IN MEMORIAM: Vera Ainslie, 89;

Former Mrs. Claus, CYB Mainstay

 Calling Hours Tomorrow At Cooperstown Funeral Home

FLY CREEK – Vera R. Ainslie, Cooperstown’s former “Mrs. Claus” whose family name also is memorialized in Cooperstown Youth Baseball’s home field, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 12, 2016, surrounded by her family at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego.  She was 89.

Calling hours are 4-6 Monday at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, Cooperstown, with a graveside service on Thursday.

Born July 18, 1926, at Bassett Hospital, Vera was a daughter of Orra C. and Nellie Mariah (Adsit) Goodspeed.

Raised in Fly Creek Valley, she graduated from Cooperstown High School, Class of 1946, and was employed for a time at a sewing facility in Richfield Springs.  She went on to spend much of her life caring for others as a nurse, working from 1967 until 1982 at Woodside Hall in Cooperstown.  Following her retirement, she was employed as a private duty nurse for Mr. and Mrs. Mecklenburg.

On June 19, 1949, Vera married Lavern William “Beanie” Ainslie – CYB opening day ceremonies for 2016 were held Saturday at “Beanie” Ainslie Field in Hartwick hamlet –  in a ceremony at the Fly Creek Methodist Church, where they were both long-time members.  They enjoyed 46 years together until Beanie’s unexpected death on June 24, 1995.

Devoted to her community, Vera volunteered her time in many different ways.  For 15 years, she – along with “Beanie” – helped bring Santa and Mrs. Claus to Cooperstown to the delight of young and old alike. A member of the Fly Creek Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary, she also served as a volunteer at Bassett Hospital and was a faithful member of the Fly Creek Area Historical Society. Active in Grange activities for most of her life, she was a member of Fly Creek Valley Grange No. 790 and Pomona Grange No. 16.

Following her husband’s death, Vera and her family have always been present to award CYB’s highest honor, the Lavern “Beanie” Ainslie Award, which is bestowed each year on the baseball player who exhibits the highest levels of sportsmanship and good character.

Vera is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Charles and Denise Ainslie and Kenneth and Cheryl Ainslie of Richfield Springs, and Michael Ainslie of Fly Creek; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Barbara and Paul Pangman of Mount Upton, Janette and David Lyons of Fly Creek, and Eileen Ainslie of Arkansas; 13 grandchildren, Melissa Swislosky, Gideon Pangman, Kenneth II, Kyle, Matthew and Heather Ainslie, Shawn Lyons and Andrianna Gulotta,  Brooks, Calvin and Levi McAllister, and Michael and Gabrielle Rhyde; five great grandchildren, Logan, Anjelica, Cameron, Thomas and Alexandria; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her husband, Vera was predeceased by her three sisters, Florence Thayer, Nellie Trainor and Norma Van Benschoten; and a brother, Edward Goodspeed.

Calling hours are 4-6 p.m. Monday, May 16, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, when Vera’s family will be in attendance.

A graveside service will be offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016, in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Fly Creek, with the Rev. Sharon Rankins-Burd, pastor of the Fly Creek United Methodist Church officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fly Creek Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 87, Fly Creek, NY  13337-0087, or the Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee (C.C.C.C.), P. O. Box 428, Cooperstown, NY  13326.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.