COPENHAGEN-Cecelia M. "Cheech" Furgison, 62, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at the Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.  She was born on November 10, 1962, in Glens Falls, New York, to the Late Merrick A. Graham, Jr., and Cecelia (Leviker) Graham. She graduated from Copenhagen Central School in 1980.

A visitation will be held at the River of Life Fellowship, Copenhagen, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service immediately following at 12:00 p.m. A meal will follow after the service. She will be laid to rest in the Barnes Settlement Cemetery in Alexandria Bay alongside her daughter, Meghan Elizabeth Pledger, who was born sleeping on March 1, 1990.

Cheech's first job was at the Crystal Restaurant in Watertown, NY.  She worked for Mercy Hospital from 1986 to 1990 and then for Samaritan Medical Center from 1990 to 2010.  She went on to bartend, waitress, and cook for various restaurants before opening her greenhouse. She married James D. Pledger on September 9, 1989. She later married Richard R. Furgison on September 30, 2000.

Cheech is survived by her mother, Cecelia Graham, Albany; her husband, Richard Furgison, Copenhagen; her children, Jessica (Don) Towles, Watertown; Benjamin (Christina) Pledger, Adams;  Andrew (Teresa) Pledger, Copenhagen; Madison Furgison, Carthage; Angela Furgison, Copenhagen; Brandi (Josh) Smith, Petersburg; and Erika Furgison, Hoosick Falls. Her siblings, Michael (Kyong-Ok) Graham, Virginia; Elizabeth "Liz" (Thomas) Juby, Castorland; Amy Makuch, Carthage; Timothy Graham, Dexter; Charles (Sarah) Graham, Carthage; Mary Graham-Morris, Albany; Jay (April) Graham, Florida; her grandchildren, Ryan Towles, Sarah Towles, Carleigh Pledger, Genesis Pledger, Juliana Mayer, Braydee Pledger, Brantlee Pledger, Gavin Pledger, Benjamin Smith, Sydney Chisamore, Chloe O'dell, and soon-to-be Baby Boy Furgison.

She is predeceased by her father, Merrick A. Graham Jr., her daughter, Meghan Elizabeth Pledger, her brother, David Graham, and her previous husband, James D. Pledger.

Cheech enjoyed gardening, reading, and her dogs, but most of all spending time with her grandchildren.

Her family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.  Arrangements are in the care of the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, 518 State Street in Carthage, NY 13619. Those wishing to leave a condolence may go to www.bezanillafh.com. Contributions in her memory may be made to River of Life Fellowship, 9871 Number Three Road, Copenhagen, NY  13626, or to the Jefferson County SPCA.