John "Hoppy" Patrick Hopkins of Jay, New York passed away Dec 19, 2025, at University Medical Center after a long illness.

John was born June 11, 1948, in Keene Valley Neighborhood House and grew up and lived most of his life in or near Au Sable Forks, New York.

He is well known as a skilled craftsman and a man of many trades.

As a boy he enjoyed delivering milk with his father. He began paid work at age 13 in order to help his mother and family after the death of his father.

He worked as a painter for Clarence Edmonds and Sons of Keene Valley for many years. He saw some men hauling shingles up onto a roof and at that moment decided to be a painter. He had to hitchhike to get to his first job interview with Adrian Edmonds.

John was not only an expert with colors and different types of paint, stains and the like, he was also excellent at working with clients, helping them get the look that they wanted for their home. He had the eye of an artist.

John loved to learn and create in his personal life, building his own house, much of it from the pines on his land. He also loved to garden, study the birds and animals on the property and built sheds and a greenhouse to support his interests.

John loved to read and as mobility became more difficult he loved reading and watching the History Channel.

John and Lynn met in mid-life. Each had already established their own paths. John loved and respected Lynn for the woman who she was. Many of their interests were shared and some went in different directions. They supported each other in their paths and held deep trust in each other.

While Lynn is a spiritual person and more prone to get involved with groups of people and organizations, John was less quick to join but good at assessing a situation and finding a way to engage. He was a good judge of character and had a good sense of who he was.

John was a good teacher and liked to share his knowledge of the building trades or the natural world. Those who worked with him said he knew the job, was fun to work with and made the day interesting. One praised him as a "stand-up guy".

John is survived by his wife Lynn Edmonds of Jay, NY; his daughter Nancy Cumber and her children Dylan and Noah Cumber; his brother Howard Hopkins and his wife Bonnie; his sister-in-law Carol Hopkins and her children Jessica and Jason; his cousin David Richardson and his wife Stacie.

He was predeceased by his father Ralph A. Hopkins, his mother Doris E. Richardson Hopkins, his brother George Hopkins, his uncle Stanley "Pete" Richardson, and aunt Beverly Barrett Richardson.

Arrangements were entrusted to Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home, PO Box 127, 3 College St., Au Sable Forks, NY 12912.