Donald Oliver

Donald E. “Don” Oliver, age 91, of Bloomingdale, died on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 at the Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility in Plattsburgh. He was born in Waddington, NY to Murray and Lena Oliver. When he was 5 the family moved to Gabriels, NY.

Donald and his future wife Cynthia Begor met while working as teenagers on the Hobart (later Tucker) Farm in Gabriels. They married on August 25, 1951. They worked and raised their family on the farm while living in a house built in 1888.

Donald enjoyed baseball and was avid Yankee fan his entire life. He also liked to golf, fish and hunt. He especially enjoyed his weekends spent in hunting camp with his family and friends.

Donald worked for Hobart (Tucker) Farm for 33 years, Paul Smiths College for 4 years, Town of Brighton Highway Department for 23 years (7 of those as Highway Supervisor). He also worked for 4 more years for the Town of Franklin retiring at the age of 80.

Donald is survived by his wife of 70 years, six daughters: Cindy (Don) Amell, Nancy (Sheridan) Swinyer, Judy (Tim) Heath, Robin Shanty, Sharalon (Bob) Snickles, Kimberly (Kevin) Woodruff and his daughter-in-law Valerie Oliver. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren and his dog/best buddy Sammie.

He was preceded in death by his father Murray Oliver, mother and stepfather Lena and Ezra Guyette, 2 sisters Ruth (Don) Tucker and Mary (Cash) Shumway, 2 brothers William and Robert, an infant daughter Diane, a son and grandson Roger and Chad Oliver, a daughter and 2 sons-in-law Alonna and Gerryl Willette and Jamie Shanty.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Fortune Keough Funeral Home. Under New York state mandate, face masks are required for all attendees regardless of vaccination status.

Family and friends wishing to remember Donald may send memorial contributions to the Paul Smiths – Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department or the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. Family and friends can also share a memory, leave a condolence and sign the online guest book at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.