Obituary of John Emerson Becker

John E. "Jeb" Becker, II (photo APLeaf) SENECA FALLS – John E. "Jeb" Becker, II, 78, of 76 Cayuga St., passed away on Friday (June 9, 2017) in Geneva General Hospital, with his family by his side. In lieu of calling hours, family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Jeb's life at 2 p.m. Wednesday (June 14) at The First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, 23 Cayuga St., Seneca Falls. TheRev. Leah Ntuala, pastor, will officiate. A reception at Parkers, 86 Fall St., Seneca Falls, immediately following. Burial will be private in Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo., NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seneca Cayuga ARC, 1083 Waterloo-Geneva Rd., Waterloo, NY, 13165; Pathway Home, P.O. 516, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148; The First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, P.O. Box 383, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148. Jeb was born March 3, 1939, in Waterloo, NY, the son of John Charles and Mary Elizabeth Fellows Becker. He was a 1957 graduate of Waterloo High School and a 1961 graduate from Hamilton College. He was an active member in the Psi Upsilon Fraternity while in college and ever since. He served as the Alumni President for many years and delighted in meeting new Psi U brothers each year. Jeb possessed many great gifts and two of the most notable were his generosity and his singing voice. He was active in many charitable organizations serving on the Board of Directors at Seneca Cayuga ARC for years. He was supportive of Pathway Home, The House of Concern, and many others local nonprofits. He received accolades and awards too numerous to count, culminating with a recognition by the town of Seneca Falls in 2011 for his Volunteer Service. His beloved wife, Diana, shared that honor with him and they are both remembered with deep fondness by all who knew them. Jeb sang with the Finger Lakes Chorale and contributed a rich baritone/bass voice to many solos in addition to providing leadership in the men's sections. He performed Handel's Messiah many times and particularly loved the solos in that work. He also sang with the choir of the First Presbyterian Church and celebrated Christmas Eve many times by singing O Holy Night, a favorite hymn. Jeb followed his grandfather's and father's footprints into the insurance business, building Gay & Son in Seneca Falls into a thriving independent agency and supporting the network of agencies including Becker Mc Lean in Waterloo, where his father had worked until well past retirement age. Jeb retired in late 2016 but stayed close to the office and had a deeply fulfilling relationship with the men and women who work there, many whom he considered family. For many years, Jeb contributed to the NY State level of Independent Insurance Agents of New York, serving as president in 1982-83. Above all, Jeb loved his family and adored the time he spent with the many members who passed their summers at Lake Bluff, N.Y. on Sodus Bay. He loved to watch the sunset and gathering storms drift across Lake Ontario. The joy he experienced in community with his family is hard to express. He looked forward to the summer all year long and cherished the months at the cottage. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth B. Feathers of E. Nassau; sons John C. (Kaye) Becker, II of Golden, Colo., Bennet Becker of Bolton, Mass., and George D. (Molly) Becker of Riverside, Calf.; nine grandchildren; brother, Charles L. (Carol) Becker of Dryden, N.Y.; sisters Mary Jeanne (Albert) Fenn of Sarasota, Calif. and Catherine (John) VanVechten of Canandaigua; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Jeb was predeceased by a brother, Robert F. Becker and his wife, Diana Shears Becker. Condolences for the family may be submitted at www.coegenungfuneralhome.com»(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)