ANDOVER –Hattie M. Gavin, 86, passed away Monday (Feb. 19.
2018) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester following a lengthy illness.
Mrs. Gavin was born on March 13, 1931 in Elm Valley to Leon
P. and Olive M. (Ayers) Wahl. She was a 1949 graduate of Andover Central
School. On Oct. 25, 1950, she married Donald R. Gavin, who predeceased her on
Aug. 6, 1993.
Hattie worked as a bookkeeper for Joyce Western Pipeline in
Andover from 1960 until her retirement in 1983. Previously, she worked as a
waitress at The Collegiate in Alfred, where she met her future husband and she
cleaned at Citizens National Bank in Andover for a number of years. Hattie was
well known throughout Andover for her wallpapering skills where it has been
often said that she wallpapered every house in town.
Hattie is survived by four daughters, Karol Gavin Marciano
and Kathleen (Tom) Kent, both of Andover, Mary Kay (Robert) Cavanaugh of
Ballston Spa and Cecilia (Brian) Lynch of Hampstead, N.C.; 6 grandchildren, Ed
(Betsy) Kent and Joe (Lisa) Kent, both of Andover, Debi (David) Martin of
Fredericksburg, Va., Brad (Tanya) Cavanaugh of Ballston Spa, Chrystie (Chris
Conrad) Lynch of Columbus, Ohio and Patrick Lynch of Greensboro, N.C.; 3 great
grandchildren, Evan Kent, Will Kent and Trey Kent; a special friend, Rose
Munkes of Wellsville and her caregiver, Carol Mann of Greenwood.
In addition to her husband of 42 years, she was predeceased
by two brothers, William S. Wahl and Gerald A. Wahl.
Hattie was a fun and enjoyable person to be around. She was
a mother to everyone and after she talked to you, you came away feeling better
about yourself. She was a gifted artist as exemplified in her many still life
paintings. She extended that love for art with the children in the neighborhood
where she taught them painting and crafts in her home after school. In her
later years, she continued to foster that love of art by becoming an active
member of the Wellsville Art Association.
Hattie was very civic minded. She planted and maintained the
flowers on Main St. in Andover for years. She was a member of the Andover
Chamber of Commerce and a 4-H member and leader for over 40 years. She had a
passion for history as she was the Past Vice President and Trustee of the
Andover Historical Society and a member of both the Baker’s Bridge Historical
Association and the Allegany County Historical Society.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 2–4 and 6-8 p.m. at
the Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. There will be a Mass of Christian
Burial on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover. Burial
will follow in Hillside Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.
Memorial contributions in Hattie’s name may be made to
Andover Rescue Squad, PO Box 726, Andover, NY 14806 or to Andover Historical
Society, PO Box 252, Andover, NY 14806.
