SOUTH OTSELIC – Robert Chandler Hakes, 87, of South Otselic, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at the home of his son and daugther-in-law, Dewey and Gloria Hakes, DeRuyter.
Born in Pitcher on June 25, 1919, Robert was the son of A.D. and Louise Chandler Hakes. He attended Pitcher grade school and graduated from Cincinnatus Central School in 1936, the first graduating class from the new school.
On July 14, 1940, he married Emma Crumb, his former grade school teacher at Pitcher. He farmed the home farm and then had various jobs in the immediate area, including working for Tarbell Farms, Smithville Flats, Harrison Dungy Farm, Sherburne, ran a fuel truck in the early 50’s for G.L.F., Cortland, parts man for Hakes Farm Equipment, Cincinnatus, in the late 50’s and early 60’s. He became head custodian and bus driver for Otselic Valley Schools and retired in 1974.  He then worked for 29 years for his son, Bruce Hakes farm in South Otselic.  He retired in the summer of 2003.
Robert liked to sing. In the early 50’s, he sang in a Norwich all-male chorus, and later the Sherburne Community Chorus and the Berkshire Chorus in Massachusetts. He served his churches – Sherburne Methodist, South Otselic Methodist, and in later years, the West Smyrna Baptist Church as a teacher, deacon, and choir member. He was a 60 year member of the Cincinnatus Masonic Lodge.
 Robert was predeceased by his wife, Emma, in 1990, his sisters, Agnes, Ruth, Judith, Eleanor, and his brothers, Ralph and Keith, and also his grandsons, Dennis and Asa.
 He is survived by his special friend, Rosemary Walrod, Georgetown; five sons and one daughter:  Dewey (Gloria) of DeRuyter, Rebecca of Cortland, Bruce (Lonnie) of North Pitcher, Roger (Elaine) of Mt. Morris, John (Ruth) of Colona, Ill., and Charles (Marcia) of Bowie, Texas.  He is also survived by grandchildren, Shelly Norris, Warren Hakes, Bill Hakes, Kelly Hakes O’Choa, Laura Davis, Jaclyn Hakes, Andrew Hakes, Peter Hakes, Matthew Hakes, Margaret Ranstead, Nathaniel Hakes, Daniel Hakes, Rachel Hakes, Jason Hakes, and Liana Hakes; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the West Smyrna Baptist Church at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 with Reverend Ted Lawrence officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery, South Otselic. 
The family will be present to receive friends at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, on Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m., where a Masonic Service will be conducted at 7 p.m.
The family would like to thank Dewey and Gloria for their extra effort over the last two years and Hospice for all their help. Those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider the West Smyrna Baptist Church or Hospice of Chenango County. 
Personal condolences may be sent by visiting www.klsharpfuneralhome.com.