Robert J. Blais
Robert J. Blais, 70, of Newport died on July 7, 2010, after a long illness.
He was born on July 23, 1939, in Derby Line, a son of Albert and Ida (Carignan) Blais.
He always lived in the area, and after working on the railroad for a few years he became a carpenter and stone mason, working for many different contractors in the area on several major buildings .
Mr. Blais liked music, especially playing the guitar and harmonica. He also loved to play cards with family and friends. He was state single’s cribbage champion in the mid 1970s and doubles champion with his brother Armand. He also enjoyed going to the family hunting camp in Holland. The deer population was never affected by their presence.
Mr. Blais is survived by his children: Shawn Blais and his wife, Heidi, of Washington, Keith Blais and his wife, Jennifer, of Kansas, Timothy Blais and his wife, Tammy of St. Albans, Regina Stockwell and her husband, Dan, of Texas, Diana Cole and her husband, Michael, of West Burke, Dawn Blake and her husband, Andre, of Barre, Tammy Blais of Oregon, and Tracy Lamarche and her husband, Andre, of Albany; by 18 grandchildren; by his brothers: Russell Blais and his wife, Lucienne, of Newport, Armand Blais and his wife, Pat, of Newport and Florida, Guy Blais of Connecticut, Romeo Blais and his wife, Mary Lou, of Newport; by his sisters: Gisele Kerner of Derby and Sister Carmen Blais of Littleton, New Hampshire; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Marcel Blais, and a sister, Rita.
Funeral services were held on July 10 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line where a Mass was celebrated. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Edward’s Church, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Jeannette Carr
Jeannette Carr, 69, of West Burke died peacefully on Monday, July 5, 2010, at her home following a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by many family and friends.
Born on August 12, 1940, in Orleans, she was a daughter of Maurice and Lois Barry. She married Everett Red Carr. They later divorced.
She enjoyed gardening, fishing, and listening to fish stories, “visiting with Bob,” playing dice, and watching nature shows. She loved all and any type of animal, especially cats. She was a night owl, bullshooter, and a turtle.
She is survived by four children: Mark Carr and his wife, Lynn, and their son Joshua of Chesapeake, Virginia; Gary Carr and his wife, Sherry, of Maine and Newark, and their children, Nicole Carr, Kristen Carr and Daniel Carr; Cheri and her husband, Steven K. Allard, of East Haven and their daughters, Julia Allard and Jennifer Allard; Maurice “Moe” Carr and his wife, Janice, of West Burke and their children, Jessica Carr of St. Johnsbury, Samantha Carr of Lyndon, Jordan Lund, Jasmine Lund, and McKayla Carr of West Burke; by three great-grandchildren: Jada Stevens, Caiden Stevens, and Brandi Carr; by siblings Robert Barry of York, Maine, Lillian Brown of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, and Beverly Chapdelaine of Barton; by her cats Bobby-Dink, Mee-Mee, Bratrick; and Smudge; her dog, Wolfman Carr; by special and “adoptive” friends Al “Buford” Austin, Deb “Mable” Reichert, Sherry “Polly” Carr, Kevin “Ima” Reichert, Heloise Snark Esquire, Donna Gray, Tim Gilman, and many other friends and relatives too numenous to mention. A special thanks for the additional help and attention during her illness goes to Donna Gray, Sherry Carr, Deb Reichert, John Longe, and Ruth Allard. She was predeceased by ex-husband Everett Red Carr; by her parents, Lois Magoon Hennesey Barry and Maurice Barry; by siblings Lura Little, Dean Barry, Lloyd Barry, and by infant sister Jackie.
Calling hours were held at Pearsons Funeral Home on July 9.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to either the American Humane Society, or to Lyndon Rescue P.O. Box 401, Lyndonville, Vermont 05851.
Arrangements by Pearsons Funeral Home.
Spc. Ryan J. Grady
Spc. Ryan J. Grady was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, July 2, 2010.
Mr. Grady was born May 30, 1985, in Marion, Kansas, a son of Deborah L. Bezdek and James A. Grady. In Vermont he attended North Country Union High School as a freshman and Lake Region Union High School as a sophomore. In 2003 he graduated from Thunderbird Military Academy in Oklahoma.
Mr. Grady immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his active duty at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served the Army for three years and received a purple heart for being wounded in action. He later joined the Vermont National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in January of this year.
He is survived by his six-year-old daughter Alexis Joleen Quisenberry who lives in St. Johnsbury; his father, James A. Grady, of West Burke; his mother, Deborah L. Hudacek, of Bristow, Oklahoma; his two brothers and their wives: James and Lisa Grady of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Kevin and Sheli Grady of St. Johnsbury; a niece Selena Murphy; three nephews Dylan, Logan, and Joey Grady; and by aunts and uncles.
Visiting hours and funeral services will be held in St. Johnsbury at the North Congregational Church at 1325 Main Street.
