Neil Chaffie Francis

Neil Chaffie, age 86, passed away on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Huntington Living Center in Waterloo.

Prayers of committal with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Romulus.

Neil was born on September 7, 1929 in Buffalo, New York, he was the son of the late Edward and Florence (Gavin) Chaffie. He graduated from high school in Watkins Glen, and then proudly served in the US Marine Corps and Reserves from 1946 to 1951. He pursued his interest in writing by working for the Elmira Star Gazette, and then the Dunkirk Observer, while there he was elected as mayor of Dunkirk one term. The opportunity to work as the editor of the Lake Placid News came next, which allowed him to cover the 1980 Olympics. He returned to the Finger Lakes, and took a position as a guard at Seneca Army Depot, from where he retired. Following a short retirement to Albuquerque, NM, he once again returned to Ovid, and began writing again for the Finger Lakes Community Newspapers, a frequent contributor to the Ovid Gazette. Neil was an avid outdoorsman and photographer, two hobbies which clearly went hand in hand. In addition, he was an active and valued member of the Ovid-Willard Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Beverly, of Romulus; his children, Michael (Leslie) Chaffie of Romulus, Terry Chaffie of Ithaca and Tammie Vespe of Albuquerque, NM; his grandchildren, Weylin of New Hampshire, Morgan of Colorado, Emily and Seth, both of New Mexico; a great grandson, Kyan; and his sisters, Colleen and Linda. Neil was preceded in death by a sister, Leona Lincoln and a brother, Dick Chaffie.