George Henry Ashley, Ii

George Henry Ashley, II age 89 of Copake, NY passed away on Wednesday July 13, 2011 at the Fireman's Home in Hudson, NY.

He was born in Old Chatham, New York on June 17, 1922. He was the son of George Henry Ashley and Jenny Staats Ashley (later Batemen).

He attended and graduated from the Riders Mills Elementary School, New Lebanon High School, and SUNY Cobleskill. In 1942 he married Ruth Lou Wilber, whom he had met when they were students at SUNY Cobleskill. They lived in Copake, New York until her death more than 58 years later. For fifteen years he was a dairy farmer in Copake and Ancramdale, New York, and then for more than 30 years was a carpenter, working for various contractors in the Copake area, the Catamount Ski Resort, and ultimately running his own business as a builder and contractor. In 1954 he and his family moved into a house on Taconic Street in Copake that he had helped build, and he continued to live there until 2007, after which he moved first to the Payn Residence in Chatham New York and finally to the Firemen's Home in Hudson, New York.

Mr. Ashley was active in the Copake United Methodist Church, serving many years as a delegate to Annual Conferences, a member of the Board of Trustees, and on numerous other committees. After his retirement he went to Haiti to help build a mission school and he became a lay minister who sometimes conducted worship services and preached in Copake and other churches in Columbia County.

For many years Mr. Ashley and his wife were members of the Copake Grange. They were active members of the PTA when their children were in school, and were members of several square dance groups. He was a volunteer fireman in the Copake Fire Department, a member of the Copake Zoning Board of Appeals for two decades, a member of the Roe Jan Historical Society, and a member of the Republican Party throughout his life. During his later years he enjoyed taking river cruises, visiting his son's vacation home in Mexico, going to events at the Rider's Mills School museum, and traveling anywhere that he could see historical trains, boats, or canals.

Mr. Ashley was predeceased by his wife Ruth Ashley and his sisters Ida Tooley of Pittsfield, Massachusetts and Helen Briggs of Red Rock, New York. He leaves one daughter Susan Ashley of State College, Pennsylvania; three sons, George Ashley, III of Hatfield, Massachusetts, Walter Ashley of Cooperstown, New York, and David Ashley of Brooklyn, New York; a grandson, Todd Ashley of Portland Oregon; and many nephews and nieces.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday September 24, 2011 at 11 AM at the Copake United Methodist Church followed by a reception in the Church House next door.

Interment will be in the Copake Cemetery.

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