Obituary of Roderick W. Coon

Roderick W. Coon, 82, of Kellogg St, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. He was born September 2, 1933 in Utica, the only child of the late Herschel and Hazel (Tabor) Coon. Rod graduated in 1951 from New Hartford High School and attended what would become MVCC. On June 16, 1967, he was united in marriage to Shirley Potter at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Utica. He retired from General Electric after 32 years and started Rod Coon Home Improvements which he ran until 2014. Rod enjoyed working on carpentry and masonry projects at home and through his business, but enjoyed time with his family most of all. He was a member of the Paris Hill Jehovah Witness Congregation for many years. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Clinton; his son Timothy Coon and his life partner Dorothy Oaksford of Oneida; two nephews Donald Potter and wife Katherine and Brad Potter; a niece Lori Decker; his "adopted son" Rick Green; and his canine friend Buxsley. All are invited to call Wednesday, July 27, 2016 from 4-7pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St., Clinton. Services will be held at 10am on Thursday at the funeral home with burial to follow in Crown Hill Memorial Park. Please consider donations to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, as acknowledgement of Rod being a 24-year cancer survivor or Spring Farm CARES, 3364 State Route 12, Clinton, NY 13323.