GOUVERNEUR – Howard “Sonny” Conklin, 56, passed away Friday, October 9, 2009 at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley

A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 am at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Reggie Curtis officiating and burial in East Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur. Calling hours will be Tuesday 6-8 pm and Wednesday 10-11 am, prior to the service.

Sonny is survived by his wife Judy, a son Matthew Joseph and Rachel Conklin of Elizabeth City, NC, a daughter Racheal Ann Young of Wilmington, NC, his mother of Gouverneur, and seven grandchildren Dion Turnbull, Michela, Micah, and Mykel Young, Nathaniel, Isaiah, and Arianna Conklin. He is also survived by three brothers Alan Wayne Conklin of Gouverneur, Randy and Shannon Conklin of N. Lawrence, and Mark Conklin of Gouverneur, and a sister Yvonne Cardinell of Gouverneur. He is predeceased by his father.

Sonny was born in Gouverneur on June 2, 1953, the son of Howard L. and Elaine Soto Conklin.

He graduated from Hermon-DeKalb Central School in 1971 and received training for auto mechanics at BOCES. He worked on local dairy farms and at sawmills in Heuvelton and S. Colton. Sonny and Judy provided private home healthcare and worked at the Children’s Home of Jefferson County. He worked for 18 years for New York State Division of Corrections.

Sonny married Judith Shampine on February 17, 1973 in Massena.

The couple has provided care as foster parents for many years. Sonny enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, woodworking, bowling, and playing shuffleboard.

Memorial donations may be made to your local S.P.C.A. or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Highway 11, Potsdam, NY 13676.