Mr. Howard Kirby Gonyea Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Howard Kirby Gonyea passed away February 16th, 2019 under the loving care of The Alice Center nursing home. Howard was born September 28th, 1924 in Malone, NY and was the son of the late Kirby and Beatrice (Eseltine) Gonyea. For part of his early childhood, he lived in Lake Clear, NY before returning to Malone with his parents. He attended a one-room schoolhouse located on the Limekiln Rd., known as number 9. As a young man, he worked with his parents and siblings on the family farm located on the Travis road and also worked other various laborers jobs. One day Howard stopped to assist a couple of sisters caught in the rain. He introduced himself to Bernice Alice Dumas and her younger sister Geraldine and offered them a ride home. Not long after, he and Bernice were forever connected in Catholic Matrimony on August 4th, 1948 in Notre Dame Church. Shortly after his marriage, Howard opened an auto repair shop on the Webster St. Rd.and he soon realized he had a knack for auto-body repair. Howard owned and operated "Gonyea’s Garage" for a majority of his life. He raised and supported his family from a vocation he enjoyed very much. At various times he worked alongside his six sons where he taught them the joy of working with their hands and the value that came from learning a trade. Howard also shared his knowledge in an adult vocational class he taught. He operated his business from his original Webster Street location just inside the village of Malone and later expanded his business and moved a quarter mile up the road. He converted an old potato farm into his new shop. Howard was a resident of Webster St. Rd. for most of his adult life and enjoyed the friendship of neighbors and was involved in the community through a variety of organizations associated with the town of Malone. Besides his wife and family, Howard’s other true love was his Camp on Frazier’s Point in Dundee, Quebec. He loved fishing on Lake St. Francis and celebrating life with his friends and family. He mostly enjoyed the many stories that were told and practical jokes that were perpetrated with his closest friends. Howard is survived by his wife Bernice of 70 years and his six sons, Stephen along with his wife Joyce from Port St. Lucie, Fl., Bryant of Duane, NY, Mark of Malone, Craig with his wife Valarie of Nepean, Ontario, Scott of Malone and Alan with his wife Cathy of Malone. Howard cherished his five granddaughters, Renee (Gonyea) Fox of Mexico, NY, Sherry (Gonyea) McElroy of Greenfield Center, NY, Kiera Gonyea of Golden, British Columbia, Aiyana Gonyea of Nepean, Ontario and Haley Gonyea of Malone. Howard also has five great-grandchildren Gabriel, Zachary, and Anna Fox, along with Jackson and Kaden McElroy. In addition, Howard is survived by six siblings, Walter and his wife Patricia of Malone, John (Jack) and his wife Joanne of Hilton, NY, Ada Rockhill of Frankfort, NY, Henry and his wife Judy of Malone, NY, Lottie Guericke with her husband Lyle of Portland Oregon, and Nancy Hamilton with her husband Thomas of Wolcott, NY. Howard was predeceased by his much-loved daughter-in-law Bernadette (Derouchie) Gonyea, his sisters Esther Legacy with her husband, Giles, and Jean Cromp and her husband, Rodger. He was also predeceased by a brother-in-law James Rockhill. Howard also loved his time spent with the countless number of nieces and nephews and extended family. Calling hours will be held at St. Mary-Murphy-Wilcox Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Notre Dame Church. Burial will take place in the spring at Notre Dame Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be a charity of one’s choice.

Mr. Howard Kirby Gonyea

September 28, 1924 - February 16, 2019