Roland E. Blanchard
Roland E. Blanchard Sr., 74, of North Troy, died on October 12, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on December 27, 1935, in Albany, a son of William and Augusta (Peters) Blanchard.
On January 21, 1947, he married Shirley Longey who predeceased him on September 2, 2010.
Mr. Blanchard enjoyed tinkering on things and helping people. He enjoyed fishing, family reunions, birdwatching, and wrestling.
He worked for the Jim Hubbard Farm and also for Ethan Allen Manufacturing in Orleans and the Old Mill in North Troy.
He is survived by his children: Julie Pion and her husband, Jeremy, of Lowell, Roland Blanchard Jr. of Lowell, Kenricka (Kricket) Blanchard and her companion, Joe Rollo, of North Troy, and Roxanne Major and her husband, Gary, of Lowell; by the following grandchildren: Ryan Folgherait and Ally, Amber Folgherait, Kaitlynn King, Danielle King and Rob, Ashley Blanchard, Kayla Blanchard, Kelsey Blanchard-Rollo and Bryant, and Nicholas Hunt, Kristi Farrar; by two great-granddaughters Jade Marie Tuttle and Emiley Farrar; by a brother Steven Blanchard of Enosburg; and a sister Polly Sweet of Enosburg. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Blanchard; a son Daniel Blanchard in 1972; a brother Larry Blanchard; and sisters Bea Spencer and Barb Gerrow.
A graveside service was held at the Albany Village Cemetery on October 16 with the Reverend Nathan Strong officiating.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the North Troy Senior Meals Site, care of Nancy Allen, P.O. Box 368, North Troy, Vermont 05859.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Evelyn Geneva Blay
Evelyn Geneva Blay, 75, died peacefully at North Country Hospital on October 11, 2010, surrounded by her family.
She was born on January 24, 1935, in Derby, a daughter of Dorothy Blay.
Ms. Blais lived with her guardian, Mary Sylvester, in Coventry. She loved spending time with Ms. Sylvester and her caregivers Crystal LeClerc and Nick Simpson. Her hobbies were coloring, shopping, going out to eat, doing crafts, and attending The Meeting Place in Newport three days a week.
She is survived by her aunt Phyllis Merrill of North Troy, and many cousins throughout Vermont. She was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy Blay, in 1992, and a cousin Irving Sylvester Sr. in 2009.
Funeral services were held on October 19 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home. Interment followed at the Derby Center Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Melba E. Howland
The Candlepin is open once again, but Melba Howland of Baron will no longer be at her favorite corner table bantering with the regulars.
Surrounded by loving family, Mrs. Howland, died Friday afternoon, September 10, 2010, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire, gradually surrendering her tenacious grip on life. She now joins her beloved grandson Trace, whose death at 14 several years before, nearly crushed her and from which she never quite recovered.
She leaves behind two much loved sons, Scott Barber of North Hyde Park, and Glen Barber of Englewood, Colorado; a sister Verne Nadeau of Florida; a brother Sheldon Locke and his wife, Maddy, of Quechee; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Chet Howland, and younger sister Almeda Bates, also of Florida.
Funeral services were kept very simple. Visiting hours were at the Barton United Church on September 12, and burial was at the West Glover Cemetery near where she had lived for many years. Placed with her ashes was a book by one of her favorite authors, Della T. Lutes. A reception followed at the Barton United Church with food and service generously provided by former Candlepin crew members.
Born Melba Elouise Locke on May 7, 1933, to Tessie and Vernon Locke of Barton, she was named for a famed opera singer, Melba, of Australia.
Mrs. Howland progressed from the pocket-sized charmer and, oh, so cute little Barton Academy cheerleader, to a ten year tour of office work for the now defunct St. J. Trucking Company; to a loving, firm and protective mother; to an unsought position as the quintessential matriarch of a large extended family (lavish hostess, valued confidante, and all around little friend); and, finally to the senior lady of ready wit and hearty laugh holding court at the Candlepin.