Visiting hours will be Friday, July 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be an opportunity to file by his flag-draped casket and then extend condolences and support to his family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 17, at 10 a.m. Chaplain James MacIntyre III will officiate.
The funeral procession will proceed to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in St. Johnsbury where burial with military honors will follow at the Grady family lot.
Memorial contributions marked for “The Ryan Grady Memorial Fund” may be directed to Community National Bank, 857 Memorial Drive, Suite 2, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819.
Condolences may be shared privately with his family at www.saylesfh.com.
Walter “Dick” Melcher
Walter “Dick” Melcher, 88, of Littleton, New Hampshire, died on Thursday, July 1, 2010, after a brief illness.
He was born May 27, 1922, in Island Pond, a son of Violet (Leather) and stepfather George Bishop.
Mr. Melcher enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He served two tours of duty, one on the USS Hobson, another on the USS Oriskany as a first class petty officer, marine boiler maintainer. During his tours of duty, he worked for the Canadian National Railroad as an engine dispatcher.
For several years after the Navy, he drove trucks out of Massachusetts before moving back to Island Pond where he owned and operated the Chevron filling station. When the station sold, he drove truck for Caledonia Sand and Gravel and later became one of the first employees of McLure’s Honey and Maple Products in Littleton, where he worked until his retirement.
He is survived by his granddaughter Kimberly (Ash) King and her husband, Chris; their two daughters Brianna Ash and Macayla King of Bethlehem, New Hampshire; by Kim’s mother, Judy Ash, of Littleton; his Lakeside camping buddies Bruce and Nancy, David, Maynard, Pam, and Maurice of Colchester and Island Pond; and by his son Ric Melcher and family of Maine.
“Grampie” will be remembered for his sense of humor, his loving smile, and his ability to fix or rig anything!
A service of full military honors, provided by the Brighton American Legion Post #80, was held on July 10 at the Catholic cemetery in Island Pond.
Eugeniusz Milewski Sr.
Eugeniusz Milewski Sr., 79, of Barton died suddenly July 11, 2010, at his home.
He was born June 16, 1931, in Poland, a son of Joseph and Stephania (Siwiacka) Milewski.
He married Nina Kuderska, who predeceased him in 2009.
Mr. Milewski was a cabinet maker in Poland. He moved here in 1995 from Poland to be near his son and family. He loved growing his own vegetable and flower gardens.
He is survived by his son Eugene Milewski and his wife, Linda, of Barton; by seven grandchildren; by two brothers and two sisters, all living in Poland. He was predeceased by one brother.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Barton with the Reverend Sixmund Nyabenda officiating.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Cecil Ray O’Keefe
Cecil Ray O’Keefe, 74, of Island Pond died suddenly July 8, 2010, in Newport.
He was born December 6, 1935, in Island Pond, a son of Leon and Annie (Langmaid) O’Keefe.
He married Diane Sylvester who predeceased him.
Mr. O’Keefe was a lineman for the CNN Railroad and St. Lawrence Atlantic Railroad for many years. He enjoyed fishing and coaching basketball, baseball, and softball. He kept very active, and he would pick up metal all over the Northeast Kingdom.
He is survived by his son William Robert O’Keefe and his wife, Ma. Stefanella, of Island Pond, and by three grandchildren: Timothy Robert O’Keefe, Aleasha Lynn O’Keefe, and Clairiane Stefanelle; by a sister-in-law Bertha O’Keefe of Island Pond; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by the following brothers and sisters: Vera Groupe, Doris Lafoe, Lawrence O’Keefe, Ruby Dowland, Leariche Jackson, Charolotte Hall, and David O’Keefe.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 14, at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond with the Reverend Frank O’Connor celebrating a Mass. Interment will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Roger B. Putnam
Roger B. Putnam, 83, formerly of Westmore, died on April 8, 2010.
He was born in Arlington, Massachusetts. The first of two children, (his sister Barbara was born 20 months later) he was quite precocious and curious about the world. This attitude led him to hitchhike across the country to California with an older friend in 1943 when he was 16. Along with these exploits, Mr. Putnam was avid about challenging himself in the outdoors, several times climbing Mt. Washington to ski Tuckerman’s ravine.
His interests included art, and he attended Pratt University in Brooklyn, New York, with a focus on fashion. Upon graduating, he moved to Newport to work designing stretch ski pants for the company that would eventually become Slalom Skiwear.
He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War. After he was discharged, he attended Colorado University where he studied art education and would meet Kathryn Gebhard. The two would find many commonalities and would eventually marry in February 1956.
A year later they would welcome their first child, John, into their lives. In June 1957, Mr. and Mrs. Putnam would be involved in a major auto accident while traveling from Denver to New Hampshire to teach at a summer camp. Mr. Putnam’s leg was broken and during his hospitalization was infected, leading to multiple operations over the next three years.
Their second child, William, was born in 1958 and shortly thereafter Mr. Putnam turned to the teachings of Christ and wanted to share these with others. Attending SF Theological Seminary he would follow his beliefs and graduate in 1965 after doing a 16 month externship in northern Montana.
