Obituary of Thomas Dean Cummings

GOUVERNEUR – Thomas Dean Cummings, Sr., age 74, of Gouverneur, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at the Samaritan Keep Home in Watertown. Calling hours will be held at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur on Thursday, February 19, 2015 from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. His funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Beth Benham of the Gouverneur United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur. Thomas was born on November 23, 1940 in Gouverneur. He was a son of the late Clarence and Grace (Kyer) Cummings. He graduated from the Gouverneur High School in 1959 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Marine Corps until his honorable discharge in 1965. Mr. Cummings married Virginia Nan Serviss on December 26, 1959 at the Gouverneur United Methodist Church with Rev. Stanley E. Brown officiating. Virginia passed away on January 28, 1993. Thomas worked as a millwright for St. Joe Mineral Corp for most of his career. After leaving the mine in 1985 he worked for the NYS Department of Transportation and later as a custodian for Gouverneur High School. He had previously worked for Groveton Paper Mill in Natural Dam. Thomas loved to visit with his family and grandchildren. He could always be counted on to help out whenever someone needed something or had a chore to be completed. In his free time he enjoyed reading, watching TV and working with carpentry. His survivors include five sons; Thomas D. (Betsy) Cummings, Jr., Clarence Cummings, Scott A. (Tammy) Cummings, Shawn (Clara) Cummings – all of Gouverneur, and Andre? Cummings (Jarren Drake) of Richville; a daughter, Bobbi Jo (Nick) Gonyea of Billings, Montana; and three sisters, Clare Bartholomew of VA, Grace Hutton of Brasie Corners, and Mary (Raymond) Kirker of Oxbow. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Thomas is predeceased by a son, Timothy Lee, who died in infancy, two brothers, David and John Henry Cummings; two brothers-in-law, Herbert Bartholomew and Carlton Hutton; and a sister-in-law, Darya Cummings. Donations in memory of Thomas Cummings may be made to the Gouverneur Business Women's Breast Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 64, Gouverneur NY 13642. Condolences may be made online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.