Norma Chase Adams, 84, lifelong resident of White River Junction, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, while she was visiting at her daughter’s home in Doswell, Virginia.
She was born on March 21, 1929, in White River Junction, the daughter of Lawrence N. and Edith (Hazen) Chase. She attended schools in White River Junction, graduating from Hartford High School in 1947.
She married Conrad F. Adams on February 15, 1948, in White River Junction. Along with raising her five children, she also worked outside the home at various jobs. She was remembered by many as the “TV Lady” at the former Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire. She later was employed in the billing department at the hospital until she retired to spend more time with her husband.
She was always taking care of other people. This trait started early in her life when her mother died when she was only seven years old. She cared for friends and relatives her entire life. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in White River, the Order of the Eastern Star, and had volunteered at several community organizations including the Bugbee Senior Center. At one time, she served as the “Welcome Wagon Hostess” for the town of Hartford, where she welcomed new community members. She enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens. Most of all she loved spending time with her family at their beloved camp on Seymour Lake in Morgan.
She is survived by two sons: Philip Adams of Brownsville and Bradford, New Hampshire, and Steven Adams and his wife, Jean, of Hartland; three daughters: Mary Lou Jillings and her husband, Bruce, of Hamilton, New Zealand, Melinda Kendzia and her husband, Tom, of Doswell, and Jennifer Tilden and her husband, Jeff, of Orford, New Hampshire; her grandchildren: Paul Adams and his wife, Kelley, Forrest Adams, Joseph Adams, Erin Bianchi and her husband, Jared, Thomas Kendzia III and his wife, Chelsea, Timothy Kendzia, Tricia Kendzia, Christopher Adams, Loretta Adams, Sam Tilden, and Adele Tilden; two great-grandchildren: Tess Adams and Riordan Adams; two sisters: Eleanor Bradbury of South Burlington, and Elizabeth Stacy of Brattleboro; special family members: Ann Adams Newcity of Hartford, Carol Conforti Adams of Bradford, amd Cathrine Turcotte of Brownsville; and by several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband who died on December 30, 1994; a brother, Everett Chase; and by a son-in-law, Robert Willing.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 25, at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in White River Junction, with the Reverends Sandy and Lory VanNorden co-officiating. Burial will follow in the Hartford Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to The United Methodist Church of White River Junction, 106 Gates Street, White River Junction, Vermont 05001; or to the Seymour Lake Association, at P.O. Box 43, Morgan, Vermont 05853.
Condolences may be expressed to her family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
Denis Maurice Gray
Denis Maurice Gray, 29, of Newport died on April 17, 2013, in Burlington.
He was born on November 17, 1983, in Newport, the son of Ellis Gray Jr. and Laurie Jo Warner Makela.
He attended North Country Union High School and ROTC programs at the high school.
He loved playing video games, computers, cooking and being a stay at home dad for his daughter Kerrighan.
He is survived by his daughter Kerrighan Rose Gray of Newport; his fiancée Kari Maxham of Newport; his father Ellis Gray Jr. and his wife, Angie, of Derby; his dad Royce Naramore of Newport; and by his mother Laurie Jo Makela of Florida. He is also survived by his paternal grandmothers: Judy Gray of Derby, and Jane Booth of Coventry; his maternal grandparents: Maurice and Alice Macie of Newport; his paternal step-grandfather Robert Brosseau of Derby; his brothers and sister: Billy Naramore of Newport, Alan Gray of Ohio, Kristin Gray of Derby, Elliott Gray of Derby, Tim Gray of Derby, and Adam Gray of Derby; and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his brother Ellis Gray III; his cousin Paul McKee; his grandfathers: Ellis Gray Sr., Robert Naramore Sr., and Bruce Warner; and by his good friend Bruce.
Funeral services were held on April 23, in Newport. Interment will follow in Derby Center Cemetery.
Should friends desire, the family has requested donations be sent to the Curtis-Britch Funeral Home Inc., 37 Lake Road, Newport, Vermont 05855, to defray funeral expenses.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.
Paul K. Southouse
Paul K. Southouse, 87, of Glover died on April 17, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on June 28, 1925, the son of James W.K. and Florence Blanche (Tulley) Southouse. He graduated from schools in Connecticut.
