Joseph L Liberty Jr

On Wednesday December 19, 2012, "Junior" (89) surrounded by his loving family, and under the care of Hospice, left this world to be reunited in the next with his beloved wife, Phyllis. It was just 5 months and one day, since he last kissed "Phee" good-bye. He spoke of her, and missed her every single day. They had been married one week short of 64 years. Joe, "Junior" to everyone, was born on October 25, 1923 in Morrisonville, New York, the only son of Joseph and Irene (Marcoux) Liberty. Shortly thereafter the family moved to the Liberty Farm in Riverview. He lived his entire life on that same piece of ground, built his home, and raised his family with only a driveway separating him from his parents. As kids growing up, we were blessed to have our favorite grandparents only 75 feet away. In 2011 Phyllis's health dictated the move to Pine Harbour. Undoubtedly, the hardest thing he ever had to do. In the early days the Libertys were loggers, and Junior cut his teeth on a bulldozer blade. At 19 he was building logging roads, and driving loads of pulp to the mills. He and his father logged with horses for many years. When the logging business changed to skidders, horse logging could no longer compete, forcing the decision to close the doors. Junior and Phyllis with four and then five children had some really lean years. Dad did what he had to do to feed his family; he hunted, fished, and took whatever work he could find. Mom could stretch a dollar, and us kids never knew how tough things really were. He was the Fire Warden for his area, and served as volunteer Fireman. Under the tutelage of Clarence Alexander, he became a master welder. Junior was smart, had an engineering mind, he put it to work building everything from trailers and pulpwood loaders, to a go-cart for us kids, and fixing all types of broken machinery - if he couldn't fix it, it truly was beyond repair. When the "Missile Bases" came to town, he found work, as did many of the local people, and the family breathed a sigh of relief. Shortly thereafter, he was able to join the Operating Engineers Union Local 106, and started working on the Northway. His skill with a bulldozer, and basically any other heavy equipment, combined with the ability to fix anything that broke, insured from then on, that he was never without work. He caught the eye of Fletcher-Murnane, now Murnane Building Contractors, Inc., and for the last 20 plus years, until he retired, was one of their top crane operators. They liked him, he enjoyed working for them, it was a good match. When he retired, his dream to own a motorhome came true, and he and Phyllis enjoyed quite a few years crisscrossing the country, spending winters in Florida and Arizona, and camping in the summer at Buck Pond Campsite. Dad taught us kids many things that have served us well throughout our lives - respect for people and property, own up to your mistakes, and if your going to do something, give it your best. Dad was always ready to help anybody, from taking his bulldozer and plowing huge drifts off the Cold Brook Road, thawing water pipes with his welder, to fixing farm machinery for the neighbors. He was a good man, and he will be sorely missed by us all. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dad's caregivers - Ann Lawrence, first with Mom and then with Dad, with your knowledge, skill, and gentle ways, we never worried when you were there; it was always "A Wonderful Day at Pine Harbour". Melanie Spofford-Uhlein, thanks for making Dad laugh, putting some joy in his life, and giving him his country music. We know he loved you. Eva Parsons, thank you for coming to our rescue when we needed more help, and thank you for helping us obtain first class caregivers. The staff and nurses of Hospice, especially Cheryl and Beth, thank you for taking care of Dad and Mom, you were always there for us night or day. Last, but, certainly not least, the staff at Pine Harbour, you provided a home for Mom and Dad, and took away the constant worry we all had when they were still at their home in Riverview. We could relax and trust that there were caring, competent people watching out for them. Joe was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis A. Liberty, and his only sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Liberty Gauthier. Joe was survived by ; Daughters - Mona L. Liberty of Schuyler Falls; Kathy M. Collins and her husband, Michael D. Collins of Peru; Julie A. Liberty of Corinth, NY; Sons - Clark J. Liberty and his wife Susan of Plattsburgh; Paul D. Liberty of Malone; Granddaughter Vanessa Davies, her husband Matthew, and Great Grandson, Jeremy Davies, all of Plattsburgh. Calling hours will be held on Friday December 21, 2012 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday December 22, 2012 at 11:00 at The Church of the Assumption in Redford, burial will follow in the parish cemetery. At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of the North Country, 358 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901, (518) 561-3980 Online condolences and memorial candles may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.