John B. Ames

Mass of Christian Burial for John B. Ames, 89, of Potsdam, will be held at 10:00am, Monday, July 16, 2012 at St. Mary's Church, Canton with Rev. Douglas Lucia, celebrating. Burial in the Hermon Cemetery will be held at a later date. John died on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 while at home under the care of family and Hospice of the St. Lawrence Valley.
Friends may call at the O'Leary Funeral Home, US Hwy 11, Canton, on Sunday, July 15, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9pm. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Hwy 11; Potsdam, New York 13676.
Surviving John are a brother Harold Ames and wife Carol of Hannawa; two sisters, Ann Lee and husband Roland of Canton; Ivy Martin of Potsdam; a sister-in-law, Margaret Ames of Syracuse; a brother-in-law, Donald Rood of Myrtle Beach; a step-daughter Penny Hollinger and husband Randy "Jack" of Canton and her children, Jesse J. Hollinger of Canton and Brittani Hollinger of South Colton; four great-grandchildren, Aiden and Dorian Hollinger, son's of Jesse and Harold Bush, IV and Natalie Bush, children of Brittani. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A sister Veronica "Ronnie" Rood and brothers, Merrill and Arnold Ames and a brother-in-law Gary Martin predecease him.
John was born, June 27, 1923 in Canton, the son of the late John J. and Eva M. (Grandaw) Ames and the grandson of the late Arthur and Elizabeth (Desmond) Ames and Jerome and Frances (Butler) Grandaw. John graduated from Potsdam Schools and took courses at Canton ATC in bookkeeping and the Babcock Method of milk and cream testing from Professor White. He received his NYS license for testing.
John was employed by St. Lawrence Dairy Heard Improvement Association. He visited around 25 dairy farms each month keeping record on each dairy cow for profit and loss. He was later employed by Kraft Labs in Canton and for Lee Fairbanks at Red Rock doing lab work. He was also a dairy farmer in Canton and Hermon area. John also worked in St. Joe's Mines in Edwards during the time he was farming in the Hermon Area. In 1958 he sold dairy cattle. He was employed by Red Rock Milking Plant, after the plant closed he was employed by Robert Cole as time keeper on the County Highway. November 1962, he went to Duchess County and worked as a mental hygienist, first on wards, then as supervisor of the buildings. Her retired in 1982 and came back to St. Lawrence County in 1983. A marriage to Leatrice Bacon ended in divorce.
Many thanks to Asil "Ace" Bice Jr. and his three children, Steven, Kerri and April for being true friends and care takers.
Condolences may be shared online at www.olearyfuneralservice.com.