Obituary of William "Bill" E. LaTray

STAR LAKE - William "Bill" E. LaTray, Sr., age 79, of Star Lake, passed away on September 8, 2014 at the Clifton-Fine Hospital. Calling hours will be at French Family Funeral Home, 4159 State Highway 3, Star Lake NY, on Thursday, September 11, 2014 from 1 - 3 and 6 - 8 p.m. His funeral mass will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Hubert's Catholic Church in Star Lake. Burial will follow in the St. Hubert's Cemetery. Bill was born on September 17, 1934 in Benson Mines to the late John "Jack" and Louise (Martin) LaTray. He attended the Newton falls Schoolhouse and retired in 1992 as a custodial maintenance worker for the Clifton-Fine Central School. He had previously worked for J&L Steel and was a driller during the Seaway Locks Construction. Mr. LaTray married Marjorie Boivin on December 23, 1952. She passed away on March 15, 1979. His second marriage to Geraldine (Northrup) Ward was on November 24, 2001. Bill was an avid Yankee fan and enjoyed watching stockcar races. He liked to exercise and lift weights, volunteer at the American Legion, and go square dancing with Geraldine. Bill loved to hunt with his sons at the J&L Hunting club and to work on his grandchildren's cars to keep them safe on the road. He enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely. His survivors include his wife, Geraldine; his son and his wife, Robert and Julie LaTray; daughters-in-law, Barbara and Lori LaTray; his sister and her husband, Theresa and Fred Stotzer; 4 grandchildren, Lorie, Jason, Mary, and Tammy; and 2 great-grandchildren, Tyler and Quinn; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his first wife, Marjorie, he is predeceased by two sons, James "Jim" and William Jr.; four brothers, Wilfred, Clifford, Stanley and John; and five sisters, Bertha LaPlante, Ida LeRoux, Marion Janack, Josephine Welcome and Martha Mazuroski. Donations in memory of Bill may be made to the St. Hubert's Catholic Church, 1046 Oswegatchie Trail, Star Lake NY 13690 or the Clifton-Fine Hospital, 1014 Oswegatchie Trail, Star Lake NY 13690.