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Marguerite James Breckenridge, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed from this life on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 97.

She was born on December 7, 1925 to the late Thomas S. James and Lucille James of Batavia.

Marguerite was married to Robert J. Breckenridge of Bethany, NY, where they had a dairy farm. After retirement, the couple moved to Sarasota, FL and raised beef cattle. Later they located to Wylie, TX and then Keller, TX, then finally relocated back to Bethany.

She is predeceased by her husband, Robert J, Breckenridge, sons, Thomas R. Breckenridge and Robert W. Breckenridge and a granddaughter, Heather D. Smith.

As always, Marguerite was a loving companion and devoted wife through their marriage of 63 years. She was a caring, guiding and adoring mother to Lynda (Mauro) Gaetano of Austin, TX and Stephen (Joanne) Breckenridge of Bethany. She leaves four granddaughters, Jennifer (Shawn) Covert of LeRoy,NY, Bernadette (Larry) DeLaGarza of Austin, TX, Kristen (Joseph) Magyar of Newburgh,NY, Kimberly (Timothy) D'Amico of Batavia, NY, and a step-grandson, David (Katrinia) Gaetano of Atlanta, GA. She is survived by nine great grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Covert, Santiago and Gabriella DeLaGarza, Isabella, Lukas and Vivian Magyar, Macey D'Amico and Adriana Gaetano, who all made her proud.

In her younger years, she was employed by the First National Bank in Batavia, CL Carr's, Chapin Manufacturing and a Nurse's Aide at St. Jerome's Hospital following World War II as a Gray Lady, which was an extension of the American Red Cross. She was active in the Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club, and an active member for many years in the Cerebral Palsy of NYS organization as well as Home Bureau. She also was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batavia.

Marguerite was a strong, resilient and thoughtful person who was a talented homemaker, cook and baker. As the wife of a farmer, she would attend cattle auctions and purchase cows for the dairy herd, help with milking or delivering calves later in the day. During the Blizzard of '77 she opened her home providing meals and lodging to stranded motorists on Route 20.

Marguerite leaves a great void in the hearts of those close to her. She will be dearly missed though memories and the love she shared will live on among family, friends and those whose life she touched. Her family would like to extend a sincere thank you to her nurse, Patti Cunningham, and health care aides, Shirley Farley, Mary Merle, and Linda Jackett, as well as friends, Diane Hall, Darleen Peters, Linda Sanders, Kris Kujawski, and Sunshine.

At Marguerite's request, there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. She will be laid to rest in West Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in her name to West Bethany Baptist Church, 10333 West Bethany Road, East Bethany, New York 14054 or Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, 5253 Old Telephone Road, East Bethany, New York 14054. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in her memory, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia.

Harry E. Boyer, 104 of Batavia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia, NY.

He was born February 23, 1920 in Tonawanda, NY, a son of the late William and Betty Sablotny Boyer.

In 1953, he and his wife Elma, built their dream home in the Town of Alabama where he resided for 60 years before moving to his present apartment in Batavia. Harry served honorably during World War II with the U.S. Army from 1944-1946. He was witness to both theatres, serving first in Italy and then the Philippines and Japan for the occupation. He served as a motor mechanic for the Signal Corp.

Before and after he was drafted into the Army, he worked as a tool & die maker for the Farrel Machinery Group in Buffalo and Rochester for 45 years. After retirement, he became interested in woodworking and craft projects.

He volunteered faithfully for the Batavia Senior Center until he was 99 years old and also enjoyed taking Veterans from the Batavia VA Medical Center out to lunch. He was a proud member of the East Aurora American Legion for 63 years, the Ira Spring Post 273 VFW in Oakfield for many years and later the Batavia VFW. He was one of 56 Western New Yorkers to take part in one of Steve Hawley’s Honor Flights in 2009.

Harry was married for 57 years to Elma Keem Boyer, who passed away in 1998. He was also predeceased by his siblings, William Boyer Jr., Robert Boyer and Helen Girods.

Survivors include his daughter and son in-law, Janie and Bill Messinger of Batavia. Grandchildren, Jeanine Messinger of Niagara Falls and Kyle (Mary Kay) Messinger of Darien Center. Nieces, Judy Milhollen, Cyrene Winkler and Valerie Mitchell. Also survived by his dear friends, Patricia Passage and Clayton and Diane Fry.

Family and friends are cordially invited to share thoughts, condolences and fond memories on Tuesday (December 17^th) from 2-5pm at the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, LLC, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, where military honors will be rendered at 3:30pm. He will be laid to rest next to his wife in the West Bethany Cemetery.

Memoiral donations in his name may be offered to Meals on Wheels of Genesee County, 2 Bank Street, Batavia, NY 14020. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.

ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.