Charles "Chuck" LaForty Oct 6, 2009

Charles "Chuck" LaForty, age 69 of Rte 180 Lafargeville, passed away Tuesday morning at Samaritan Medical Center. Chuck was born May 25, 1940 in Watertown, the son of Charles N. and Marion Sibley LaForty. He attended Dexter High School. Chuck served in the Navy from 1957 until 1978, having left the Navy and recalled as a veteran chief gunners mate serving on several vessels including proudly on the USS Missouri after it was re-commissioned. He served in Viet Nam and retired in 1990 from the Naval Reserves. Chuck married Lois Carr December of 1957. That marriage ended in divorce. He then married Patricia Ballou in 1982 and she died February 1999. Chuck worked as an officer for US Customs and Immigration following his Navy career at the L.A. Airport and last at the Thousand Islands Border until he retired in 2005. Chuck was a member of Brownville American Legion Allen-Giles Post 588 and a former member of the VFW. He is survived by his companion and former wife Lois, children Marylou and Rick Combs of Black River, Debra and Patrick McCann of Geneva, and Dale and Mary LaForty of Dexter, stepsons Merlyn L. Shawn P. and Michael F. Ballou out of the area. He is also survived by a brother Chris and Diane LaForty of Brownville, sisters Carol and Ralph Pacella of Ft. Collins Colorado and Constance and Jerome Stevens of Central Square. He also has six grandchildren and two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday 11:00 a.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter with the Rev. Patricia Walz of Brownville United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in North Watertown Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from 4:00 -7:00 P.M. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.