Donald "Nick" Clifford of Keystone, S.D., died on Nov. 23, 2019, at the age of 98.

He was the last surviving worker from the team that carved the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. From 1927 through 1941, about 400 people worked to carve the mountainside into the likeness of four U.S. presidents. Clifford was the youngest of the workers, hired at 17 in 1939 and continuing to work on the mountain until 1941. Clifford was hired because the monument’s designer, Guzton Borglum, wanted to put together a baseball team from the crew of carvers. A good ballplayer, Clifford was recruited for the team – and given a job on the monument, earning 55 cents an hour.

After the mountain’s construction came to an end in 1939, Clifford joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, serving overseas throughout World War II. He later came home to operate a number of small businesses, including a laundry and dry cleaning service, an ice cream and sandwich shop, and a woodcutting business. For a time, he operated Sylvan Lake Lodge in South Dakota’s Custer State Park. Clifford wrote the 2004 book “Mount Rushmore Q&A” to tell the story of his time working on the monument.

Gerald L. Schrock, 85, of Bourbonnais, Ill., passed away Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born June 10, 1934, in Gibson City, the son of Samuel D. and Merle Troyer Schrock.

Gerald married Marjorie Dixon on April 22, 1961, in Chicago.

He was president of Emenjay Coporation. He was an employee at Rhone-Poulenc and retired after 32 years of service.

Gerald enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He loved to read. He was a former Boy Scout leader and church youth group leader. Gerald loved music and was a singer and a trombone player. Most of all, he enjoyed being with his family.

He was an elder and a prayer warrior at Calvary Bible Church.

Surviving are his wife Marjorie Schrock of Bourbonnais; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Gregory and Pam Schrock of Kalamazoo, Mich.; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Mary and Tim, Schweigert of Bourbonnai,s and Susan and John Mahony,of Questa, N.M.; and eight grandchildren, David and Kathryn Schrock, of Kalamazoo, Mich., Brody Schweiger,t of Chicago, Allie Schweigert, of Bourbonnais, Jack Mahony, of Bourbonnais, Samuel Mahony of Questa, N.M., Benjamin Mahony of Questa, N.M., and Colman Mahony of Questa, N.M.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Calvary Bible Church in Bourbonnais. Rev. Dean Carlson will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Bible Church in Bourbonnais, Life Action Ministries in Buchanan, Mich., or Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Randall “Randy” Lawrence Dolby, 66, of Brookville, Pa., Died Sept. 7, 2019, at home following an illness.

He was born on Oct. 30, 1952, in Brookville, Pa. The son of the late Paul L. and Phyllis Smith Hinderliter Dolby and Randy graduated from Clarion Limestone High School, served in the United States Army and was a member of the Eagles and American Legion. His explosives career started in the mid-1970s after the army.

Randy was employed by the Amos Dolby Company of Clarion, Pa. He got his blasting license and started his long career in drilling and blasting. Wampum Hardware Co. bought the Amos Dolby Co. in 1997. Randy did not join the Wampum Hardware Co. team until early 2003.

Randy did many things for Wampum Hardware. He oversaw many construction jobs across the country. Randy was a real man of men. He was hard working and loved to hunt and fish.

Randy is survived by his children; Lisa Dolby and her fiancé Mark Slabon of Mayport, Pa.; and Tara Dolby of Florida, a step son Kevin Hoffman; grandchildren, Shawnee Dolby, Vivan Curll, Gavin Labon and Taylor Hoffman; Brothers Blake Hinderliter of Shippenville, Pa., and Jim Hinderliter and his wife Patricia of Strattanville, and a sister Jacqueline Smith and husband Leonard of Marble, Pa.

He is also survived by his longtime friends Beverly Hoffman and Joey Caldwell, along with many nieces and nephews. Randy was a member of the ISEE and local chapters also.

David Michael Thomas, 70, of Spofford, passed away on Aug. 5, 2019, with family by his side, following a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on August 4, 1949, in Plattsburg, N.Y., son of Carl and Betty Thomas.

Dave and his family relocated to Keene in 1957, where he attended Keene High School and graduated with the class of 1967. He went on to study at New Hampshire Technical Institute and graduated in 1969. Following his education, he enlisted with the United States Army and served from 1972 to 1974. In 1973, he married Linda Harlow whom he built a wonderful life with for 47 years. Settled back home, he began working for the family business, Carl B. Thomas Construction Company, which he went on to run successfully with his sister Lynn.

As an active member of the community, Dave served as a Spofford Fire Commissioner since 1998. He was a dedicated member of the International Society of Explosive Engineers and held the title of President from 1995 to 1997.
Dave was a special, talented, generous man with a wonderful sense of humor. He had a brilliant mind and was a true jack-of-all-trades. Dave was a beloved grandfather who cherished his family deeply. He enjoyed spending winters in Florida, giving boat rides to his grandchildren, and traveling with family and friends. He was passionate about golf and the New England Patriots.

Dave will be dearly missed by his wife Linda; sons: Matthew and his wife Merav, Jason and his wife Sarah, and Jonathan and his wife Jennifer; six grandchildren: Delia, Maeva, Finley, Lior, Maxwell, and Netta; brother Chris and his wife Donna; sister Lynn and her fiancé Steve; as well as eight nieces, three nephews, and countless friends.

He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Jeffrey.

Family and friends are invited to call on Monday, August 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 am at the United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene, N.H.

In lieu of flowers, family asks that memorial contributions be made in David M. Thomas’ name to Joan’s Pantry, P.O. Box 48, Spofford, N.H. 03462, or to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (www.BCAN.org).

Albert Gordon Shaw, 80, of Venice, passed away on April 29, 2019, surrounded by his loving wife and daughter Lucie. Albert preferred to be known as Gordon and his friends called him Gord.
Gordon was born on March 8, 1939, to the late George A. and Mabel E. (Hamilton) Shaw in Hamiota, Manitoba, Canada.

Gordon was devoted to the advance of noise and vibration loss control for the mining and civil construction industry. Some of his proudest accomplishments involved his work with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. He authored several publications, lectured and developed bylaws as well as specifications adopted by municipalities and different levels of the government throughout North America.

Gordon was magnanimous man. He was a man of wisdom, a compassionate individual, had a very positive attitude and was friendly nature. He was a gifted learner. He had an outstanding memory for details and possessed a lot of information about various topics.

Gordon built business and life for others, and his legacy is going to continue in the future generations.

For his environmental work abroad, Gordon has high respect in Canada, Poland and Czech Republic.

Gordon has been known as a real gentleman; he was so proud as he was in that regard like his father.

Gordon profoundly loved his parents and had high admiration for their love.

Gordon is survived by his beloved wife Zuzana, father to Lucie of Venice, George, Lisanne, Nicole of Canada, and Michelle of Australia.

A visitation with the family will be held 8-10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 in the Farley Funeral Home Venice Chapel located at 265 S. Nokomis Ave. in Venice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held following the visitation at 11:00am in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church located at 1301 Center Rd. in Venice.