Ada May Fearon

1926 - 2019

Ada May Marshall Fearon, 93, passed away December 21, 2019 at her home in Naples, FL. She was born on May 28th, 1926, at Marshall Farms, Munnsville, NY - the eldest of Otis Potter Marshall and Addie May Lyman Marshall’s five children. She learned the value of “taking pride in work done well,” and along with her siblings, performed various chores working the family farm.Ada May graduated Salutatorian from Stockbridge Valley High School in 1943 and attended the Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, NY, graduating in 1945. She then attended Syracuse University, class of 1949, where she majored in Merchandising and Fashion Design and was active in the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. After graduation, she took a job with Simplicity Pattern Co. in New York City as their National 4H Fashion Stylist, traveling the U.S. working with 4-H chapters and Home Demonstration personnel. For 5 years she also gave the National 4-H Dress Revue in Chicago, wrote a column for Seventeen magazine, and contributed articles to Modern Miss magazine.In 1953 she married Lt. Robert H. Fearon, Jr. of Oneida, NY. They were stationed in Tachikawa, Japan where Lt. Fearon was a USAF pilot during the Korean Conflict. After returning to the US and upon completion of her husband’s tour of service, Bob and Ada May returned to Upstate New York, where they lived, worked and raised a family in Bob’s hometown of Oneida, NY. In addition to their home in Oneida, the Fearons also resided in 1000 Island Park, NY and Naples, FL.Ada May was always very active in her community. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Oneida, where she taught Sunday School, and served on the Board of Trustees. Ada May was also a past president of the Progress Club, the local chapter of the Cancer Society, the Women of Rotary, the Jr. Board of the Hazel Carpenter Home, and the Madison County Children’s Camp, respectively. She was a recipient of the Oneida Rotary Club’s “Roses to the Living Award,” and past president, board member and board member emeritus of The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in Central NY. Ada May also worked as a real estate agent in the Oneida area for Haskell Real Estate.In 1973, Ada May assisted her husband in forming the Independent Bankers’ Association of New York State. She was Chairman of the Tabernacle Committee in 1000 Island Park, and in 1975 served as Co-Chairman for the 1000 Island Park Centennial Celebration. Ada May also received the Raymond Staub Award in recognition of her Community Service, in 1000 Island Park. In 1995 Ada May and Bob co-chaired the “Save the Pavilion” Capital Campaign at 1000 Island Park, successfully saving the last steamship landing site on the St. Lawrence River.Ada May was a member of the 1000 Island Country Club, the Royal Poinciana Golf Club, the Royal Poinciana “Niners” League, and was twice champion of the League. She was also a member of the Moorings Country Club, Greater Naples Alumnae Panhellenic, Welcome to Florida International Club, and a member of the North Naples Methodist Church.Ada May brought a spirit of enthusiasm to everything she did including her game of tennis and golf, entertaining guests, spirit of adventure in travel and her love of people.She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Robert H. (Bob) Fearon Jr., her son, Robert H. (Sukosh) Fearon III, and her brothers, Frederic W. (and sister-in-law Margaret) Marshall, Thomas Lyman Marshall and her brother-in-law John Edwin Veasey. She is survived by her brother, Dr James Otis (Ruth) Marshall of Fayetteville, NY and sister, Zoe Mary Veasey of Haverhill, MA., her two daughters, Zoe A. Fearon of Arlington, VA and 1000 Island Park, NY and Mary Pat (Brad) Adams of Oneida and 1000 Island Park, NY. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Sarah (Victor) Yu of Stafford, VA, Hannah (Marcus) Dormanen of Minneapolis, MN, Emma (Clinton) Smith of Sherrill, NY, Samuel (Karen) Adams of New York, NY and Benjamin Adams of Austin, TX; four great grandchildren, Liam and Blake Dormanen, Reagan and Weston Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 17, 2020 from 5 - 7 pm. at Campbell Dean Funeral Home, 260 Main Street, Oneida, NY. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 116 Main Street, Oneida, NY.Contributions in memory of Ada May Fearon may be made to the Oneida Public Library Foundation Inc., 220 Broad Street, Oneida, NY 13421 or The First United Methodist Church,116 Main Street, Oneida, NY. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.campbell-dean.com. CAMPBELL-DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC Oneida http://www.lastingmemories.com/ada-may-fearon