Frances B. Bays

Frances B. Bays , age 93, formerly of Rt. 392, Cortland, NY (Town of Virgil) passed away, Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Cortland Memorial Nursing Home after a brief illness.

Mrs. Bays was born November 8, 1918 in Rensselaer, NY, a daughter of the late Francis and Kathryn Brazil Becker. She was graduated from SUNY Albany and began her professional career as a public librarian in Delmar, as a school librarian in Elmira Heights, Cincinnatus and Dryden and served as a college librarian and instructor at SUNY Cortland. She was a long time member and Past President of the Virgil Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and had served as Secretary-treasurer, Conductress, Chaplin, and as a delegate to the State Auxiliary. Additionally, Frances was a distinguished member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Firemen’s Association of New York State and received a plaque of Appreciation for her service to the Central New York Auxiliary and Firemen. She served on the New York State Fair Advisory Board, organized the Virgil Historical Society and served as the town of Virgil Historian. Frances has many more notable accomplishments and contributions to community that she so dearly loved.

She will be greatly missed by her family and community.Survivors include her son, Kevin Bays of Cortland, granddaughter, Jennifer Bays and a great-granddaughter, Ciara Garcia both of Myrtle, MS; step- granddaughter Jennifer (Eric) Lewis and a step-grandson, Justin (Carrie) Temple of Willet; nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her Husband, Robert Bays; her sister, Sister Mary Andre; a brother, Alan Becker and a daughter-in-law, Beth Tennant Bays and a step-grandson, Jeremy Temple.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM, Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at St. Mary’s Church, Cortland. Burial will be in Virgil Rural Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 4 to 7 PM, Monday, at the Perkins Funeral Home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY. A Firemen’s Auxiliary Prayer service will be held at 7 PM, Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are directed to the ladies Auxiliary of The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York,107 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210-2269