13838 or the Milford Emergency Squad, PO Box 359, Milford, NY 13807.

Arrangements are under the supervision of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Mr. Donald Jonathan Latimer Sr., 82, retired agent with New York Life Insurance, died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia, Tenn.

Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia with David Jeremy Bjork and Donald Jonathan Latimer III officiating.

Burial will be in Prospect Cemetery in Park City, Tenn., with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Highland Rim, 2014 Elmer Pogue Dr., Columbia, TN 38401 or St. John’s Presbyterian Church USA, 2959 Huntsville Hwy., Fayetteville, TN 37334. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com.

The Deposit native was the son of the late Clarence Vinette Latimer and Mabel Greer Latimer. On March 1, 1944, he married Mary Morgan Latimer, who preceded him in death June 11, 2003. He served in the military during World War II. He was a member of Herschel-Argyle Masonic Lodge No. 0508 in Hartford for 55 years. Mr. Latimer was a former resident of Park City in Lincoln County, Tenn., and a member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Park City.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Lois Latimer (Charles Jr.) Bjork of Longmont, Colo., Nancy Latimer Scott Cobb of Columbia; one son, Cecil (Regina) Baker of Oneonta; 10 grandchildren, Charles Bjork III, Jonathan Latimer Bjork, Mary Kristin Moro, David Jeremy Bjork, Heather Latimer Scott, Andasia Latimer Scott, Donald Jonathan Latimer III, Andreas Baumgardt, Bradley Baker, Amanda Baker and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Donald Jonathan Latimer Jr.

Born June 9, 1913, in Yonkers, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Isabella Dillmann.

Agnes was a member of the Park Hill First Reformed Church in Yonkers for many years. She was the loving wife of 64 years to the late Arnold L. Van Aken Sr.

After her husband’s retirement, they resided in Richfield Springs for 20 years where they were members of the Trinity Reformed Church. Agnes was a gentle, loving person who will be dearly missed for her caring and giving ways by all who knew her.

She is predeceased by her beloved sons, Arnold L. Van Aken Jr., and Thomas E. Van Aken, her sisters, Isabella DeMinco, and Elinor Clinton, and her brothers, Nicholas and Thomas Dillmann.

Agnes leaves behind her cherished daughter, Alice Poyta (David) of Guilderland; devoted daughter-in-law, Mary Allan Van Aken; nine grandchildren, Thomas, Cynthia, Susan, Sandra, Adam, Sarah, Kyle, Nicole and Jonathan; three great-grandsons, Matthew, Michael, and David. She is also survived by her sisters, Alice (Roy) Kallop and Lorraine (Edward) McManus, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Flynn Memorial Home, 1652 Central Park Ave., Yonkers.

Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Flynn Memorial Home.

Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings on Hudson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY, 85 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206-2083, in memory of Agnes Van Aken.

Mary was born Aug. 17, 1924, in South Kortright, daughter of Ralph and Mae (Gates) Rose.

She married O. Warren Lake on June 25, 1949. He passed away in 1979.

Mary was a graduate of the University of Rochester class of 1949 and worked as a registered nurse in the Rochester area. She had an eye for bird-watching and genealogy. Mary also loved Christmas and other holidays.

She is survived by her children, Susan Frank, Steven (Mary) Lake, Philip (Lisa) Lake, Richard (Jennifer) Lake; sisters, Anne (John) Knight, Ruth (Floyd) Many, Evangeline Girandno; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan 14, at Hilton Baptist Church.

Private inurnment will take place in Parma Union Cemetery.

Those who wish may contribute to Hilton Baptist Church Memorial Fund in Mary’s memory.

Arrangements are by the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home Inc., Hilton.