KNOX — Ethel Frances McDermott, a loving mother and grandmother who worked as a school bus driver and as a nurse’s aid, died peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2019. She was 97.

She was born on May 19, 1922 in the Town of Wright to the late Harrison and Beula (née Clow) Gage.

BERNE — Clyde Edward “Ted” Willsey, a lifelong Hilltown resident and a World War II veteran, “was always willing to lend a helping hand,” his family wrote in a tribute. He died quietly on Saturday, June 29, 2019. He was 91.

“When you throw up your diploma and your cap, you have commenced to ‘we,’” said Berne-Knox-Westerlo Superintendent Timothy Mundell, at the Class of 2019’s graduation on Saturday.

Nicole Carr, the Class of 2019 valedictorian at Berne-Knox-Westerlo, enjoys drawing comics. One revolves around a character she said somewhat resembles her. Another is titled “Meet Stu,” about her cat named Stuart.

“You can’t skip chapters,” advises Adrianna Fahd, the Class of 2019 salutatorian at Berne-Knox-Westerlo. “You have to live through everything, even if it’s hard.”

Madison Love, who will be a senior at Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the fall, hopes to eventually train dogs professionally, and is in the process of training her own service dog now.

To fund the trip, Troop 1482 is collecting new or gently-worn shoes to be delivered to the organization Funds2Orgs, which pays for collected shoes that are then sent to developing nations.

VOORHEESVILLE — These Voorheesville seniors won awards:

— Alexander Ruhren: Colonial Council Principals' Award; and PTA Scholarship;

BERNE — These Berne-Knox-Westerlo seniors won awards: