Auburn Citizen, June 6, 1928
One of the prettiest of the many early June weddings took place at St. Mary’s Church at 9:30 o’clock when Miss Marie McBeth, daughter of Mrs. Jake Hoegal of 31 Pleasant Street, became the bride of John E. Major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Major of Skaneateles. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Francis Burns, assistant pastor of the church.

The bride was charming in a white crepe wedding gown with veil. She carried an arm bouquet of white roses and sweet peas. Miss Nellie Major, sister of the bridegroom, was bridesmaid. She wore a creation of ashes of roses taffeta, with hat to match, and carried pink roses.

The bridegroom’s best man was his brother, Sarto Major, also of Skaneateles.

Following the ceremony, the bridal party motored to Lakeside Inn where a delicious wedding breakfast was served to 25 people, including relatives and friends of the young couple.

After a wedding trip of two weeks to Buffalo and Canada, Mr. and Mrs. Major will reside at 21 Pleasant Street, Auburn.

Auburn Citizen-Advertiser, July 6, 1938
City Manager John D. Aiken today announced the appointment of John E. Major of 21 Pleasant Street as a patrolman in the city Police Department for a probationary period of three months. Mr. Major’s name led the list eligible for appointment. The new appointee is a graduate of the Police School. He has been employed as a clerk.

Auburn Citizen-Advertiser, October 30, 1951
Two Auburn policemen have been added to the department detective staff as a result of the quarterly re-assignment of men which was announced today by Chief of Police Chester J. Bills.

Officers John E. Major and John T. Costello are the men who will be shifted to the detective bureau Thursday, Nov. 1. They will work under Det. Sgt. Thomas L. Monahan. Officer Major will work days and Officer Costello evenings.

At present, Det. Beecher D. Flummerfelt assists Sgt. Monahan days and Det. Lawrence H. Mentillo handles night assignments in the detective bureau.

Chief Bills reported that the large number of investigations which are being conducted by the local department necessitated the switch.

Auburn Citizen-Advertiser, May 16, 1952
Detective John E. Major, 48, of the Auburn Police Department suffered a heart attack and died yesterday afternoon at his home, 60 Elizabeth Street.

Although Mr. Major had suffered from heart trouble for some time, he did not complain to fellow officers yesterday of any pain while on duty. When he returned to his home shortly before 5 p.m. he told his wife that he wasn't feeling well.

After lying down for some time he went to the bathroom. When he didn't return Mrs. Major went to see if he was all right. She found him lying on his back on the bathroom floor.

Police were notified by phone. Capt. Robert J. Riley detailed Officers Francis J. Tenity and J. Wayne Armitage to the Major home.

Once before the officer had suffered a heart attack which confined him to his home for several months before he was strong enough to return to duty.

Chief Chester J. Bills today called Det. Major one of the "outstanding" men in the department.

"He was loyal, courageous and devoted to his duty," the chief said. "His work as a patrolman and detective has been outstanding. He reported to duty many times when, no doubt, his physical pain was great.

"Det. Major enjoyed not only the respect of his fellow officers but of the city and community," Chief Bills declared.

Black and white bunting was placed around the door of police headquarters early this morning. The flag will fly at half-mast in front of the station until after the funeral.

Born in Skaneateles Falls, Det. Major had lived in Auburn for 30 [24] years and had been a member of the Auburn force since 1938. Last November he was appointed acting detective.

Mr. Major was a member of St. Mary's Church and of the Holy Name Society of that parish. He held membership in the Cayuga Club Benevolent Association and the Auburn Council 207, Knights of Columbus.

For some years before becoming a member of the police department he worked in a Skaneateles grocery store [owned and operated by E. A. Cronauer of Skaneateles Falls]. He was an enthusiastic hunter and enjoyed fishing, but had to give them up when he began having heart trouble.

He joined the force as a patrolman and was well known in Auburn. When he was appointed acting detective in November, Mr. Major became a plain clothesman.

