Michael Arland Cahill, 62, of Randolph, died on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
He was born November 22, 1948, in Newport, the son of Arland H. and Beverly D. (Taylor) Cahill. He was raised in Island Pond, then served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Cahill had worked in construction in Florida, Houston, Texas, and Denver, Colorado before moving to Vermont in the 1980s, settling in Randolph in 1992. He worked as a paralegal for the Vermont State Office of Child Support in Rutland, and as a private investigator in Newport and Philadelphia. The last ten years he worked as a plumber, primarily for the Vermont Center for Independent Living Home Access Program. Mr. Cahill was married to Mary Anne Taggart in Braintree on August 16, 1997. He was a member of the Green Mountain Gospel Chapel, Kairos Prison Ministry, Tres Dias, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Randolph American Legion Post #9. He enjoyed storytelling, target shooting, dancing, reading, cribbage, and traveling to Ireland, and was an avid Boston Red Sox Fan.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Anne Cahill of Randolph; his daughter, Lilia Piette of Morgan; his mother, Beverly Person, and his step-father, Andrew Person, of Belvidere, New Jersey; his stepson, Josh Howe of Fort Myers, Florida, and his stepdaughter, Emily Howe of Colchester; his brothers: Patrick J. Cahill of Denver, Colorado and Timothy J. Cahill of Philipsburg, New Jersey; and his sisters: Julia E. Cahill of Mission, South Dakota, and Suzanne Rippley of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
Funeral services were held October 15 in Randolph.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Vermont Center for Independent Living, Home Access Program, 111 East State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602.
John P. Gile
John P. Gile, 88, of Albany died on October 11, 2011, at his home in South Albany where he lived all his life.
He was born January 30, 1923, in South Albany, a son of Edward and Josephine (Bo) Gile. He was a veteran of World War II.
He was a self-employed farmer and he also mowed the cemeteries in Albany for 35 years.
He is survived by his sisters: Laura Gonyaw of Barton, Louise McRoy of St. Johnsbury, Margaret Wright of St. Johnsbury, and Bertha Shortsleeve of Florida; and by several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was held on October 15 at the South Albany Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Albany Cemetery Fund, Route 14, Albany, Vermont 05820. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Warren W. Higgons
Warren W. Higgons, 79, died on Sunday, October 16, 2011, after a brief illness, at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, surrounded by his family and friends.
He was born April 6, 1932, in Port Chester, New York, a son of Stanley and Marjorie (McLean) Higgons of Scarsdale, New York. He served his country during the Korean War as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He joined the Army reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Mr. Higgons attained a master’s degree in business administration and worked as an executive in financial services as well as in real estate.
He recently moved back to Vermont after ten years in North Carolina, having previously lived in Stowe and Mallets Bay. He recently had been enjoying life as a “Dock Rat” at the Newport Marina on Lake Memphremagog in Newport, residing in Craftsbury Common.
He was an avid sailor, golfer and skier, enoying life to the fullest.
He leaves his wife, Donna of Craftsbury Common; a sister, Laura (Peggy) Ginter of Boca Raton, Florida; his children: Michelle Knowlton and her husband, Ron, of Boca Raton, Florida, Wes Higgons and his wife, Lori, of Gainsville, Florida, and Doug Higgons and his wife, Shannon, of Chesapeake, Virigina; two stepchildren: Jon and Charlie Wilson; a sister-in-law, Gail Bonestell, of Woodstock, New York; and 13 beloved grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents.
A memorial service was held October 18 in Craftsbury Common.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS), Western Pennsylvania Chapter, 1501 Reedsdale Street, Suite 105, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233; or to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, Vermont 05657.
Loretta Christine (Burgess) Johnson
Loretta Christine (Burgess) Johnson died suddenly on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at her home.
Ms. Johnson was born on September 15, 1955, to H. Elwin and Christine Burgess of Oxford, Massachusetts. She graduated from Oxford High School along with her husband in 1974. The couple married on May 20, 1978 after a long courtship.
Ms. Johnson was very active in her community. She belonged to the Oxford Women’s Club, where she performed in many plays, and was co-chairman of the building of the bandstand in the Oxford park. She was a member of the board of directors and volunteer extraordinaire for the Franklin County Humane Society of St. Albans, and the Scottish Terrier Club of America and the New England Scottish Terrier Club. She was well known for her grooming business, Waggin Tails, which she ran for 13 years in Swanton.
Her hobbies included piano and guitar playing, kayaking, snowshoeing, gardening, motorcycling, and breeding, raising, and showing Scottish Terriers. She was the proud owner of three champion Scotties.
