Harold D. Axtell

Port Leyden - Harold D. "Skinny" Axtell, 91, a longtime resident of North Pearl Street, passed away on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville after a long illness. He was born in Deposit, NY (Delaware Co.) on June 8, 1918, a son of Glenn and Eugenia (Cable) Axtell. Harold grew up near Van Hornesville, where he graduated from Owen D. Young High School. While in the high school wrestling program he attained the title of NYS Champion. On September 1, 1937, Harold was united in marriage with Evelyn Wood in Boonville. Soon after their marriage they moved to their present home on North Pearl Street. This was a loving union that endured for over 72 years. Mr. Axtell greatly enjoyed his longtime occupation of lumberjack, working in the timber harvesting business throughout northern New York State. For many years he was employed by Marmon Rocker Logging Co. of Port Leyden, followed by seventeen years as a commercial painter for Law Brothers Construction Co. of Lyons Falls. Harold was very active in church and community affairs. For seventeen years he served on the Port Leyden School Board. He was a member of Port Leyden Fire Company and served as a church trustee, elder, Sunday School teacher, Superintendent and youth group leader. He was elected to the offices of Justice of the Peace and Town Councilman for the town of Lyonsdale. He also served with the Utica Rescue Mission. In addition to his wife, Evelyn, he is survived by four daughters, Fay LeMay of Canastota and her family, Jeff of Ithaca, Mike and Priscilla of Ilion, and Scott and Shirley of Champaign, IL; Carolyn Simpson of Boonville, and her family, Tim and Kate Simpson of Norwell, MA, and Rick and Bob Simpson, both of Boonville; Elaine Minga and her family, Yamilay Minga of Richmond, VA and Ryan Minga of Ithaca; Eugenia Kogut and her husband, David of Greig, and their family, Keri Lyn of Hobe Sound, FL, Jonathan of Stuart, FL, and Jason and Becky of Constableville; and a son, David of Port Leyden; a brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Jane Axtell, and a sister, Edith Rocker, all of Port Leyden. He was predeceased by a son, Richard, a granddaughter, Michele Simpson, two brothers, Myron and Walter, and a sister, Beatrice. Mr. Axtell was instrumental in the installation of a radio tower to broadcast Christian Radio Station WMHR into the Lewis County region. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions WMHR Mars Hill Network, 4044 Makyes Road, Syracuse, NY 13215. His funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Bible Church, Sweeney Road, Greig, NY, where the Rev'd James Jenkins, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in Port Leyden Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville. Please use the "Sign Guestbook" link below to leave an online message of sympathy or to share a memory of Harold.