Homer Clair Gutchess, of Boca Raton, Fla., died Sunday, March 19, 2006, in Cortland, N.Y. Born Nov. 25, 1927, Mr. Gutchess was the oldest child of Clair Blanchard Gutchess (1900-1978) and Irene Engst Gutchess (1902-1986). He succeeded his father as proprietor of Gutchess Lumber Co. Inc. in 1978, and founded related hardwood companies Cortland Wood Products Inc. and Cortland Chip Corp., Gutchess Timberlands Inc. and Gutchess Hardwoods Inc. The Gutchess companies manage timberlands for sustainable growth. They operate sawmills, drying facilities and dimension plants. Offices are located in Cortland, Latrobe and Beijing. Before retiring to South Florida, Mr. Gutchess was active on various boards and charities in the Cortland area, including Cortland Savings Bank, Cortland Memorial Hospital, Grace Episcopal Church and Rotary Club. Mr. Gutchess is survived by his wife, Martha Wood Gutchess; their son Gary; daughter-in-law Elizabeth; grandsons Matthew and Daniel; and great-grandson Benjamin. Surviving siblings include sisters Elsie Gutchess, of Dryden, N.Y., Joann Randolph, of Tampa, Fla., and Carolyn Sue Carver, of Sarasota, Fla.; a brother, Keith E. Gutchess, of Cortland; and a sister-in-law, Emily Gutchess, of Naples, Fla. He was predeceased by a brother, Neil Blanchard Gutchess; and a sister, Arlene May Gutchess. The Gutchess family traces its American ancestry to the Rev. Moritz Goetschy (1686-1734), of Zurich, Switzerland, who led a congregation of 181 Swiss and Dutch to Philadelphia in 1734. The family first settled in the Cortland area in about 1815. The lumber company began operation in 1904. Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the WRIGHT-BEARD FUNERAL HOME, Cortland. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland. Interment will be at Cortland Rural Cemetery in Cortland.