She leaves her husband, Christopher V.; her two sons, Erik and Tyler; her older brother, Tom Burgess of Maine; three nieces: Barbara Morrison of Virginia, Lynn Beck of Oxford, Massachusetts, and Chelsea of Westmore; her nephew, Allen Bissonette; her sisters-in-law, Ruthie Bissonette and Penny; and her brother-in-law, Kimball Johnson. She also leaves her beloved dogs: Rose, Buddy, and Luna.
Ms. Johnson had many friends from many walks of life and she will surely be missed.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 20, at 7 p.m. at the Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Avenue, in Swanton. The Reverend Anne Torrance Bachmann will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home on October 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. Committal services and interment will take place Sunday, October 23, at 11 a.m. at the family lot in Lakeview Cemetery, Route 5A in Westmore, with family friend Father Charles Davignon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franklin County Humane Society, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans, Vermont 05478; or to the New England Scottish Terrier Club “Scotty Rescue” league, care of Ray Rinaldi, Treasurer, Loretta Johnson Memorial Rescue, STCNE 92 Parklawn Drive, Waterbury, Connecticut 06708.
To offer online condolences, please visit: www.kiddermemorialhome.com.
Charles Thomas Marr
Charles Thomas Marr, 64, died suddenly of a heart attack on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, on a sunny afternoon in Manchester, Kentucky while sitting outdoors in his favorite chair, visiting at the home of dear friends.
He lived in both Manchester and Chillicothe, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was the Tennessee and Kentucky land agent for Energy Associates, an oil and gas company. Walking the mountains and talking with landowners of those states was never work to him but instead, pure joy.
He loved spending time in the Newport area with his sister, Sarah Fitts, and her husband, Bob. He lived for hiking northern Vermont trails with his family and sailing and fishing in Lake Memphremagog. He always loved returning to Vermont for the weddings of his niece and nephews and just for working on projects with his brother-in-law.
Our dad was a kind and gentle man. His height could have intimidated, but it never did. Each time that we were together, we would begin to plan when and where the next time would be. His dreams were magical, and he made them real. He lives in us, in our children and in those he loved and who loved him. Nothing on this earth in the 64 years that he shared with us can ever take that from our hearts.
Our dad cared so deeply in this life. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Boston off the coast of Vietnam. He pretended to have no use for dogs or cats but loved having them follow him for a snack or a pat. He was comfortable with laughter and with tears. He wanted to fix whatever needed fixing, he was so skillful with his hands. He loved growing roses and tomatoes; finding rocks; eating Maine lobster and warm blueberry pie; driving narrow winding roads where ever he could find them and loving the adventure of not knowing where we would end up; watching the sunsets; living and working among the people and under the skies of Kentucky and Tennessee. But most of all, he loved us dearly. We did not want him to leave us on September 13, 2011.
His energy and joy in each day still shine in his mother, Sue B. Marr of Chillicothe; in us, his children: Kevin Thomas and Kami Marr of Greeley, Colorado, Juliana Marie and Dane Sprister of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Thomas Edward Marr II of Gallipolis, Ohio; in his sister, Sarah Fitts and her husband, Bob, of Newport Center; in his beloved companion, Linda Momirov Kramer of Chillicothe; and in his cherished grandchildren. His father and best friend, Dr. Thomas E. Marr, predeceased him in death.
A graveside memorial celebration of the man he was was held on September 19 at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, as we gathered among the red roses that he had planted on the graves of his father and grandparents. We joined with his Manchester, Kentucky, family of friends in a celebration of his life on September 20, 2011. — submitted by Juliana Marr Sprister.
Shawn C. Mason
Shawn C. Mason, 34, of Eden, died suddenly on October 14, 2011, in Morrisville.
He was born December 17, 1976, in Newport, a beloved son of Kevin Mason and Joi (Batchelder) Merritt. He graduated from North Country Union High School in the class of 1995. Mr. Mason was employed at The Shed Restaurant in Stowe and he was formerly a diesel mechanic. He enjoyed all sports and his favorite NASCAR driver was Matt Kenseth. He was a fan of the Buffalo Bills, and the Yankees. Mr. Mason always looked at the better side of life.
