Grace John

Grace John, age 87, of Steamburg, NY died Wednesday morning, November 30, 2011at the Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY following a short illness.

Born on May 12, 1924 on the Cattaraugus Territory she was the daughter of the late Karl and Florence Redeye Lay. She was married in October 1946 to Mr. Calvin "Kelly" John who predeceased her on October 8, 2004.

She earned her Associates Degree in Human Services from Jamestown Community College.

She was employed as Senior Peacemaker for the Allegany Territory from 1992-1998, she was a Native American Home School Coordinator for the Salamanca District School, she was a Case Worker for the Seneca Nation Indian Child Welfare Program, she was the Head Cook for the former Red House Indian School, Seneca Elementary School, the former Sheble & Wood Woolen Mills, and she worked at Hughes Aircraft in Buffalo, NY during WWII.

Mrs. John was an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Deer Clan, the Jimersontown Presbyterian Church where she served as Sunday School Superintendent Elder, & Deacon, and was a member of the Peter Doctor Scholarship Foundation. She was a member of the Allegany Reservation Temperance Lodge and she was a 4 H Leader in the Allegany Territory.

Surviving are: 3 daughters, Marilyn (Meredith "Chad") George, Jimersontown, NY, Luane Spruce, Steamburg, NY, Suzanne John Blacksnake, Salamanca, NY; 9 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; a brother, Calvin (Corrine) Lay, Cattaraugus Territory; a sister, June Heron, Jimersontown, NY; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by 4 sisters, Lillian Kozlowski, Leona Snyder, Lenora DiPasquale, Lois Jimerson, and a great grandson, Vincent Stevens III.

Friends may call at the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M.

Funeral services will held on Saturday morning at 10 A.M. in Jimersontown Presbyterian Church with Rev. Marvin Abrams officiating.

Burial will be in Memorial Heights Cemetery, Jimersontown, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Jimersontown Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 525, Salamanca, NY 14779 or Wright Memorial Church, % Douglas Lay, 12698 Rt. 438, Irving, NY 14081.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com, or posted to facebook.com/onofh.