West Sand Lake - Thomas I. Cipperley, 91 passed away July 23, 2022 following a struggle with heart failure complicated by the COVID infection. He was born November 26, 1930 in Troy.
Thomas was a self-employed excavation contractor for 75 years. He was good with equipment, learned to take care of it from anyone who would teach him, and was willing to help anyone that needed a hand. I remember a customer that came every Friday evening and handed my dad a $1.00 bill. I asked my father why? My father said because that was all the gentleman could afford to pay and it was the deal that my dad made with him and to stop asking questions! He was a garrulous person with a great gift of gab and knew everyone in town! He never completed high school but served on the Averill Park School Board for over 25 years, and he was very proud of that accomplishment. He was an Honorary Fireman with the West Sand Lake Fire Department and a former President of the Elmwood Cemetery in West Sand Lake.
He is predeceased by his wife, Mary Margaret (Ashline) Cipperley and his son, Lyndon T. Cipperley. He is survived by his daughters, Kristine M. Cipperley and Susan J. Cipperley; his son, Michael E. (Rosemarie) Cipperley; a daughter-in-law, Mary Beth Cipperley; his sister, Phyllis Blake-Angel of Sun City, AZ and multiple nieces and nephews - they all had nicknames that only he could have come up with!
He was a simple man who enjoyed simple pleasures. Music was a simple pleasure, whether classical, opera, or bluegrass, it didn’t make a difference. As a young man he farmed alongside his father and at milking time there was always music in the barn! Stand back when there was ice cream and pie or a good home-baked cookie! But, the loves of his life were his cars, polishing and waxing to a high shine and his family. He was a good neighbor too, pulling many a car out of a ditch, plowing driveways in the winter or mowing lawns in the summer. Oh, how we will miss him......
Relatives and friends may call at the DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 4392NY150, West Sand Lake on Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 4-7 PM.
A private interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in West Sand Lake.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Thomas Irving Cipperley to the Sand Lake Town Library 8428 Miller Hill Road Averill Park, NY 12018.
Arrangements by DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home Inc. 4392 NY 150 West Sand Lake, NY 12196 518 674 5790
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