RICHFIELD SPINGS - Emerson Lamphere Sam age 79 of E. James St., passed away on Wednesday morning February 13, 2013 in Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown. His loving family was at his side. He was born on May 14, 1933 in Edmeston, son of the late Frank and Flossi Allen Lamphere. A lifelong area resident, he was educated in Dolgeville Central School.Sam had owned his own dairy farm in Jordanville, drove school bus in Little Falls and had worked for the Village of Richfield Springs.He retired in 2003. On August 11, 1956 he was united in marriage with the former Esther Balderston in St. Marys Catholic Church in Little Falls.He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Richfield Springs. He was also a member of the Herkimer Farm Bureau. Surviving are his devoted wife of fifty-six years, Esther, one son, James Lamphere and a daughter, Patricia Lamphere both of Richfield Springs, two brothers, Frank Lamphere and wife Dorothy of Fairfield, Glenn Lamphere and wife Jean of Salisbury, two sisters, Isabelle Lee of Dolgeville and Margaret Williams of Mohawk, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his son Douglas Lamphere, four brothers and a sister. Visiting hours for Mr. Lamphere will be today (Friday) from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 W. James St.; Richfield Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am in St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Richfield Springs with the Reverend Matthew B. Wetsel, Pastor officiating. Interment will be in St. Josephs Cemetery, Richfield Springs later this spring.