Obituaries

Obituaries January 29, 2014

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obit DarlingDonald A. Darling Sr.

Donald A. Darling Sr., 83, of Craftsbury died on January 22, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on February 18, 1930, to Glen and Lillian (Marckres) Darling.

On April 26, 1949, he married the former Beryl Williams, who survives him.

He was a supervisor for various companies where he was a blaster on road construction.  He was a town selectman and a judge at the local fiddlers contests.  He enjoyed playing guitar, singing, hunting, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and he loved the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife Beryl Darling of Craftsbury; his children:  Loren Darling and his wife, Theresa, of Morrisville, Gary Darling and his wife, Julie, of Albany, Susan Waterhouse and her husband, David, of Craftsbury, Roy Darling of Craftsbury, Cheryl Bailey and her husband, Richard, of Craftsbury, Sarah Darling of Orleans, and Donald Darling Jr. and his wife, Sonja, of Craftsbury; 13 grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and by several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Lee Darling; and by two sisters:  Dorothy Dezane and Lois Butler.

A graveside service will be held in the spring in Branch Cemetery in Craftsbury.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Orleans-Essex VNA and Hospice Inc., 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

obit FalconerLouise Bernice Percy Falconer

Louise Bernice Percy Falconer, 60, of West Charleston died on January 20, 2014, in Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, after complications from surgery, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Newport on August 26, 1953, to the late W.K. Percy and the late Alice Bishop Percy.

She loved to spend all the time she could with her grandkids who meant the world to her.  She loved to hit any and every yard sale she could always find, looking for that special treasure.  She also loved her flower gardens.  Many could see her picking flowers by the side of the road to expand her flower garden.  She was looking forward to doing some major work this summer to expand her garden.

She also loved to do arts and crafts; she was always making something for someone from a piece of something she found at a yard sale.  She loved her Christmas decorations and she was sure she never had enough and always looking for more to add to her collection.  She also loved Halloween.  You would never know what she was going to dress up as.  She would always make her own costumes and you would never recognize her when she came knocking at your door.  There was always a good laugh with that.

She would spend hours of her time just sitting doing puzzles, she so enjoyed them.

She was a one-of-a-kind person, always there to help someone.  She spent many hours selflessly taking care of others.  She loved to work with the elderly.  She was a true caregiver.  It would be nothing for her to pack up from her home and be gone for weeks if not months at a time to go to work and take care of people who either had surgery or who were suffering from Alzheimer’s or a case of dementia.  She had a special gift for this and she truly will be missed by many.

She is survived by the love of her life Robert McKinney of West Charleston; her daughter Rhonda Falconer; her son Chad Falconer and his wife, Dawn; her 5 wonderful grandchildren who she thought the world of:  Cody Glover, Cheyenne Falconer, Taylor, Conner and little Austin Falconer; her sisters:  Marion Tice, Jean Kelley, Shirley Percy, and Susan Vachon; her brothers:  Stewart Percy, Roland Percy and Rudolph Percy and their spouses; her very special nephews who thought the world of their Weez:  Michael and Matthew Miller of Littleton, New Hampshire, and Akuei Tice of Derby; and many more which include:  Tina Percy Miller, Angela and Daniel Tice, Rick and Ryan Kelley, Sheena Webster Sullivan, and Sonya Webster, Nicholas and Christopher Vachon, Ginger Percy Blow, Terri Percy Kasten, Tanya Percy Webster, Douglas Percy, and Larry and Pam Percy.

She was predeceased by her parents, Willey K. and Alice Bishop Percy; her brothers:  Richard, Ralph, and Lawrence Percy; and by her sister Joann Percy Monty.

Funeral services were held on January 26, in Newport.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

obit LaCourseDonald Elmer LaCourse

Donald Elmer LaCourse, 82, of Orleans died on January 23, 2014, in Newport.

He was born in 1931, to Alfred and Catherine LaCourse.  In 1954, he married Brenda June Brannan in England, while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He was a decorated veteran achieving the rank of master sergeant, serving 21 years as a strategic Air Command Security Police Officer serving in England, Greenland, and numerous bases in the United States guarding presidents and dignitaries during his service.  He was also a mechanic.  After his discharge from the Air Force, he continued to work as a mechanic until his retirement.  With toolbox in hand he helped his children, grandchildren, relatives and friends repair their vehicles.  When unable to do the manual work, he advised them how to make the repairs themselves.

He was an avid hunter especially enjoying hunting in Vermont and South Dakota.  When able, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s sporting events.  He especially enjoyed watching Joe and David play hockey.

He would always lend a helping hand whether a friend or a stranger, and although his exterior was gruff he was extremely kind hearted.  He was a great storyteller whose big fish stories got bigger.

