September 28, 2011        

CARTHAGE, N.Y.  —  Deforest P. McElhearn, 84, former businessman, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the United Helpers Nursing Home in Ogdensburg. 

The family will receive friends 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, Carthage.

Born Feb. 9, 1927, in Carthage, the son of the late Martin Deforest and Bessie Pennington McElhearn, he was a graduate of Carthage High School. He served in the Navy during World War II. 

Following his discharge, he attended the University of Pennsylvania and St. Lawrence University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1949. 

He married the former Joanne Sibley of Massena on Jan. 27, 1948. She died May 12, 1974. A subsequent marriage to Susan Thomas of Croghan ended in divorce in 1977. He married Audrey Healy of Camden July of 1983. She died Dec. 21, 2005.

He was managing partner of the McElhearn Agency until its sale to Thomas Gurnett. He was the founder Lewis Lanes in Lowville in 1959, and later he purchased the Carthage Bowl and the Theresa Bowl. 

He also was manager of the Unity Life Insurance office in Watertown. He lived in Carthage, Lowville and Clayton and summered at Thousand Island Park. 

He was a member of the American Legion, Elks Club and Diana Co. Hunting Club. 

Surviving are three sons, Scott S. McElhearn (Ida), Fairport, Gary McElhearn (Holly), Carthage and John McElhearn (Lori), Ogdensburg; three daughters, Nancy Masur(Chuck), West Dundee, IL, Debra Hunter (Philip), Lowville and Erin Barry (Robert Ball), Chicago, IL; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 

 The body will be cremated and distribution of the ashes will be held privately by the family. 

Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Carthage.






Information provided by Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.