He was a United States Veteran having served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on December 11, 1945, from Company A 313th Engineers. He served in Italy with the 34th Division, 109th Engineer Battalion, landing on Anzio Beach and participating in battles in Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Appennines and Po Valley.
He retired as a sales manager for Prudential Life Insurance Company after 17 years of service. He also worked at Vermont Tap and Die in the shipping department and Lyndon State College as a maintenance man at Burklyn Mansion and dorm father to 52 boys.
He was a member of the Anglican Church of America in Danville, Lay Reader and Senior Warden, he was a past master of the Crescent Lodge #66 Free and Accepted Masons in Lyndonville, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and American Legion, both of Lyndonville, and he also served on the Lyndon select board for several years.
He is survived by his wife Marie Southouse; one daughter, Ellen Ohina, and her husband, John; two step-sons: Mark Rodgers and his wife, Dawn, and John Rodgers and his wife, Brenda; one step-daughter, Diane Rodgers, and her partner, Kelly Young; ten grandchildren: Wendy and Shelby Williams, Megan Webster and her husband, Dan, Tyler, Jessica, Alexis, John, Derek, Violet and Ian Rodgers; three great-grandchildren: Isadora and Ayden Carpenter and Noah Webster; and by special caregivers, Sue Demers and Tamieka.
He was predeceased by his first wife Ruth Baird Southouse; two brothers: Thomas Southouse and James W.K. Southouse Jr.; and by one sister, Mary Beebe.
Graveside services will be held on June 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. in the family lot in the Woodmont Cemetery in East Burke. The Crescent Lodge #66 Free and Accepted Masons will officiate. There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
To view an online guestbook, visit www.pearsonsfh.com.
Ruth Esser Strong
Ruth Esser Strong, 86, of Craftsbury Common died on April 16, 2013, at her home, surrounded by her family.
She was born in Manhattan, New York, in 1926, daughter of Ulrich and Ida Esser. Her childhood included growing up on a boat on the Hudson River in New York City, later living in Washington, D.C., and graduating from Roosevelt High School. From summers working on a farm in Vermont, she pushed to go to University of Vermont (UVM). Getting a degree in agronomy with a minor in engineering, she was instrumental in getting an agricultural engineering degree program in place at UVM.
She met Horace Strong at UVM and they married at the College St. Congregational Church in Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Strong moved from there to raising five children on part of the Strong farm north of the Common.
She was a past member of Search Light and Ladies Union, and was a lead voice in keeping Craftsbury Academy independent. She loved the outdoors and, with a large family in tow, was active in canoeing, hiking and camping. Interests in land conservation, forestry, gardening and writing continued throughout her life. There were few things she enjoyed more than following and participating in her kids’ adventures and careers, and her four-wheel-drive Toyota pickups, whether driving up to her garden with its expansive views, going for a swim at her beach on Big Hosmer, or on cross-country trips. As a Christian, she was not shy of saying what the Lord had done for her in her life, and she was concerned about protecting the principles of individual liberty that she saw as the basis of America’s prosperity. As organic a “granola cruncher” as the best of them, she saw this fitting perfectly with her strong conservative patriotism.
She is survived by her children: Nancy J. West and her husband, Jim, of East Craftsbury, Nathan Strong and his wife, Vicki, of Albany, Russell Strong of Craftsbury Common, Lynn Calderwood and her husband, Ricki, of East Highgate, and Matthew Strong and his wife, Patty, of Stowe; her grandchildren: Matthew L. Strong, Heather Strong, Charlotte (Calderwood) Martin, Rebekah Calderwood, Cicily Strong, and Isabelle Strong; and by her great-grandchild Noah Strong.
She was predeceased by her parents and a grandson, Marine Sargeant Jesse Strong, KIA Iraq 2005.
A graveside service will be held later in the spring.
Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.
Committals
Jeff Gerrow
Committal services for Jeff Gerrow will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Albany Village Cemetery.
Gordon and Rose LaClair
Services for Gordon and Rose LaClair will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Barton. Interment will follow in Sutton Village Cemetery with full military honors.
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