He is survived by his parents: Kevin Mason and his wife, Susan, of Newport News, Virginia, and his mother Joi Merritt and her husband, Rory, of Springfield; his girlfriend, Kellie Coderre of Eden; his sisters and brothers: Aaron Lanou and his wife, Chantell, of Clifton Springs, New York, Ryan Mason of Lynchburg, Virginia, Troy Metcalf and his wife, Rachel, of Roanoke, Virginia, Jessica Baker and her husband, Josh, of East Charleston, Jennifer Bergeron of Newport Center, Traci Farnsworth and her husband, Michael, of Springfield, and Amber Howard and her husband, Gene, of Newport News; by his special grandmother, June Lussier of Orleans; by two special aunts: Nickolet Simpson of Derby, and Rosemary Sheltra of Derby; and by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held October 18 in Newport. Interment in St. John’s Cemetery in Irasburg will be at a later date.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Cardiac Unit, Copley Hospital, 528 Washington Highway, Morrisville, Vermont 05661; or to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 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.
Evelyn M. Reynolds
Evelyn M. Reynolds, 96, formerly of Newport, died on October 10, 2011, in Glover.
She was born in Elmore on January 1, 1915, to Mary (Spaulding) and Thomas Symonds Sr., one of 14 children.
While living at the Governor’s Mansion in Newport, she developed a wonderful relationship with Sissy Broome and enjoyed all her help and company which she missed when she moved to Glover.
She was a past member of the Grange and the Newport Senior Center and she loved to play cards and bingo. In over nine years during the 1960s and ’70s, Mrs. Reynolds and her husband, Rhett Reynolds, provided foster care to over 60 children.
She is survived by her children: Barbara Wells of Wolcott, Lucy Brock and her husband, John, of Morgan, and Robert Reynolds and his wife, Nancy, of Derby; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her sisters: Bertha Dodge of Morrisville and Mildred Choland of Hyde Park; and by several nieces, nephews, and by close friends: Dan Bryant and his son, Scott, and his wife, Dianna, and their two children. Ms. Reynolds was predeceased by her husbands, Emmanuel Gonyaw and Rhett Reynolds; two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four sisters, and seven brothers.
Funeral services were held on October 13 in Newport. Interment followed in the Riverbank Cemetery in Stowe.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Activities Fund at the Union House Nursing Home, 3086 Glover Street, Glover, Vermont 05839. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Frank Harris Spates Jr.
Frank Harris Spates Jr., 78, died on October 9, 2011, at his home in Derby, after more than ten years battling Multiple Systems Atrophy.
Mr. Spates, or “Sunny” as his brothers and sisters called him, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on September 14, 1933. He was a son of Frank H. Spates Sr. and Eleanor (Foster) Spates, both of whom have predeceased him. He was the second of five children. His siblings include his older sister, Betty Jane Durkee of Tequesta, Florida, his brother William Spates and his wife, Hilda, of Lynn, Massachusetts, his sister Joyce Stanwood and her husband, Jay, of Newport, and his brother Doug Spates and his wife, Vivian, of Derby. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, George Durkee.
Mr. Spates graduated from Newport High School in 1951 and was a member of the Newport State Champion football team. He was also on the baseball team and ski team. He served in the Marine Corps from June 9, 1953 until June of 1955 and also in the United States Army Reserve from June 1958 until his honorable discharge in July of 1972. At that time he had obtained a rank of Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers and was acting commander of the National Guard Unit of Putnam, Connecticut.
He married Jeannette Nault on January 1, 1955 in Newport. His military and engineering career took them to places like Camp Lejune, North Carolina; Albany, New York; Vernon, Connecticut; and back to Vermont for good in 1970 where they purchased a farm in Derby and resided ever since.
Mr. Spates graduated from the Unviersity of Vermont in 1960 with a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering. He worked for the following: State of Vermont on Interstate 91, the Shell Oil Co. building service stations in Connecticut and Massachusetts, as a math teacher and football coach at Newport High School, for the Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut, as a dairy farmer in Derby, and he was the project engineer for the Wright and Morrisey building at North Country Hospital. In 1974 he started Spates Construction with his wife and he retired from it in 2001, seeing it grow from a small company to one of the area’s larger construction firms. Mr. Spates also served as a Derby Select Board member and he helped coach Little League as well as Legion Baseball. For many years he was in charge of the Legion Post 21 Scholarship program as well as commander of the Legion. He had also served on the Boosters for North Country football and hockey. Over the years he enjoyed many trips with his wife that included some with family members and others with friends from the Community Circle. Mr. Spates also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons, brothers, nephews, grandsons and granddaughters. He enjoyed boating for many years with Mrs. Spates on Lake Memphremagog.
Mr. Spates loved sports at both the local and professional level and when his health did not allow him to attend the local games, he followed the Boston Red Sox, the New York Giants, and the Montreal Canadians on television.
