Willis H. Currier Born: October 3, 1900
Died: April 8, 1953
Married: Maude Thompson
Willis H. Currier started the Currier Funeral Chapel on Woodruff Street in 1941 and operated it until his death. From 1948 to 1951 he served as a trustee for the Village Board. He was chief of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department from 1949 to 1951.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 8, 1953
Willis H. Currier Dies At Age 53
Willis H. Currier is dead.
He died at 4 o'clock this morning at the Saranac Lake General Hospital where he had been a patient since Monday afternoon.
One of Saranac Lake's most active citizens and genuine supporters, Mr. Currier suffered a shock at his home, 20 Woodruff Street, about 10 days ago. He grew progressively worse.
Born in Parishville on October 3, 1900, the son of Gilbert C. and Melinda Pette Currier, he came to this village as a young man.
He worked at Gibney's meat market and Paul Smith's Electric Light and Power Company, at Paul Smiths, before learning the undertaking trade at the A. Fortune and Co. Funeral Chapel.
In 1928 he earned his undertaker's embalming license from the Simmons School of Embalming at Syracuse.
On his return to this village, he remained with Fortune's for 13 years before establishing himself in the Currier Funeral Chapel in 1941.
During the years he took a whole-hearted interest in village activities.
He was elected a member of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department on Feb. 2, 1925, and held every office in the department which culminated with his being elected Chief for 1949, 1950 and 1951.
He was named second assistant captain in 1930 and 1931; first assistant captain in 1931 and 1932. From 1932 to 1933 he was captain. During 1944 and 1945 he was second assistant chief and was first assistant chief during 1946, 1947 and 1948.
He was a director of the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club for many years and had been one of the most active members.
He joined the Odd Fellows on January 15, 1926, and served as noble grand in 1932 and district deputy grand master in 1940.
He was a trustee of the Methodist Church.
From 1948 to 1951 he served as a trustee for the Village Board of Saranac Lake.
He was a past president of the Lions Club.
In 1942 he joined the Elks Club.
Mr. Currier is survived by his widow, Maude T. Currier, of this village, a brother, Floyd, of Massena, and a nephew, James Smith of Saranac Lake.
Prayer services will be held at 2:15 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Currier Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church with Rev. Norman M. Moss officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery, Bloomingdale.
Active pallbearers will be Carl Smith, Andrew Fortune, Leon Thompson, Richard Ormsby, Victor Lapine and Vernon Wamsganz. Visiting undertakers will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The Elks will conduct memorial services at 8 o'clock tonight at the Currier Chapel. Tomorrow at 7:15 p. m. there will be Fireman's rites followed at 7:30 p. m. by Odd Fellows rites. Masonic rites will be held at 8 p. m.
