Clayton J. "Fudd" Rutan

Clayton J. "Fudd" Rutan, 36, of Willet, NY, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2011, while surrounded by his family, at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, after a valiant and courageous battle with leukemia.

Fudd was born in Cortland, NY on May 12, 1975, a son of the late Ronald Rutan, Jr. and Barbara Rutan Maroney. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a graduate of Cincinnatus Central School. He attended the Berean Bible Church, Greene, and was employed as a bridge builder with Vector Construction, Cicero, for several years. Fudd had many passions in life, including hunting and his hobby farm, where he raised everything from goats to peacocks, but most important to him was his children and best friend of 17 years, Jess. A loving husband, father, and son, he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Jessica Rutan, of Willet; and his children, Damian John and Deslinn Jo, both at home. He also leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Barbara and John Maroney of Willet; a brother, Lee (Melissa) Rutan of Willet; sisters, Linette (Charles) Parks of McGraw and Hanna (John) Nate of Willet; stepsisters, Lisa (David) Houck of Virgil and Denise (Dennis) Hollenbeck of Cortland; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Linda Gardner and Mark Brown of Willet; a brother-in-law, James (Rebecca) Gardner of Willet; sister-in-law, Desi (Cole) Stafford of Willet; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

He was predeceased by his father, Ronald Rutan, Jr., on January 15, 1988.

Funeral services will be held at the Berean Bible Church, 109 Co. Rd. 2, Greene, NY on Saturday, September 10, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Charles Reppard officiating. Burial will be in Taylor Rural Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, NY on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It is the wish of the family that people dress comfortably or wear their Fudd tee-shirt or an orange tee-shirt for leukemia awareness. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Clayton Rutan may be directed to Hope Lodge, 197 Summer Street, Buffalo, NY 14222.