Gerald “Tater” J. Burrell, 45, of Inlet, passed away on Friday, August 3, 2018 at his home.

Gerry was born on June 14, 1973 in Cortland, NY, the son of Virginia (Robinson) Burrell Dehner and the late James Burrell. He was a 1993 graduate of Otselic Valley Central School and furthered his education attending Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Throughout his school years, Gerry worked with his Uncle Oscar on the family farm in South Otselic.

He always said that every kid should have to work on a farm for a summer so they’d know what REAL work was like. Somewhere during his freshman year at college he acquired the nickname “Tater” and from then on that’s what everyone knew him as.

The summer after his first year at college, Tater took a summer job at the Enchanted Forest in Old Forge and from that summer on made his home in the Adirondacks. Tater was the head chef at Drake’s Inn in Inlet and was a big part of the entire Drake family.

Tater was a very loving father and enjoyed to travel, especially to visit his daughter, Montana, whom attends school at Paul Smith’s College. He also was an avid fisherman and loved to spend time fishing with his daughter on 6th Lake.

Surviving are his beloved daughter, Montana Burrell, and her mother, Sam Krantz, Forestport; mother, Virginia (Bruce) Dehner, De Ruyter; sister, Lora (Nathan) Richardson; niece, Irene; nephews, James and Daniel; Uncle, Oscar (Betty) Robinson and their children, Elise, Sarah and Peter; an aunt, Linda (George) Burke, and her children, John, Denise, Judy, and Jason., He also leaves his loving family at Drake’s Inn, Paula Jones Drake, Matthew Drake, Michael Drake and all his local patrons whom he loved more than anything. He was predeceased by his father, James Burrell.

Tater’s family wishes to thank the Inlet Police Dept., Inlet EMT’s and the Inlet community that he’s been a part of for over 20 years.

In keeping with Tater’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. A Celebration of Life for his north country friends will be on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at the Inlet Vol. Emerg. Serv., Inc. Hall, 1 Limekiln Rd., Inlet, from 3-8 pm.

Graveside services will be on Sunday, August 19, 2018 at 12 pm in Valley View Cemetery in South Otselic, NY. Arrangements are with Dimbleby Funeral Homes, Inc., 128 Fern Ave., Old Forge.

Remembrances in Tater’s name may be made to Montana’s college fund, C/O Community Bank, PO Box 278, Old Forge, NY 13420.
Online tributes at www.dimblebyfh.com