Edward C. Dupray, 73, Waddington

WADDINGTON - Edward C. Dupray, 73, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Claxton- Hepburn Medical Center surrounded by his loved ones.

Ed was born on March 30, 1951. He attended and graduated from Madrid-Waddington Central School in June 1970. He went on to serve his country in the US Air Force from Nov 30, 1970 to May 27, 1975 where Ed worked as an airplane mechanic and later as a reservist.

He began his work career with Kawasaki Motors Corp. attending motorcycle technician training, graduating in 1973. He continued a career in mechanics in Waddington, working with Robert Marshall’s Kawasaki, and Richard Mayette’s “Fourth Coast” as a foreman and mechanic and for Massena Memorial Hospital as a maintenance mechanic. He also worked for the St. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogdensburg as an electrical maintenance trainee. He was a mill operator for Agway Bulk Feed, Canton. Later in life, Ed worked in the construction field and building trades. He enjoyed working alongside his younger brother David (deceased 2009) on several area construction jobs and with Dick Herbert of Waddington. He worked on the construction of the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. Ed was a member of the Local 278 Carpenters Union of Watertown, NY.

Ed truly loved deer hunting and fishing the St. Lawrence River. He belonged to the Waddington Fish and Game Club, Norfolk Rod and Gun Club, the Northeast Big Buck Club (shed antler Gross 137.0), the Northeast Big Buck Club (non-typical Gross 165.5-170.3). Ed was also a life member of the North American Hunting Club.

He so enjoyed nature, and later in life shot a lot of wildlife photography. From his photos, he studied the form of various species and translated that into hand carved and hand painted songbirds and ducks. Ed also crafted his own hand painted fishing lures for the many different kinds of fish that he caught in the St. Lawrence River.

Throughout his life, Ed always had a love of cars. With a steady hand at the time, he painstakingly built custom model car kits and painted them with exact details of each model and year. He enjoyed visiting at various car shops in the area where he would lend a hand whether it be mechanics, painting or refurbishing. Ed restored a small Chevy S-10 truck and took it on the car show circuit where he won several trophies and awards.

Ed is predeceased by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Kormanyos) Dupray, younger brother David and brother-in-law Richard Martin. He is survived from a previous marriage to Sharon Koch by his daughter, Crystal (Justin) Wraight and three granddaughters Cora, Sylvie and Marley of Lewisville, NC and his son Dustin Dupray of Lisbon, NY. He is also survived by his sisters, Susan (Bruce) Griffin, Burke, NY, MaryAnne Martin, Waddington, NY and Pearl (James) Oshier, Waddington, NY, sister-in-law, Kathy Dupray Putney, Rensselaer Falls, NY and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ed was a very generous, kind and gifted fellow whose life touched many others. He will be greatly missed.

Our family would like to deeply thank the many Doctors, nurses, support staff and drivers for their many years of caring for Ed while on his dialysis journey of nearly 20 years. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center, 124 Ford Ave, Ogdensburg, NY 13669.

A private memorial celebration of life for Ed will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.