Marjorie M. Garnsey, 84, formerly of Grindstone Island, died Sunday, June 5, at Samaritan Keep Home, Watertown, NY, where she had been a resident, with her daughters by her side. Calling hours will be Saturday, June 18, 2016, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, followed by a short funeral service at T.R. Jetty Funeral Home, James Street, Clayton, NY. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Marjorie was born on Christmas Day in 1931 in Kingston, Ontario, to Pearl Mae and Alton William Berry. She grew up on a dairy farm and attended school in Gananoque, Ontario. She married the love of her life, Captain Francis E. Garnsey Sr. on June 26, 1956 in Hagerstown Maryland, and moved to Grindstone Island where she raised 6 children on a beef cattle farm. Marjorie was a U.S. Postal Carrier for Grindstone, Murray, Grenell, and Frontenac Islands for over 30 years, where she would transport the mail by boat. She was also a school bus driver on Grindstone Island carrying children in grades K – 6 to the one room schoolhouse on the island for 27 years.
Marjorie is survived by her sister Theresa Berry and brother Ralph Berry, both of Kingston Ontario, 5 daughters; Deborah Hayes (Tom Hogue), Englewood FL, Genie Garnsey, Clayton NY, Aleatha (Chris) Williams, Clayton NY, Imogen Garnsey (Tom Worden), Sandy Creek, NY, and Cindy Garnsey McAleese, Pillar Point, NY; a son, Francis E. Garnsey Jr., Ocala FL; 4 granddaughters, Harmony Hunneyman Syracuse, NY, Kayla Williams, Englewood, FL, Lanie VanWuyckuyse, Rochester, NY, and Morgan McAleese, Barnes Corners, NY; 2 grandsons, Eric VanWuyckuyse, Clayton, NY, and CJ Williams, Clayton, NY; and one great grandson, Deric Battaglia, Rochester NY.
Her husband Francis, and 3 grandsons, Toby Hunneyman, Robbie Hayes, and Derik Hunneyman all died before her.
Marjorie was a member of the Colon Couch American Legion Post 821 Ladies Auxiliary, Clayton, the National Rifle Association, the Humane Society, and the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her kind, gentle spirit.
Donations can be made in her name to the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church.
Dennis Honeywell
A true River Treasure and a friend to me on the Island when I needed one. I wish I had known you longer.
Nancy Berry
I will Miss everything about my Aunt,She was and will forever be my Favourite Aunt.I have so many great memories that will be cherished …I Love You Auntie..Nancy Berry
Sharon and John Huddleston
So sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing. We will always remember all the fun we had in Englewood, FL on the beach, with her, Flo Doe, and the gang on Friendship lane.
Sharon and John Huddleston.
Ann Easter
Aleatha and all of Marjorie’s family, so sorry to hear of you Mom’s passing. Although I only briefly met her, the love of family was evident. My heart is heavy for you all, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Louie & Rose Montante
Our deepest sympathy to the family.
Phyllis Schwartz
Marjorie will be always remembered by all my family as a lovely, smart, caring woman. She was so well cared for by my friends Aleatha & Chris and their children Kayla & C.J. for many years. My sincere sympathy goes out to all the daughters & Salt and their families. w/ Love, Phyllis Schwartz
A.Dower
My sincerest sympathies to all of Marjorie’s family with whom I have some mighty fine memories of summers spent
in the pleasure of their company many years ago. Delivering mail or sitting at the table with Pumpkin’, looking out that big window of the Garnsey house; to see her there when passing by or stopping in..I would think, ‘All is well on Grindstone’. A Grindstone Mom with the Grindstone unflappability and character that I believe is utterly unique to Grindstone folks. And Marjorie was loaded with it. An honor and pleasure it was to have had all those excellent, and fondly remembered, contributions to my history and the
memory of those summers.