Harry H. Mcchesney Jr.

Harry H. McChesney, Jr. of Westerlo, NY, 87 passed away on Monday, August 27, 2012. Harry was born on September 1, 1924 in Neptune, NJ and was the son of the late Harry H. and Helen M. (Laug) McChesney. He was happily married for 66 years to the late Margaret K. (Wernes) McChesney.

Harry is survived by his daughter, Barbara H. McChesney; his son, Alan (Jacquelyn Brennan) McChesney; his sisters, Mary Jane (Leroy) Horner and Lillian M. Hurley and many nieces and nephews.

Enlisting in the Navy at age 17, Harry served 39 months in the Philippines during WWII. Harry was an artist who was fortunate to have worked most of his life at a profession he enjoyed so much. He retired from the NYS Museum where he was art director and background painter on the Indian and Mastodon group dioramas. He was an illustrator, portrait painter, taught figure & portrait drawing, and conveyed his excitement of nature's beauty in his Plein Air landscapes. His talent was nationally recognized by the Society of Illustrators, receiving their award for achievement early in his career, and his later works received several national and regional art association exhibition awards.

Funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, September 1, 2012 at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie. Calling hours will precede the service from 12 to 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made to the American Red Cross of NENY, 33 Everett Rd, Albany, NY 12205 (www.redcrossneny.org)