HERKIMER-Lester C. Reese Jr. Duffy age 77, passed away on Monday evening January 27, 2014, in Valley Health Services, Inc. after a long courageous battle with cancer. He had the comfort of his family and close friends at his side. He was born on December 15, 1936 in the village of Mohawk, son of the late Lester C. Sr. and Sarah Gaskell Reese. A lifelong Herkimer resident he graduated from Herkimer High School with the class of 1954. He was first married to Julie Anne Viscomi. On November 22, 1989 he was united in marriage to the former Nancy L. Pardee in their home in East Herkimer. Mr. Reese had worked for UNIVAC and Mohawk Data Sciences before joining the Herkimer County Sheriffs Department. Due to his illness Duffy retired in August of 2012 as the Sheriffs Department Chief Civil Sergeant. Mr. Reese had a strong faith in God and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Herkimer. He was a man with a genuine sense of community. He was a member of the Herkimer Republican Committee, the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department, the Herkimer Elks Lodge # 1439 BPOE and the Olive Branch Lodge # 40 Free and Accepted Masons formerly Herkimer Lodge # 423 F & AM where he served as Master in 1967. Duff loved sports playing them in his younger years and becoming the most avid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan you would ever want to meet. To all who knew him they will never forget a strong yet sensitive man who was always there to help in good times or bad. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his many friends and family, especially his grandchildren. He will be truly missed. Surviving are his devoted wife of twenty-four years Nancy, one son Lester C. Reese III of Herkimer, two daughters, Debbie Reese of Niskayuna, Chanin Reese of Brooklyn Park, MN, four grandchildren, Katrina Roberts and her husband Neil, Zachery Reese, Janice Reese and Cody Vetvick, several nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind many devoted friends, most especially Claude Bernier who spent endless hours at his side. The family will be present to receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 & 6:00 to 9:00 pm in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. Funeral service will be on Friday at 11:00 am in the funeral home with Sister Mary Jo Tallman officiating. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department or the Herkimer County Humane Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The following orginazations are asked to meet at the funeral home on Thursday, Herkimer Elks Lodge # 1439 are at 4:00 pm for services, members of East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department at 6:00 pm and Olive Branch Lodge # 40 F & AM at 8:30 pm. The family wishes to express their sincere thank you to Dr. Butala and the staff at the Herkimer Cancer Clinic. Their care and compassion will never be forgotten and the angels at Valley Health Services for the loving care they provided.