Ticonderoga and Saugerties — James Patrick "Butch" Gunning, 60, of Saugerties and formerly of Ticonderoga, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Ticonderoga.

Born in Ticonderoga on Oct. 25, 1943, he was the son of the late Leonard H. "Tickle" Gunning and Marion E. (Blakely) Gunning Porter.

Butch was a great athlete and was a member of Ticonderoga's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1961, he joined the U.S. Marines and served four years. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca State College and taught science for several years in the Kingston, N.Y., area.

He married Pamela Christie Wilson on Aug. 26, 1972. They raised their family in the Kingston area.

Recently retired from Metropolitan Life of Kingston, Butch was an avid golfer and was working part time at the Ticonderoga Country Club at the time of his death.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Pamela C. (Wilson) Gunning; one son, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Gunning, U.S. Marine Corp., stationed at Washington, D.C.; three daughters, Casey M. Gunning of Glasco, Andrea B. Gunning of Kingston and Rebecca H. Gunning of Colorado; four brothers, Michael J. Gunning of Crown Point, Richard J. Gunning of Newtonville, Peter H. Gunning of Corinth and Thomas H. Gunning of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.