Willard Jess Ferris

Willard H. "Jess" Ferris, Jr.

Newark"Willard H. "Jesse" Ferris, 91, died Saturday (April 21, 2007) at Highland Hospital, Rochester.

A memorial services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday (April 28, 2007) at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, South Main Street, Newark. Burial will be in Newark Cemetery.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Newark Fire Department, 100 East Miller Street, Newark, New York 14513.

Mr. Ferris was born in Geneva on December 7, 1915, the son of Willard H. and Laura Marshall Ferris, Sr. He moved to Newark when he was six years old and graduated from Newark High School in 1934 and then Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He enlisted in the Army in April 1941, serving in Central Europe and the Rhineland as a radio repairman until the end of World War II. Jess was a self-employed electrician operating Ferris Radio and Electrical Service before working at the Sampson Naval Base and Bloomer Brothers. He retired in 1977, from the Newark Developmental Center where he had been an electrician. Jess was a 74 year member of the New York Central Hose Company #5 of the Newark Fire Department and was honored in the 2006 fireman's parade as the Grand Marshall. Jess was a member of the Newark Elks Lodge and the August Mauer Post 285, American Legion. He also belonged to the Wayne Hills Country Club and was the Guys and Dolls Tournament Champion in 1969. Jess had run for Mayor of the Village of Newark in 1959.

He is survived by his daughter Amy Herbert of Fairport. Jess was predeceased by his wife of 50 years Elizabeth "Liz" Ferris on October 10, 2005.

Remembrances may be sent to www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com