William F. “Bill” Gokey of State Street, Ogdensburg passed away on June 1, 2013. Mr. Gokey was born at A. Barton Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg, NY, January 21, 1942, to Bessie K. Durham Gokey and William H. Gokey. Surviving him are a sister, Mrs. Virginia Gokey Ballou, 2 nieces, and numerous cousins. A brother James A. Gokey, pre-deceased him. Arrangement are with the Fox & Murray Funeral home.
There will be no showing. A Masonic graveside service will be Monday (June 3, 2013) at 4pm at Ogdensburgh Cemetery. Mr. Gokey graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy High School, served in the U.S. Navy, and was Honorably discharged as a disabled veteran. E.J. Dailey, owner of E.J. Daily Trapper’ Supplies employed him part-time after school at the age of 11 until he entered the Navy. He was a professional 5-string banjoist. He played on many network & local radio & TV shows in Canada and then went to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., where he was associated for 35 years. He played and toured the world with Bluegrass pioneer superstars Mac Wiseman, Bill Monroe, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Jimmy Martin, and many others as a member of their bands and 5-string banjo player. He also toured with Red Foley, Tex Ritter, Ernie Ashworth, and other Grand Ole Opry country superstars of the time as bassist. He was a 50 year-lifetime member of A. F. M. Local 257 Nashville Association of Musicians. He was also a concert promoter and worked with Victor Lewis’s Parthenon Productions of Nashville & Detroit, Larry Sanborne’s Argonaut Productions of Dayton, Ohio, and Buddy Lee Agency of Nashville, Tenn. for many years.
Mr. Gokey was also a successful writer, having numerous articles published by Fur-Fish Game, Bluegrass Unlimited, Banjo News Magazine, and other international publications.
Mr. Gokey was a life member of Ogdensburg Acacian Lodge 128 Free & Accepted Masons where he served as Lodge Secretary for 12 years. The Grand Master of Masons in The State of New York personally presented him the title of Dedicated Service Award in April 2003.
Mr. Gokey’s statement for this obituary: “Don’t waste your money sending any flowers, sympathy cards, or giving it to some charity – you’re going to need every dime when you get old, sick, and “the vultures” take everything you worked a lifetime for. I’m dead and that’s it!” Online condolences may be shared at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com
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