MASSENA – Mr. Wayne C. McElwain, 85, of 6 Meadow View Lane, and former resident of Fort Covington, passed away late Tuesday evening, January 8, 2013 at Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital, Plattsburgh, after being taken there on Sunday after falling at his home.

Wayne was born October 29, 1937 in Fort Covington, the son of the late George Herbert and Emma Dinneen McElwain and attended Fort Covington High School. On June 1, 1948, he married Mary Cecille Noreault at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Covington with Rev. Robert Dufort, officiating.

After the death of his father, he operated the family farm for many years. He later went to work at Alcoa, where was a facility maintenance mechanic for 43 years retiring in 1989. He and his wife also owned and operated McElwain’s Decorating Center in Fort Covington for 33 years. After retiring, he worked for Senior Housing in Fort Covington. He was very active with several square dance groups, where he held offices, most recently they belonged to the Swinging B’s Square Dance Club in Cornwall. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, woodworking, and doing painting. He was a former communicant of St. Mary’s of the Fort Catholic Church, and was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Massena since moving to Massena in 2002.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Cecille; his son and daughter-in-law, David Wayne and Janet McElwain of Las Vegas, NV; 2 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; his sister, Marion Ghostlaw; his brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Audrey McElwain, all of Fort Covington; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; three brothers, Errol F. McElwain, Sr. on April 7, 1991, Walter J. McElwain on December 5, 1995, and Harold James MacElwain on April 4, 2006; his sisters Helen E. Pelkey on May 19, 1997 and Dorothy K. Kitts on March 6, 2007.

Friends may call at the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena, Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Scott D. Fobare, celebrating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Bombay in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Massena Rescue Squad.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com.

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