A former Indiana County commissioner, county detective and investigator for two state organizations died last week.
Vaughan Lee Davis died in Mesa, Arizona. Born in Indiana County, he graduated from Purchase Line High School before attending Pasadena Community College. After graduating from college, he returned to Indiana, and served in the district attorney’s office in 1968. He was promoted to chief county detective in 1972, before serving a term as the Indiana County commissioner from 1976 to 1979. Law enforcement would continue to be a major part of his life, as he would become chief of investigation for the Office of the Auditor General and chief of investigation for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He would later teach at the IUP Police Academy and was inducted into the International Police Association Hall of Fame.

In the private sector, he was a participant in SRS Security, and later had Davis Security.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday afternoon and evening at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home in Indiana. Full obituary information can be found at obituary section of our website.
Davis died at the age of 80.

Curtis W. Guyette Sr., 93, of South Williamsport, passed away on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, at his home. Known as Curt, he was the husband of Phyllis M. (Haas) Feese-Guyette, his wife of 28 years. Born in Elmira, N.Y. on Aug. 11, 1929, Curt was the son of the late Robert W. and the late Eileen F. (Daley) Guyette.
Raised in Kingston, Pa., Curt served his country honorably as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and a radio operator in the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Pennsylvania State Police in 1975 as a Corporal. During his 20 years as a Trooper he served in a variety of capacities, working his way up to head of Vice & Narcotics at the Montoursville barracks, eventually joining a statewide internal affairs unit. In addition to a stint as office manager for the law firm McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall, he continued to serve in law enforcement for various agencies, including as Chief Detective for the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office and as an investigator for the US Department of Justice before finally retiring at the age of 80. He was a member of the New Covenant United Church of Christ of Williamsport. Curt was also a member of the King David Lodge #763 of Kingston; Scottish Rite, Valley of Williamsport A.A.S.R.; the County Detectives Association of Pennsylvania; and the Wheel Inn Club of Ralston.
Curt was an accomplished billiards player and enjoyed playing poker and other card games throughout his life. For many years, he and his wife were frequent travelers. Never a shrinking violet, Curt always created fun environments and brought others along. He also enjoyed sharing stories of his many exploits. His favorite song was “My Way,” which is how he lived his long life to the end. Curt was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed.
Curtis is survived by his wife Phyllis M. Feese-Guyette; two sons, Richard C. Guyette, of Williamsport, Curt W. Guyette Jr., of Saint Clair Shores, MI; a daughter, Kathryn L. (John) Guyette, of Menifee, CA; 7 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 8 step-great-grandchildren; 1 step-great-great-grandchild, and 5 nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his loving Boston Terrier Lilly.
In addition to his parents, Curt was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Guyette, a sister, Eileen Gildea, and former wife Lois Kennedy Guyette, the mother of his children.
Family and friends are invited to Curt’s 11:30 a.m. memorial service on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at McCarty~Thomas Funeral Home, (formerly Spitler Funeral Home), 733 Broad Street, Montoursville, with Rev. Bradley Walmer officiating. Friends may call from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the funeral home.
The family will provide the flowers and suggest memorial contributions to Journey House c/o New Covenant United Church of Christ, 202 East Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at mccartythomas.com.

U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HONORS EIGHT INDIVIDUALS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY
Scranton –United States Attorney John C. Gurganus recently honored eight individuals for their outstanding contributions to public safety. These awards are made each year to a select group of individuals who perform in an exceptional manner and who make significant contributions to our Office’s efforts to promote public safety.

Chief Detective Michael Dessoye, of the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office received the United States Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement. This award recognizes Chief County Detective Michael Dessoye’s exceptional work in promoting cooperation among law enforcement agencies. During more than 50 years as a law enforcement officer, Chief Detective Dessoye has vigorously worked to create strong working relationships between federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminals who pose a danger to the citizens of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement agencies in the region have greatly benefited from his keen investigatory skills and his unique ability to forge partnerships that bring the necessary resources to investigations and thereby securing successful outcomes.

