Obituary of Oren Ferris Preston

Oren Ferris Preston , 85, of Lake Placid, joined his heavenly family Wednesday, November 19 at the Adirondack Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Oren was born in Lake Placid April 3, 1929, the oldest son of Oren G. and Mildred (Ferris) Preston. He married Constance Laura Jacques on November, 7, 1952 at the Adirondack Community Church. He attended Lake Placid High School until enlisting in the United States Army in 1950. Sergeant Preston served in Korea until 1956 and was honorably discharged. Oren worked as an independent contractor in his early years, learning his trade from his grandfather, Walter Ferris. Numerous homes were built in Lake Placid and Florida by this team. During the winter months when construction was slow, "Sonny", as he was known to many, worked at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Bobsled Track, eventually becoming an employee of the Town of North Elba. Oren could be found in "his Shop" in the back of the Olympic Arena where he was chief carpenter for the Arena, the ski jumping complex, the horse show grounds and Craig Wood Golf Course. He especially enjoyed designing and building elaborate scenery for the annual Lake Placid Winter Coronations and the summer ice skating shows. He continued this employment when the Town facilities were transferred to the Olympic Regional Development Authority until his retirement in 1991. "Pres" was active in sports his whole life. In his youth he loved basketball, baseball, football and bobsledding. He was one of the earliest drivers licensed by New York State to take riders down the bobsled track. He spent many weekends zigging and zagging with the Bobsled Club. As his children became involved in sports, Pres moved on to coaching Little League Baseball. In 1962 he was Co-Chairman of the NY State Babe Ruth Tournament held in Lake Placid. He took great pride and pleasure in cheering on his grandchildren as they played sports. Oren served two terms as a Lake Placid Village Board Trustee and was the Building Inspector for both the Village and Town Boards. He was a member of the Adirondack Community Church and past member of the Elks Lodge. Oren was a member and President of the Lake Placid Chapter of the Full Gospel Businessman's Fellowship. He found great inspiration and comfort in his faith and enjoyed worshiping with many different congregations around the state. Pres was dedicated to unselfishly helping others in any way necessary. He was dedicated to serving his church, his family, his neighbors and friends and his community. His carpentry skill were used building stage sets for drama productions at school, the Playhouse and church programs. He loved creating Christmas scenes to be displayed on the porch of his Greenwood Street home for everyone to enjoy. He was willing to lend a hand fixing things for Seniors at the Greenwood, ringing the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle bells or fixing a door or building an entrance way at the church . Friends always stopped by his garage to leave something to be fixed or find a needed part for something. Pres believed in hard work and instilled this ethic in all his children and the younger people he worked with at ORDA. He was always happy - joking, laughing and eager to greet you with a warm hug. Oren's greatest love was his family. Oren is survived by his wife, Constance Jacques Preston with whom he recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. He is survived by Linda Preston Jones of Lake Placid and her children Paul and his wife Brooke (Cobb) and their children Charlotte and Francie, Andrew Jones and Lindsay Jones and her husband Zach Hanson; Rhonda Preston of Lake Placid; Steven Preston and his wife Linda (Bookmiller) of Saranac Lake and their children Kate and Tim; Randy Preston and his girlfriend Louisa Tufo Sparacino of Lake Placid and his children Ryan, Logan and Keegan and great granddaughter, Heaven-Leigh; Oren Bradley Preston and wife Kristin (Brewer) of Lake Placid and their children Kyle and Oren; Alyson Preston Thompson and her husband Junior of Lake Placid and their children, Ayla, Haile, Nzoni and Makeda; and Juli Preston Frost-Gonzalez and her husband John of Cummings, Georgia and their children Heather Gonzalez, Ashley, Ian and Jaclyn Frost. Oren is survived by four brothers, G. Duane (Red) Preston and wife Freda; Paul Preston and wife Joanne; Robert Preston and wife Evelyn and Bernard Preston and wife Marie all of Lake Placid and 1 sister Dorothy Preston Gray and her husband Hyler of Salamanca, NY and many cousins. "Uncle P." will be missed by his many nephews and nieces and his special adopted family, Bill and Gail Kissel of Lake Placid and their children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Leona Preston, a brother Raymond Preston, a niece Gail LaValley, a nephew Robert Preston, son-in-law Robert (Jack) Frost and grandson Alex Frost. Calling hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday November 21st at the M. B. Clark, Inc. Funeral Home in Lake Placid, NY with an American Legion Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m.. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid with Rev. Richard Sears and Rev. Ingrid Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in North Elba Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to High Peaks Hospice, the Adirondack Community Church or the Bobby Preston Memorial Scholarship Fund. Relatives and friends are invited to "light a candle" and share a memory or leave online condolences for the family to cherish at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com .