Besides his wife of the past 56 years, Jeannette (Nault) Spates, he leaves behind their four children: Valerie and her husband, Pat Gunn, of Spring City, Tennessee, Grant and his friend, Carol Brown, of Derby, Dana and his friend, Bria Horton, of Derby, and Lee and his wife, Lisa, of Derby; nine grandchildren: Rachel Spates and her husband, Ryan DiSantis, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Jerimiah Ovitt of Killington, Emily Spates of Hillsboro, Oregon, Sarah Spates and her fiancé, Chad Greenlaw, of Somersworth, New Hampshire, Tristan Ovitt and his friend, Ashley Favreau, of Derby, Whitney Ovitz and her friend, Howie Lockamy, of Derby, Logan Spates of Derby, Mira Spates of Derby, and Sam Spates of Colchester and Derby; four great-grandchildren: Caleb Ovitz, Killie Ovitz, Cheyene Ovitt and Avalon Lockamy; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on October 15 in Newport. Interment followed with military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport.
In lieu of flowers, should friends desire, contributions in his name may be made to Shy-Drager Syndrome/Multiple Systems Atrophy Support Group, 2004 Howard Lane, Austin, Texas, 78728. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
John Henry Turner Jr.
John Henry Turner Jr., 74, of Brownington, died suddenly on October 12, 2011, in Newport.
He was born November 8, 1936, in Groton, Massachusetts, a son of Gertrude (Desrosier) and John Turner Sr. He graduated from Saint Cecilia High School in Leominster, Massachusetts, and he also attended college in Attleboro, Massachusetts. On March 15, 1971 he married Anne Courtot who survives him.
He entered the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean War.
During his lifetime he was a travel agent in Paris, France. Mr. Turner was an avid fisherman and hunter, and he loved traveling and gardening. He was a member of the American Legion Post #1 in Paris.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Turner of Brownington; by his daughter, Laura Turner of Paris; by two grandchildren, Jasmine and Anais of Paris; by his sisters Jean Davidson and her husband, Gary, of Portland, Oregon, and Corrine Bergeron of Portland; by nephews: Michael, David, and Robert Jr.; by his niece, Patricia Bergeron; and by his grandnephews: Michael Jr., Andrew, and Mathew Bergeron.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Nancy Lee (Hill) Turner
Nancy Lee (Hill) Turner, 86, died on Sunday, October 9, 2011, with her family at her side.
Born in Orleans on November 23, 1924, Mrs. Turner lived a loving life of devotion to her family and service to others. Raised in northern Vermont and educated as a legal secretary, she married her high school sweetheart, Frederick Muer, and began her life with the Marine Corps, complete with its varied destinations and unique lifestyle. With the loss of Mr. Muer in Korea and the birth of her daughter, she returned to her parents’ home.
In 1953 she married Tom Turner and again became the wife of a Marine. They lived in numerous locations and she bore three sons: Tom Jr., Jim, and Sam, to round out the family. In every duty station, Mrs. Turner created a home in which all the children thrived and their friends were welcome and she volunteered in each community she lived in. In Japan, she had a special group of ladies she taught to knit; they taught her nuances of their culture. With Mr. Turner’s retirement in 1975, they returned to Vista, California, and made that community their permanent home.
Early in their retirement, they traveled throughout southern California by motorcycle, touring with a Japanese rescue dog in a basket on the back. Mrs. Turner worked in the registrar’s office at Palomar College for many years. Some 25 years ago, their cabin in Idyllwild, California, became a beloved second home.
In recent years, as a result of her personal challenges, Mrs. Turner became involved with the San Diego Center for the Blind in Vista. First as a student herself and then as a volunteer, she brought to bear her organizational and interpersonal skills and passion for the mission of the school. She also enjoyed working frequently at the Vista Senior Center.
Her hobbies have varied over the years, always creative — from painting, seashell design in Hawaii, to Japanese shadowboxes, watercolors, and knitting baby blankets. Her competitive nature was evident in basketball and marksmanship awards, bowling trophies and beating her grandkids in bocce ball. But her greatest skill was the gentle and cheerful grace with which she lived her life. She earned the admiration and love of all she knew.
She is survived by her daughter, Fritzi, and her grandson, Vincent; her son, Tom, and his wife, Jennifer, and their children: Elizabeth, Carrie and Will; her son, Jim, and his wife, Patti, and their children: Brock and Lauren and her husband, Travis; and by her great-grandson, Kaden.
A celebration of her life was held October 16 at her home in Vista.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the San Diego Center for the Blind, 1385 Bonair Road, Vista, California 92084.
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