Mr. Edward "Ed" Jutras

December 1, 2018

NELSON EDWARD JUTRAS 1943 -2018 Nelson Edward Jutras, known to most in the community as “Ed” or “Mr. Ed,” passed away at the home of his son Peter and his wife Kristin on December 1, 2018, in Bogart, Georgia. Ed was born in 1943 in Schenectady, New York, to parents Nelson and Anna Jutras. He attended schools in Scotia, New York until his senior high school year when his family moved to Stoner Lake in the town of Caroga, NY, and he graduated from Dolgeville Central Schools. After high school, Ed obtained an Associate’s degree from Canton Ag & Tech School (now SUNY at Canton, NY). He then was employed by Xerox Corporation in Webster, NY in their Research and Engineering division. While employed there he attended night school at the University of Rochester, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. It was there that he met his future wife, Fern, and they were married in 1969. In 1977, Ed and Fern, looking to start a small business of their own, bought the former Stewart and Bergen Hardware Store on West Main Street in downtown Johnstown and named the store Ed’s True Value Hardware. Ed and Fern operated the business together with only some family help for about three years and then began to take on employees. Ed was active in the Downtown Johnstown Merchants Association during this time, and he enjoyed helping to set up the Christmas decorations in the downtown park across from the store. As the business grew, they doubled the retail area of the store, and in 1992 the store was moved to a new larger building on Comrie Ave. In 2002 when Ed and Fern retired and sold the store, it had 15,000 square feet of retail space and over thirty employees. The store continues today as Noble Ace Hardware. Ed was a big supporter of improving economic and educational opportunities for all in the community. He served at various times on the boards of the Johnstown Chamber of Commerce, the Johnstown YMCA, United Way, and Fulton-Montgomery Community College. He was also actively interested in helping to grow and diversify the economy of the area and served for several years on the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation and the Crossroads Incubator Corporation boards. He was an active member of the Christian Science Church in Gloversville. After retirement, Ed & Fern spent winters in the Asheville/Hendersonville area of North Carolina, and more recently in Murrells Inlet (Myrtle Beach area) of South Carolina. But, each summer they returned to Fulton County to their home on Stoner Lake, where Ed enjoyed canoeing, paddle-boating, hiking, and anything outdoors on the lake where he had spent all of his summers growing up at the family camp. He also enjoyed woodworking, bicycling, playing Bridge, traveling, dabbling in antique clock repair, and serving in various capacities at his church. Ed is survived by his wife of 49-plus years, Fern, one son, Peter Jutras, and his wife Kristin of Bogart, Georgia, two grandsons, James and Andrew Jutras, two sisters, Audrey Murray of La Mesa, California and Andrea Coleman and her husband John of Naples, Florida, and a stepmother-in-law, Lorena Howe of Auburndale, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents and one sister, Allise Jutras of Irving, Texas. He also leaves several cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held December 18 at Noon at the Ehle and Barnett Family Funeral Home, Llc 15 N. William St., Johnstown, NY. Friends may call one hour before the service at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed’s memory to Caroga Lake Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 536, Caroga Lake, NY 12032, or to the Fulton-Montgomery Community College Foundation, 2805 State Highway 67 Johnstown, NY 12095. Condolences and Sympathies can be made at www.ehleandbarnett.com