KING FERRY - Ruth E. "Jo" Parmenter, 84, of 1806 Ledyard Road, King Ferry, died Friday, April 22, 2005, at home, after an extended illness.

Mrs. Parmenter was born Aug. 9, 1920, the daughter of the late Martin and Louise (Ryan) Sheils, and had been a lifelong King Ferry resident and graduate of King Ferry Central School. Jo worked a variety of jobs before becoming the postmaster in King Ferry, retiring after 38 1/2 years of service. For a number of years, she also contributed articles for the King Ferry Tribune.

Mrs. Parmenter was a communicant of Our Lady of the Lake Church and was a member of the church Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed her association and many excursions with the Lansing, Locke and Southern Cayuga senior groups as well as with the Red Hat Society.

She is survived by a son, John W. (Mary) of King Ferry; three daughters, Gayleen A. (Robert) Folts of King Ferry, Bonnie L. (James) Petrosino of Rochester and Virginia L. Redder of Moravia; a sister, Bernice Karn of Fort Myers, Fla.; five grandchildren, Devon and Dylan Parmenter, Andrea and Michael Petrosino, Christina (Rob) Redder Hayes and their children, Gavin, Jesse and Cayden; a great-grandson, Alex Petrosino; and great-granddaughter, Victoria Kathleen Petrosino; nephews and nieces, including her special niece, Virginia Bradshaw of Groton.

She was predeceased by her husband, Henry G. Parmenter, on Aug. 29, 1991; three brothers, Martin Sheils Jr., Lyman Sheils Sr. and Everett P (Peck) Sheils; a sister, Florence McCann; and her son-in-law, Mark C. Redder.

A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at Our Lady of the Lake Church in King Ferry, with the Rev. Donald Curtiss as celebrant. Interment will be in Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the Shurtleff Funeral Home, 10117 State Route 90, Genoa.

Contributions may be made in Ruth's memory to Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery, King Ferry.