He is survived by his widow. Mrs. Marie McBeth Major; five daughters, Mrs. Russell Morehouse Jr. of Sennett, Mrs. Theodore Skowron, Miss Joann Major, Miss Rita Major and Miss Patricia Major; a son John E. Major Jr., all of Auburn; his father, Thomas E. Major of Skaneateles Falls; four brothers, Onondaga County Attorney Charles T. Major, and Sarto Major, both of Skaneateles; Floyd J. Major and Lloyd F. Major; two sisters, Miss Laura Major and Mrs. James O'Shea, all of Skaneateles Falls; a granddaughter, Linda Lee Morehouse of Sennett, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at the home at 9 a. m. Monday, with services at 9:30 a. m. at St. Mary's Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Syracuse Post-Standard, March 21, 2005
Marie McBeth Major, 96, formerly of Auburn, died Friday, March 18, 2005, in Waterloo. Survivers include three daughters: Laura Morehouse, Joann Breschue and Rita Winnie; a son, John "Jack" Major; 22 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren.

The Auburn Citizen, August 23, 2013
Frank J. De Joy, 70, from Auburn, died Thursday August 22, 2013 at University Hospital, Syracuse, died unexpectedly from injuries sustained while working at his home.

Born in Auburn, New York on October 2, 1942, Frank was the son of the late Joseph and Stella Skowron De Joy. He was very proud of his military service to his country. He was a veteran of the US Air Force working as a jet engine mechanic from 1962 to 1966.

On January 8, 1968, he began a career with the Auburn Fire Department; 31 years later on March 3,1999 he retired from the department.

During his firefighter career, Frank’s professionalism earned him the respect of his brother firefighters. He also worked many years with Haresand Weeks, doing plumbing, heating and electrical.

He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church, a member of the Auburn Fire Fighter’s Retirees Association, a member of the SK Post, American Legion and the Prison City Ramblers.

After attending his first race, the Rebel 300 in Darlington, SC in 1963, Frank discovered his lifelong passion and continued to regularly attend NASCAR races in many different venues across the country.

He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed attending the Merry Go Round Theater productions. He had a great love for working on cars, and over the years had owned
and restored many classic automobiles.

Frank is survived by his loving family, his two daughters, Kathy Genkos and her husband Mark, of Auburn, Debbie Blake and her husband Robert of Cicero, a son Scott De Joy and his wife Monique of Auburn, eight grandchildren, Deanna and Amy Judson, Matthew, Zachary and Jacob Blake, Nicholas, Joseph and Victoria De Joy, a sister Theresa (David) Suslik, of Elbridge, and many nieces and nephews. Frank is also survived by his companion of the last several years, Toula “Stella” Chronis.

Predeceasing Frank was his wife Patricia Major DeJoy, and his brother, Jerome J. De Joy.

His is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Fleming.

Auburn Citizen, February 5, 2014
AUBURN — Mr. John E. “Jack” Major, 79, of West Drive, Auburn, died on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 in Auburn Community Hospital.

Mr. Major was born in Auburn on May 22, 1934, the son of John E. and Marie McBeth Major. He had attended Le Moyne College and was a United States Army veteran having served from 1954 to 1956. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church and Ancient Order of Hibernians, John F. Kennedy Division 1. Mr. Major had retired in 1997 from American Tobacco in Rochester; he had been their local sales representative for 37 years.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Donna Fedigan Major; their children, Susan Harton (Jeff), of Auburn, Lori Babiarz (James), of Auburn, John E. Major Jr. (Michelle), of Auburn, David Major (Shelly), of Seneca Falls, and Chris Major (Eve), of Auburn; grandchildren, Liam Major, of Auburn, Kiernan Major, of Auburn, Ryan Major, of Seneca Falls, Lauren Major, of Seneca Falls, Caitlyn Major, of Auburn, Maddy Major, of Seneca Falls, Nicholas Major, of Auburn, and Nadine Major, of Auburn; sisters, Laura Morehouse, of Auburn, Rita Winnie, of North Carolina, and Joanne Brechue, of Auburn; many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Along with his parents, he was predeceased by two sisters, Marie Skowron and Patty DeJoy.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Mary’s Church, 15 Clark St., Auburn. Interment with full military honors will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Fleming.