EAST HERKIMER - Gerney F. Butler, age 91, of Main Road, passed away on Saturday morning, February 25, 2006, in Folts Homes Herkimer. He had the comfort of his loving family at his side. He was born on March 4, 1914 in Ilion, son of the late Frank and Margaret Streeter Butler. A life long area resident he was raised in Ilion and was educated in Ilion Schools. On June 26, 1937, he was united in marriage with the former Frances Richard in the Herkimer Reformed Church, a loving and devoted union of sixty-five years until her passing on March 17, 2003. At the age of twenty-two Gerney enlisted in the National Guard of the United States where he was a rifleman with the 10th Infantry. He served until February 2, 1939 when he was honorably discharged attaining the rank of Corporal. Then in World War II he again answered the call of his country in 1942 by enlisting in the US Navy where he served with the Sea-Bees, he was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Seaman First Class. For thirty-six years he had worked as a Cutter-Grinder and Inspector for the Remington Arms Company Ilion, retiring in 1976. Mr. Butler was a member of the Herkimer Reformed Church where he served as Elder and Deacon and in more recent years attended the Mohawk Reformed Church. He was a fifty-year member of Herkimer Lodge #423 Free and Accepted Masons, a past Patron of Eastern Star Chapters in Herkimer and Little Falls as well as Grand Lecturer for Herkimer, Fulton and Montgomery Counties. He was also a member and had served as Daddy of Silver Triangle. Gerney was a strong willed man who enjoyed the outdoors and nature; he was a fifty-five year member of the East Herkimer Fish & Game Club as well as Scout Master of Troop #22, East Herkimer. Dedicated to his community, he was a sixty-four member of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department and had served three years as its Fire Chief. Members of the department remember Gerney as an outstanding man who worked many hours and truly enjoyed helping others. He was also a member of the East Herkimer Senior Citizens. He and his wife enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Mohawk Valley Squares. They both loved to travel and had been to Germany and Hawaii. Their membership in the Good Sams Club took them all over the continental United States. Gerney had a down to earth manner and any conversation with him you knew would be straight and to the point but yet you could sense a warmth and friendship whenever you were with him. He was a friend to many and never will be forgotten. Surviving him are two sons and their wives, Richard and Patricia Butler, Gene and Kim Butler all of East Herkimer, one daughter Barbara and her husband Myron Baker of Rock Hill, SC, two sisters, Violet Brown of Ilion, Beverly Williams of East Herkimer nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren several nieces, nephews and close friends, Joe Kowalczik, Walter Bozo Kalynycz and Charles Lowell. Besides his parents and wife Frances a sister Betty Smith preceded him in death in 1995. Funeral service will be on Wednesday at 11:00 am in the Mohawk Reformed Church. The Reverend Brian Engel, Pastor will officiate. Interment will be later this spring in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will be present in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer to receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be made with donations to the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department or Alzheimers Unit of Folts Homes. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The family would like to thank the third floor staff of Claxton Manor and the first floor staff of Folts Homes for the comfort, care and compassion extended to Gerney and family during his residency and the very special care shown during his passing. Members of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department are asked to meet in the funeral home on Tuesday at 6:45 pm for services. Members of Herkimer Lodge #423 F. &. A.M. are asked to meet in the funeral home on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. for ritualistic services.