This award recognizes Daniel Mimnaugh’s 26-year career of distinguished service as a law enforcement officer in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. His law enforcement career includes positions as a Pennsylvania State Trooper, an FBI Task Force Officer, the Laflin Chief of Police, and the Coordinator of the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. In those positions, he initiated and led numerous complex drug trafficking, organized crime, and gang related investigations. His efforts resulted in the prosecution of hundreds of individuals and forfeiture of millions of dollars in illegally obtained assets. This award pays tribute to his tenacious work in the field, but also his more recent leadership of the members of the Drug Task Force.

On December 31 st the last evening of 2020 one of Americas Greatest Generation Joseph F. Gereaghty age 96, passed away. Born December 23, 1924 Joe was from FISHTOWN, USA (a neighborhood in Philadelphia) and over the past 30 plus years lived in the “Irish Riviera” (North Wildwood NJ).   He attended Immaculate Conception grade school and Northeast High school and worked as a Welder for the Kensington Ship Yard Philadelphia, PA. before joining the United States Navy on August 13, 1943. He was sent to the Naval Training Center Great Lakes, ILL. Naval Air Training Center Jacksonville, FL, Amphibious Training Base Camp Bradford, Norfolk, VA. And Gunners Mate school at Navy Pier Chicago, ILL. He was a Seaman First Class and assigned to the Naval Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet. He served on the LST’s (Tank Landing Ships). LST-599, LST-780 and LST-824 responsible for landing troops, tanks and supplies on beachheads in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.   Joe saw action on the islands of Eniwetok, Guam and Saipan. He participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in March and April of 1945 when LST-599 was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze at Kerama Retto, Okinawa April 3, 1945. For the remainder of the War they shuttled supplies between Okinawa and the Philippines in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan. He also performed occupational duty in the Far East seeing service in China until mid-September 1945. Joe was honorably discharge on December 29, 1945. For his service during World War II, Joe received the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, World War II Victory Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.   When Joe returned home from the war he worked as a Teamster in the trucking industry for nine years. In June 1953 he joined the ranks of the City of Philadelphia Police Department and graduated with police academy class #107 and wore badge # 1951. He was assigned to the 6 th Police District covering downtown (Center City) Philadelphia, he was an acting Sergeant in the early 1960’s.   In 1963 Joe was transferred and assigned to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as a Police Officer/ DA Detective. Because Philadelphia is the only City & County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania personnel from the Philadelphia Police Department can be laterally moved and permanently assigned to the DA’s Office. They work in the capacity of a District Attorney Detective otherwise known as a County Detective, police personnel and county detective personnel work hand in hand. Joe was assigned to the Major Trial Unit working on felony cases throughout the city. Joe was also assigned to the Sex Crimes Squad, Special Investigation Squad, Private Complaint Unit, Fraud Unit, Victims/Witness Unit, Homicide Unit, and Warrant Unit being sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshall and traveling throughout the United States. During Joe’s last assignment he assisted with the reorganization of the Witness Subpoena Unit. Throughout his 15 years at the DA’s Office Joe worked under four-elected District Attorney’s: James C. Crumblish, Arlen Spector, Edward Rendell, and Emitt Fitzpatrick.   Joe was married to his late wife Ann (nee Mohollen) for 67 years they had three children Margaret Dymowski (Edward), Joseph William and Diane Maguire (Michael), five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, one great-great grandson. Brother to the late John, Michael, Mary, Bonnie, Aggie and Peggy.    Joe was entered into the Pennsylvania Police Hall of Fame in 2006. Joe was one of the original 13 founders of the County Detectives Association of Pennsylvania, at the time Joe was the only County Detective or the other 12 founders were all Chiefs of Detectives. Joe was also one of the co-founders of Pennsylvania Region 13 of the International Police Association. He assisted with obtaining the charter and served as the first President of Pennsylvania Region 13 for two terms.     Joe was a 67-year member of the Fraternal Order of Police Philadelphia Lodge 5. Life Member of the County Detectives Association of PA & International Police Association PA Region 13, Cape May County Emerald Society, Knights of Columbus Our Lady of the Rosary Council 2527, the Loyal Order of the Mouse Wildwood Lodge 585 and Greater Wildwood BPO Elks Lodge 1896.