Wake Forest, NC - Arthur Freeman Law, originally of Vernon, NY and more recently of Wake Forest, NC, died peacefully in the company of family while in hospice care after a brief illness, on Wednesday, August 29, in North Carolina.
Art was born on December 30, 1949 in Oneida, NY, the youngest of four children of Freeman Wells Law and Florence (Ackerman) Law. Growing up, Art enjoyed spending time outdoors, and was a lifeguard at Verona Beach State Park. In addition to being elected president of his senior class, Art served as captain of the football team at Vernon Verona Sherrill High School, where he graduated in 1968.
Football and the frontier spirit led Art out west, where he attended the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. He remained an ardent football fan for life, most fervently rooting for Syracuse. He later transferred to Springfield College in Mass., where he received his undergraduate degree in Recreation and Park Management.
Following college, Art returned to working outdoors, clearing the Erie Canal towpath of trees, a job which he enjoyed tremendously, during which time he met Sue Wilber, his future wife. He continued working until the last possible moment before entering the Army, serving primarily in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
After returning home from military service, Art and Sue married on January 15, 1977 in Vernon. They lived in Sherrill and Kenwood, where they raised their daughter Mindy and son Cody.
Art was beloved by his colleagues at the Central New York Developmental Services Offices in Rome, NY, where he worked in recreation and quality assurance for the developmentally disabled. Following his career, and never quite retiring, he and Sue traveled the country for the next decade, living and working at many scenic destinations from California to Florida before putting down firmer roots in Wake Forest, NC close to their daughter and first grandchildren.
In addition to spending time in the outdoors, Art cherished spending time with his friends, family and grandkids, loved taking his dog Dixie for rides in his golf cart, and enjoyed an on-and-off relationship with his mustache.
Art is survived by his wife, Sue (Wilber) Law, his children Mindy (Law) Wagner and Cody Law, his mother-in-law Joan (Dolan) Wilber, his daughter-in-law Laura (Meredith) Law, grandchildren Wyatt and Ruby Wagner and Jackson and Owen Arthur Law, his siblings Sue Willey, Diane Lummis and Donald Law, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life took place on Sunday, September 9th at the Vernon United Methodist Church, in Vernon, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Art's memory can be made to: VVS Education Foundation, PO Box 63, Sherrill, NY 13461, attn: Freeman and Florence Law Family Scholarship Fund
Published in The Oneida Daily Dispatch on Sept. 9, 2018