He is survived by his wife Brenda LaCourse of Orleans; his daughter Donna Bennett and her husband, Dave; his sons:  Scott LaCourse and his wife, Tina, and Glenn LaCourse; his grandchildren:  Windy and Jeff Currier, Joe and Becky Rollins, David and Jessie Bennett, Leigh and Kelly, and Brannan LaCourse, Marrissa LaCourse and Dale LaCourse; his great-grandchildren:  Brett, Paige, Kaylee, Amaya, Isaiah, Lyllian, Karyn, Dominic, Cede, Promise, Mia, Nicholas, Brie, Dyion, Shane, Blaze, and Harlie; several nieces, and nephews; and by his beloved dogs:  Dora, Trouble and Chip.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sons:  Paul and Dale LaCourse; his daughter Nicki Rollins; his brother Norbert LaCourse; his sisters:  Elsinore Lanoue, and Evelyn McMahon; and by his nephew Ronnie LaCourse.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, January 29, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 37 Lake Road in Newport.  Friends may call at the funeral home on January 29, from 2 p.m. until the hour of the funeral.  Spring interment will be in Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans, with full military honors.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to Disabled American Veterans, in care of Winston Dowland, Whittier Road, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

obit MartinBruce Al Martin

Bruce Al Martin, 65, of Craftsbury died suddenly on January 25, 2014, at his home.

He was born on May 28, 1948, in Newport, to Percy and Jeannette (Atwood) Martin Anderson.

On October 16, 1970, he married Sheryl Allen, who survives him.

He graduated from Craftsbury Academy in 1966 and later entered the United States Army and served his country during the Vietnam War.  He was a lifetime dairy farmer and logger.  He retired as the road commissioner for the town of Craftsbury in 1995.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Morrisville, the American Legion in Hardwick, and he was past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Hyde Park.  He was a former member of the Craftsbury area school board and he coached sports of all ages and volunteered for many hours.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cutting wood, logging, maple sugaring, haying, going to hunting camp, attending basketball games and watching his son Mike race on the weekends.  He was a New York Yankees fan and he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Sheryl Martin of Craftsbury; two children:  Michelle Martin of Craftsbury, and Michael Martin and his wife, Francheska, of Craftsbury Common; his mother Jeannette Anderson of Craftsbury; and by two grandchildren:  Abigail and Stephen Martin.  He is also survived by his brothers:  Roger Martin and his wife, Patty, of Craftsbury, Paul Martin and his wife, Rita, of Albany, and Randy Martin and his wife, Micki, of Craftsbury; his sisters-in-law:  Janet Nelson of Albany, and Marion Allen of Burlington; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father Percy Martin in 1963; and by his stepfather Robert Anderson in 2008.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, January 29, at the Craftsbury Academy gymnasium, where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Thursday, January 30, with the Reverend Alan Parker officiating.  Spring interment will be in Craftsbury Common Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Craftsbury Academy Sports Activities Fund, P.O. Box 73, Craftsbury Common, Vermont 05827.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

obit McCoyLoretta S. McCoy

Loretta S. McCoy, 83, of Orleans died peacefully on January 21, 2014, in Newport.

She was born January 29, 1930 in Brownington, to Ezekiel and Cecil (Dumont) Perry.

On February 11, 1956, she married Dale C. McCoy, who survives her.

She was a mail carrier for the United States Post Office, where she retired after 20 years of service.

She was a member of St. Theresa’s Guild and she was always ready to give the church a hand.  She was an excellent cook much to the delight of her family.  She enjoyed gardening, flowers and bird watching especially cardinals, hummingbirds and chickadees.

Her family was the love of her life and she always looked forward to their visits, which brought her great comfort and joy.

She is survived by her husband Dale McCoy of Orleans; her children:  Harold D. McCoy and his wife, Andrea Brightenback, of Hardwick, David J. McCoy and his wife, Diane, of Walden, Julie A. McCoy and her partner, Gary Brown, of Hardwick, Timothy J. McCoy and his wife, Kathy, of Brownington, Steven A. McCoy and his wife, Sheryl, of Irasburg, Amy M. Morley and her husband, Michael, of Albany, and Laurie J. Rice and her husband, Robert, of Brownington.  She is also survived by 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters:  Clemence LeBlond of Jay, and Claire Lyon of Brownington; and by several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two sisters:  Blanche Coates and Mary Ann Darling; and by her brothers:  Maurice, Noel, Francis, and Leon Perry.

Funeral services were held on January 25, in Orleans.  Spring interment will be in St. Theresa’s Cemetery in Orleans.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Orleans Ambulance Service, care of of Dot Collier, 1327 Dry Pond Road, Glover, Vermont 05839.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

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