Obituary of Sara B. Close

Mrs. Sara B. Close, age 70, died at her home in Mayfield on Saturday, July 24, 2010. She was born on October 21, 1939 in Napanoch, NY, the daughter of the late Albro H. Brown and Gladys Ross Brown. She was a graduate of Cobleskill College and also attended Oneonta Teacher's College and Dean Junior College. She worked in the guidance office at Mayfield Central School until her retirement. Mrs. Close was a member of the Mayfield PTO. She served on the building expansion committee and was a non-teaching union representative for the school. She was a member of the Fulton County Women's Farm Bureau and was active with the Fulton County Dairy Princess Committee and the American Dairy Association. She served as a volunteer at the Bannertown Fair, the fall clean-up at Union Rural Cemetery in Mayfield and also with a group of her school co-workers for Friday's Table at Holy Spirit Church. Sara, also known as "Icky" enjoyed bowling, canning chairs, working in her vegetable and flower gardens and oil painting. She also enjoyed activities with "The Flamingo Girls" and "The Boat Girls". Survivors include: her husband, Peter G. Close, whom she married on September 16, 1961; two sons, Peter F. Close Lauren of Morrisville and David E. Close of Fultonville; seven grandchildren, Dyana Close, Kathleen Close, Alexander Gifford, Nicholas Gifford, Samantha Gifford, Kaitlyn Close and Kyle Close; two great-grandchildren, Braydon Weil and Nikolai Weil; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine Sue Gifford; a brother Albro "Ozzie" Brown and two sisters, Katherine O'Dea and Barbara Bullis. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St; Gloversville, where a funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. David C. Newkirk officiating. Interment will take place at Union Rural Cemetery, Mayfield. It is the request of Sara's family that, in lieu of flowers, a check be made payable to the Sara B. Close Memorial Scholarship Fund, 118 Lakeview Road, Mayfield, NY 12117.