June 27, 2009  

CLAYTON, N.Y.  —  Cortland A. "Corty" Reff, 84, of Jane Street, passed away Saturday morning, June 27, at his home.

The funeral Mass will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at St. Mary's Church with the officiants being Rev. Bryan Stitt and Rev. Christopher C. Carrara. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Military honors at the cemetery will be provided by the American Legion Colon-Couch Post 821. There will be no calling hours.  

Arrangements are with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc.

Donations may be made in his name to St. Mary's Church, 521 James St., Clayton, NY 13624 or to Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Born Oct. 2, 1924, the son of Elmer J. and Florence Stumpf Reff, he attended St. Mary's Elementary School and graduated from Clayton High School in June 1943
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He entered the United States Army on April 10, 1946. He was an airplane and engine mechanic and received the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal - Japan. He was honorably discharged as a corporal on September 24, 1947.

On Sept. 27, 1952, he married Rachel L. Howe at St. Mary's Church with Rev. George E. Racette officiating.

For two years he worked as a mechanic for Bell Aircraft, Niagara Falls, before he entered the Army. With his father he operated and worked as a mechanic the Reff Ford Agency from 1944 to 1964, and then he owned and operated Reff's Texaco Gas Station for nine years. From 1970 to 1990, he was a custodian at Cape Vincent Elementary School and Guardino Elementary School, Clayton.

He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, and was a Eucharistic minister and served on the altar for 75 years.

He was a member of the American Legion Colon-Couch Post 821, and was a past commander and an advisor to the Sons of the American Legion. He was also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1400, Watertown, a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus Council 350, and a former Boy Scout Leader and Clayton Lions Club member.

Corty served as mayor of Clayton from 1976 to 1977, was a Town of Clayton councilman for 22 years, and a Village of Clayton board member for eight years.

He enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing hockey, word puzzles, and gun collecting.

Besides his wife, Rachel L. Reff, he is survived by his four children and their spouses, C. David and Tammy Reff, LaFargeville, Diane F. and Fernando Morinigo, Los Angeles, Calif., John G. and Mary Ann Reff, Clayton, and Joseph G. and Michelle Reff, Corona, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Eleanor Kittle, Clayton; and his nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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