The Putnams next moved to Watertown, New York, to be closer to Mr. Putnam’s ailing mother. He had two small congregations, in Watertown and in the nearby village of Evan’s Mills. In addition, he was instrumental in organizing the first Meals on Wheels program in the area for the benefit of the senior population and was active in bringing ministry to inmates at Jefferson County jail.
In 1970, Mr. Putnam would again return to school, this time earning a master’s degree in psychology from Boston University. Before moving to Vermont full time in 1972, the Putnams had purchased property in Westmore which they used as a vacation home. While employed at Northeast Kingdom Mental Health, Mr. Putnam would also be quite involved with designing the renovation of the 1860s farmhouse they owned, one of his ongoing passions.
For many years, Mr. Putnam worked with the school districts throughout the Northeast Kingdom, providing guidance to school staff, students, and parents. Eventually he established a private psychology practice and had offices in Derby and Westmore.
Mr. and Mrs. Putnam loved to travel. Among their favorite adventures were spending time on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, during summer vacations. They also enjoyed traveling to Europe, the Caribbean during the winters, and visiting friends and historical sites in New England and northern New York. Mr. Putnam’s interest in art continued and evolved throughout his life, and spanned from oil painting, line drawings, and sculpture to photography and textiles. History, and in particular the influence of the Putnam family on the evolution of American history, was also an interest. Throughout his life, Mr. Putnam had a keen interest in current events, often following stories on local, national, and international levels.
In 2007, as health issues became a major concern, Mr. and Mrs. Putnam accepted Will’s invitation to move to Bend, Oregon, to be closer to medical care, their son and his wife. They adapted to their new environment gracefully and met the challenges of starting a new chapter in their lives. Following Mrs. Putnam’s death on August 6, 2009, Mr. Putnam chose to move into an assisted living facility.
There will be a memorial service at 7:30 p.m on Wednesday, July 21, in the Fellowship Hall of the Westmore church to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Putnam’s lives. All are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to share an anecdotal story please send a brief account to Will Putnam, care of John Alexander, P.O. Box 247, West Burke, Vermont 05871.
Mr. Putnam will be remembered for his humor, concern for the welfare of others, passion for art and design, and appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.
Ruth Myrtle Trefethen
Ruth Myrtle Trefethen, 87, of Barton died on July 12, 2010, in Whitefield, New Hampshire.
She was born October 4, 1922, in Barton, a daughter of Samuel and Myra (Leonard) Paul.
She married Loren Trefethen who predeceased her in 1987.
Mrs. Trefethen was a member of the Barton Baptist Church and volunteered at the Orleans Senior Center. She was an avid reader. She enjoyed cooking, writing poetry, and the company of animals and nature.
She is survived by her children: Paul Trefethen and his wife, Linda, of Loudon, New Hampshire, Lorna Hodgman and her husband, Ralph, of Littleton, New Hampshire, and Joyce Hansen of Haverhill, New Hampshire; by eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Ethel Basford of Glover, Edith DeGreenia of Webster, New Hampshire, and Rita French of Contoocook, New Hampshire; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother William Paul; two sisters: Rosa Champagne and Elsie Davis; and by one grandchild.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, with the Reverend Gary Ashton officiating. Interment will follow in the Irasburg Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Lake Region Senior Center, Orleans, Vermont 05860, or to the Barton Baptist Church, Barton, Vermont 05822.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Britta Y. Whitehouse
Britta Y. Whitehouse, 81, of Derby Line died on July 7, 2010, in Newport.
She was born April 15, 1929, in Viby, Denmark, a daughter of Folmar and Anna Poulsen.
In 1951 she married James W. Whitehouse who survives her.
Mrs. Whitehouse spent her early years in Denmark. She and her husband came to the U.S. in 1951.
Her hobbies included crocheting, cooking, and knitting, and she enjoyed the company of animals. She and her husband were extensive world travelers. Mrs. Whitehouse always enjoyed visits from her family and gatherings on Sundays over the years. She was a loving, devoted wife and mother.
She is survived by her husband, James Whitehouse, of Derby Line; her children: Annabella Wakefield of England, Gail Martin of West Charleston, James A. Whitehouse and his wife, Maria, of Huntington, and Eric Whitehouse and his wife, Joanne, of Rocky Hill, Connecticut; by15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held on July 10 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home with the Reverend Richard Whitehill officiating. Interment will take place at a later date in Denmark.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Newport Health Care Center Activities Fund, Prouty Drive, Newport,Vermont 05855.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Death Notice
Helen G. Miller, 97, of North Troy died peacefully on July 11, 2010, in Newport. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 16, at the United Church of Christ in North Troy with the Reverend Richard O’Hara and the Reverend Rick Shover officiating. Interment will follow in the North Troy cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Legion Auxillary Unit 28, 254 Dominion Avenue, North Troy, Vermont 05859.
Arrangements by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
0 shares
