He was born Aug. 28, 1941, in Gilbertsville, the son of the late Arthur and Marjorie (Douglas) Murphy.

Tom graduated from Morris Central School and served in the United States Army from 1964-1966. He graduated from Hartwick College in 1974 and taught music in the Mount Upton and Deposit school systems before a distinguished career as the instrumental music teacher at Unatego Central School. He retired in 1996.

Tom established The Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble in October 2001, which has grown to more than 40 members invited from a field of trained area musicians, including music teachers, community members and serious students. Tom also served for several years as conductor of the Bainbridge Old Time Band, and performed in the Oneonta Community Concert Band, the Hartwick College Wind Ensemble, the SUNY Oneonta Concert Band, and The New York State Shining Brass Band.

Since 1985, Tom owned and operated Hannalore Kennels of Unadilla, where he handled, bred and showed Basenji dogs in the 1970s and later became Top Show and breeder of Shelties.

Tom is survived by his son and daughter-in law, Larry and Chrystie Stafford, of Albany; his brothers and sister-in-law, Douglas and Marion Murphy of Oneonta, and Marvin Murphy of Spring Hill, Fla.; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Lucy Ann and Walter Upham of Westmoreland, and Kathleen and Walter Schober of Hillsdale; a brother-in-law, William Murphy of Morris; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy J. Murphy.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at the Otego United Methodist Church, Church Street, Otego, with the Rev. Fred Albrecht, retired Methodist minister, officiating.

Friends may call at the Westcott Funeral Home Inc., 123 Main St., Unadilla, (directly off Exit 10 of I-88) from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, when the family will be in attendance.

Interment will be later in the Croton Union Cemetery, Treadwell.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, 101 East Main St., Sidney, NY 13838, in Tom’s memory.

Funeral arrangements are by the Westcott Funeral Home Inc., 123 Main St., Unadilla, under the supervision of James S. Westcott and James C. Magee, funeral directors.

Mr. Sperbeck was born Sept. 12, 1928, in Richmondville, the son of Andrew and Frances (Hayes) Sperbeck.

Mr. Sperbeck retired from Astrocom Electronics in Colliersville as an assembly worker. He was previously employed by the D&H Railroad and also worked for Charlie Bilby.

He was a United States Army veteran, serving from 1950 until 1952, when he received an honorable discharge.

Jack enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling and repairing small engines.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret (Paulin) Sperbeck, whom he married Aug. 3, 1958; a daughter, Cindy Brownell, of East Worcester; a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Cynthia Sperbeck, of Milford; a sister, Edna Sperbeck, of East Worcester; two grandchildren, Aaron and Justin Sperbeck; a niece, Dawn Manchester, of Richmondville; special cousins, Ester Franqui and Betty Douglas; many other cousins and close friends.

He was predeceased by two grandsons, Kenneth and Jared Brownell.

A funeral service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill, with the retired Rev. George I. Goodwin Jr. officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, before the service.

Spring interment will be in Richmondville Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the East Worcester Volunteer Ambulance Squad, State Route 7, East Worcester, NY 12064.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://merenessputnamfuneralhome.com.

Nellie was born Oct. 6, 1911, in Ilion. She was the daughter of Lewis A. and Florence (Fish) Clayton of Fly Creek.

Nellie attended school in Ilion and after the death of her mother moved to Cooperstown as a teenager to reside with her Aunt Nellie Brooks.

She was initially employed as a telephone operator but later did child care and still later was employed for many years at Ellsworth and Sill’s on Main Street.

She married Cooperstown native Myron E. Clapsaddle on June 17, 1933, in Cooperstown.

Nellie enjoyed "clubhikes" with Cap Smith through the Mohican Club and spending summer days with Myron and their son, Bart, at their camp on Otsego Lake.

She also loved to walk, and she did so with uncommon vigor. Many will remember seeing her walking all around the village, an activity she continued into her ninth decade. Reading to children at Bassett Hospital and soliciting for various charities also filled many of her hours.

Nellie was an active and involved member of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.

Nellie was predeceased by her husband, Myron, in 1993; two sisters, Harriet Clayton and Nina French; and by her brother, Richard Clayton.

She is survived by her son, Bart, and his wife, Jean, of Syracuse; her brother, Robert Clayton, of Denver; and two nieces and a nephew.

A memorial service celebrating Nellie’s life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home in Cooperstown, with the Rev. Sundar Samuel, pastor of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, officiating. Nellie’s family will be in attendance from 10 a.m. until the time of the service to receive friends.

Burial in the Fly Creek Cemetery will occur in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who so desire make contributions in Nellie’s memory to The "Capital Fund" of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, NY 13326, or to the Cooperstown Fire Department, PO Box 1, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

He was born Dec. 3, 1917, in Hancock, the son of Howard and Isa (Moore) Peckham.

Grant was a 1938 HCS graduate and ran a farm on Sands Creek for many years.

He and Beatrice Frosch were married June 6, 1953, in Hancock. Bea predeceased him Jan. 7, 2003.

Grant also worked for Bard Parker as a tool and die machinist until his retirement in 1983.

He was a member of the Hancock Masonic Lodge F&AM, where he served as chaplain.

Grant is survived by two sons, Grant Howard and his wife, Janine, of Alexandria, Va., and Fred and his companion, Cheryl Korotky, of Hancock; Marcia Leab, his daughter, also survives along with her husband, Derrick. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Jenny Peckham, of Bradenton, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Richard and Steven Peckham of Alexandria, Va.; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Grant was predeceased by his brother, Harlan; and sister, Ethel Carpenter; a son, Matthew; and a niece, Barbara Bartholomew.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock, with Lay Preacher Pam Allen officiating.

Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery, Hancock.

Any memorial donations may be made in Grant’s name to the Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Arrangements are pending under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, Cooperstown.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home.