David Boulton Heasley

David Boulton Heasley, age 86, passed from this earth into his eternal home on February 26, 2026, after a short illness. He had been a full-time resident at the Summit Village in Watertown since October of 2024.

David was born July 5, 1939, in Watertown, New York to the late Ernest Clement Heasley and the late Gertrude Lucy (Boulton) Heasley. He graduated as salutatorian of his class from Lyme Central School, Chaumont in 1956, having spent his early elementary years at Sackets Harbor Central School. He then attended Syracuse University for one year studying firstjournalism, then forestry.  In the late 1970s he completed several courses at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. 

He worked for Roe’s Feed Store in Limerick from 1957–1958. In 1958 he began working for the NYS Department of Transportation where he participated in the early building of State Route 3 through the Adirondacks and Interstate 81 across Wellesley Island. He later worked in Design and retired in 1994 after 36 years of service. Prior to his retirement, David became a Licensed Land Surveyor and opened his own business: David B. Heasley, L.L.S. He worked full-time from 1984 until 2008 and completed hundreds of surveys in those 24 years. His love for land surveying paralleled his love of all things historical.

It was at Roe’s Feed Store that he met and fell in love with Barbara Elizabeth Slade. They married March 14, 1959, at the Baptist Church in Adams Center. They celebrated 60 years of marriage just prior to Barbara’s passing on December 29, 2019. 

He is survived by his three children: Kathleen A. (Lawrence, Jr.) Woodruff, Bonita Springs, FL and Brewerton; Bruce C. (Teena), Adams Center; Brian C. (Linda), Hudson Falls. He had sixgrandchildren: Erik (Stephanie) and Kyle Schaeffer, both of Minoa; Kierstynn Heasley, Adams Center; Cameron (Jennifer),Watertown; Casey (Paul) Kane, Tully; and Nikolas, Tampa, FL. Also, two great grandchildren: Olivia and Jacob Schaeffer, Minoa; a step-granddaughter Meghann (Ross) Piciucco and twostep-great grandchildren Leo and Joseph Piciucco, all of Dewitt; two sisters-in-law: Marie Slade, Watertown and Pam Heasley, Watertown; as well as two nephews and two nieces, and cousins in both the US and Canada. 

He was predeceased by his wife, his parents, brothers Richard C. and Donald J., sister-in-law Audrey Heasley, nephew Marc, and multiple aunts, uncles and cousins. 

David was a lifelong hunter, particularly enjoying his bird (pheasant) hunting. He was a long-time member of the Farmers Protective Association as Treasurer, and the North Adams Association as Secretary-Treasurer. Active in church, he was on the Board of Trustees at Sulphur Springs UMC, and on several committees at Asbury UMC, Watertown; as well as singing baritone in the Chancel Choir for many years. He was the scribe for the Merrickville, Ontario, Canada Chapter of the Robert Burns Poetry Society for several years which allowed him to hone his love of single malt Scotch.

He was a voracious reader right from the age of 5 until his death, embracing multiple genres and having a great passion for books. He collected barbed wire and loved music (particularly classical), gardening, feeding and identifying songbirds, playing pinochle and cribbage, and doing the NYT Daily Crossword. David drew immense pleasure from, and was justifiably proud of, his flower gardens of iris, poppies, roses and more. He traded flowers with other flower aficionados to grow rare and unusual varieties. He was extremely knowledgeable about trees, flowersand the nighttime skies full of stars and planets. Having grown up on a dairy farm, David learned early what hard work accomplished. He employed this concept throughout his entire life to everything he turned his hand to. 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Isabelle and Laura for the 15 years of loving care given to our parents, and to Gerry and Shal, his nurses on the first floor of the Summit SNF,for theirs in the past 14 months. 

Date and time for a memorial service at Asbury UMC with burial at Dexter Cemetery in the spring will be announced later. Donations may be made in his name to Asbury UMC (327 Franklin Street, Watertown, NY, 13601) or the North Adams Association (17328 North Harbor Road, Adams Center, NY 13606).

Online condolences may be left at www.dexterfuneralhome.com

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