Obituary of Duane F. Dennis

CANISTEO: Duane F. Dennis, 83, of Cty. Rte. 21 passed away peacefully Saturday (Sept. 6, 2014) at Guthrie Corning Hospital following a short illness surrounded by his loving family to return to his loving family, Mom, Rosemarie, Gary, Don and Loren. Duane was born February 5, 1931, at his grandparents' home on Rock Run Road in South Canisteo to Roy and Ida (Campbell) Dennis. On February 12, 1950 in South Canisteo he married June R. Dieter who predeceased him in May of 2014. He was also predeceased by three sons: Loren, Gary and Rev. Donald Dennis, one daughter: Rosemarie Payne, granddaughter Savanah Dennis, great granddaughter Kalie Dennis, sister Lottie Heckert and brother-in-law Lyle "Pete" Dixon. Duane worked for 10 years at Kings Dairy in Corning, he then decided to try farming, he also logged trees and had his own sawmill, he was employed by Ridge Homes, Arkport dairy (worked on the first batch of Yogurt), he was employed at Birds Eye in Avon, and helped to rebuild several homes in Corning after the 1972 flood. He helped build 417 from Addison to Jasper. He was a founding member of the Southern Tier Bluegrass Association. He loved his family, his friends, bluegrass music, international tractors, heavy equipment, animals especially (his dogs and his baby deer), tinkering on cars and equipment, and hauling gravel. Duane is survived by two sons: Randy (Jane) Dennis and Phillip (Hope) Dennis all of Canisteo, two daughters: Nancy (William) Hadley of Troupsburg and Lisa (Frank) Pilling of Mansfield, Pa. Daughters -in-law: Deborah Dennis of Hiddenite, N.C., Linda Dennis of Woodhull, son-in-law: Larry Payne of Toccoa, GA. He is also survived by 2 sisters Audrey Dixon of Canisteo and Nathelia (Richard) Dyring of Hornell, brother-in-law James Heckert of Coopers Plains, 21 grandchildren, 49 great grand children and 2 great, great grand children, many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Wednesday at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main St. Canisteo, N.Y. a funeral service will take place Thursday at 11:00 am at the Canisteo Wesleyan Church with Pastor Donald Maynard officiating. Burial will be in the North Jasper Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Duane Dennis's name may be made to Canisteo Wesleyan Church, 25 Greenwood Street, Canisteo, NY 14823. Service: Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 11:00 AM Canisteo Wesleyan Church Greenwood St. Canisteo, NY Visitation: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 2-4 and 7-9 PM H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. 29 East Main St. Canisteo, NY