May 21, 2012

CLAYTON, N.Y.  —  James W. Kirkland, 81, of Route 12, passed away Sunday, May 20, at Mercy Care Center of New York, Watertown.

Calling hours will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton, with the funeral service following at the funeral home at 1 p.m. with Pastor Donald Briant officiating. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery, town of Cape Vincent.

Born Jan. 31, 1931, in Three Mile Bay, a son of John H. and Laura L. Ackerman Kirkland, Sr., he attended schools in Chaumont and then in Clayton when the family moved there in 1941.

Mr. Kirkland entered the avy on Feb. 10, 1949, serving on the USS Midway, at the time the largest aircraft carrier in the US fleet. He was honorably discharged from active duty the following year and served in the reserves until Feb. 9, 1956.

He married Mary Griffin of Watertown in April 1972. She died Feb. 11, 1992.

Mr. Kirkland worked in the parts department at Frink SnoPlow and as a security guard for Sicord's. He became a cheese maker, working for Kraft Food, Clayton, and retired from DairyLee in Adams. 

Jim was a member of the Depauville United Methodist Church. 

He enjoyed gardening, bird feeding, TV wrestling, and talking to people.

Surviving are a stepson, Bernard Roof, LaFargeville; two step daughters, June Roof, Watertown, and Patricia Custer, Allentown, Pa.; six step grandchildren, John, Dale, Jeffrey, and Cean Lieberman and Mark and Randy Wyman; two brothers, Frank G. Kirkland and Betty Willoughby, Clayton and Carl C. and wife, Shirley, Kirkland, Las Vegas, Nev.; a sister and her husband, Elsie I. and Richard L. Zehr, Watertown; a sister-in-law, Patricia A. Kirkland, Clayton; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

A brother, John H. "Jack" Kirkland, Jr., died Oct. 19, 2005.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations in his name to either the Depauville or Clayton United Methodist Churches, 324 John St., Clayton, NY 13624.

Information provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown