Ann Elizabeth Cronkhite

Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Cronkhite, 89, formerly of Fort Plain, New York, died Thursday, September, 14, 2017 at Palatine Nursing Home, with her family by her side. Born June 21, 1928 in Nelliston, NY, she was the daughter of Jules Failing and Bessie Hughes Failing. She was valedictorian for Fort Plain High School, Class of 1945 and was a lifetime area resident. Mrs. Cronkhite was a mother and homemaker in addition to assisting her husband on the Dairy Farm. She was the last Organist of the Fort Plain Universalist Church of the Messiah, where she was a very active member from 1943 to 1984. She was also a member of the Saturday afternoon study class at the church. Mrs. Cronkhite was a member of the former Eastern Star of Fort Plain, Otsquago Chapter #297. She was the former organist at St. John's & St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Canajoharie, the Fort Plain United Methodist Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Stone Arabia on occasion. She enjoyed accompanying students to All County and All State. She had also been involved in fashion shows for the former Charm Corner Fashion Shows. She was a founding member and Past President of the Fort Plain Senior Center. She was very active with the Farm Bureau and 4H. Ann and her husband were extensive travelers, traveling all over the world, which she greatly enjoyed. On September 1, 1945 at the Fort Plain Universalist Church of the Messiah, Ann was married to Roger P. Cronkhite. He preceded her in death on March 1, 2015. Mrs. Cronkhite is survived by her daughter, Judith and James Zetterberg of Williamstown, WV; son, Jan and Sandra Miller Cronkhite of Nelliston, NY; grandchildren, Andrew S. Cronkhite and Heather of Fort Plain, NY, Robin E. Hamblin and Jonathan of Syracuse, NY, Heather Hickerson and Gabriel of Beverly, OH, Rachel Zetterberg of Williamstown, WV, Timothy Zetterberg of Williamstown, WV; great-grandchildren, Alex and Alexis Cronkhite of Fort Plain, NY, Dorothea and Jacob Hamblin of Syracuse, NY. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. at The Chapel of Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, 34 Center Street, Fort Plain, NY with the Rev. Nancy Ryan officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, September 18th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Fort Plain Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Cronkhite may be made to CABVI, Central Association for Blind and Visually Impaired, 507 Kent Street, Utica, NY 13501. Please sign the online guestbook for Mrs. Cronkhite at www.houghtalingandsmith.com.