A Gee Whiz kid, she grew up in hard times, wanting to believe in that fairy tale world of white knights and little elves and happy endings. She had a huge, warm, and sunny heart, was sentimental, funny, and feisty (a careful male relative called her Mighty Mouse), and could be as stubborn as her Taurean birth sign. She was faithful to the core to those she trusted, and expected others to be the same. She liked to win arguments, no matter how long it took.
A morning person, she’d awaken with a mischievous grin, glowing all over, ready for the world. Just as easily she could be reserved and guarding that secret inner core where few were allowed to go, that backbone of steel so tightly wrapped in all those insecurities.
She went about her life with equal measures of quiet grace and infectious exuberance. While seldom petty, she delighted in bearing significant news. An insatiable and careful shopper, she loved the little stuff, anything small — books, drawings, decorations, and knickknacks of all kinds, filling her house to overflowing with every imaginable kind of keepsake.
Most of all she loved being the Super Mom and grandmother, overindulging her precious sons and later grandson, and often any kid in sight with abundant love, carefully selected gifts, and entertaining, spontaneous stories.
An excellent cook (though possessive of her recipes) and fastidious homemaker, she created warm and comfortable living spaces where she loved to gather with friends and family for most any occasion. At holidays those same folks would receive all kinds of goodies from Mrs. Howland’s prolific kitchen, carefully wrapped and delivered in person.
Modesty prevented her from seeing anything remarkable about her many talents: artist, poet, psychic, and a woman with a fertile imagination for drama and stories. Finding she was a published poet was a surprise to even close family members. A great reader who owned many books, she was also addicted to the afternoon soaps and would often invent scripts superior to those of the pro writers and could be critical of those writers’ inability to see the possibilities in their own work.
An accomplished artist, she produced quantities of little pen and ink drawings of old barns and nature studies. She would often predict mail arrival or visits of distant relatives. One occasion she surprised the family by answering a jeopardy question before it was even asked. Pages could be filled with strange and unexplainable but harmless happenings where she was involved.
Mrs. Howland had an incredible eye, could see deer in the shadows half a mile away, or from her full self-proclaimed height of four feet, 11 and a half inches, could spot two or three, four-leafed clovers some distance away. Repeatedly told a couch would not fit where she wanted it in a space between a door and a corner, she triumphed at the exact fit and muttered, “Oh, you men, if it were left up to you, you would still be inside your mothers looking for a way out.”
She was a remarkable lady who seemed blissfully unaware of the considerable influence she had on her circle of friends and family, and her passing leaves a huge hole for those many folks.
Knowing these few lines can never fully express our affection and admiration and deep sense of loss we can only say, “Goodbye Little Sunbeam, we loved you and we miss you…and always you have been so beautiful.”—submitted by Ken Barber.
Last Year’s Leaf
by Melba Howland
I saw you old leaf, skipping by my window one more time
Before gliding in spring’s breeze
On to earth’s everlasting recipe.
Last year you were on our maple
First, in nature’s wondrous form, a bud,
Then as if by magic a beautiful bright green leaf
Always faithful, contributing to a cool shade
Or a shelter in a sudden shower.
You chose gold for color in the fall
And I watched you mellow to a soft brown
One dawn, with the slightest sigh,
You floated to the ground, your work done
Soon snow came softly covering the resting place you found.
Now another spring has arrived
Though it is sad to see old leaves blow away
Indeed, you have such a short time in life’s minute,
I will not grieve, for you know you’re one of nature’s perfect schemes
From beginning to end you have given
And always you have been so beautiful
Thank you old leaf, goodbye, goodbye.
Gordon D. Ladd
Gordon D. Ladd, 93, of Newport died on October 12, 2010, in Newport.
He was born November 6, 1916, in Norton, a son of George and Lottie (Daniels) Ladd.
He married Alberta Davio who predeceased him in 2001.
Mr. Ladd worked for Butterfields as a thread grinder for over 40 years until he retired in 1981. He was instrumental in starting the union at Butterfields and was its first president. He enjoyed the outdoors and looking for wildlife in the woods. He and his wife, Alberta, roamed around Essex County looking for, and taking pictures of, moose. He derived great comfort from his dog Katrina for several years. He and his wife loved to dance and did so at all of the area dance halls during a period of over 30 years.
Mr. Ladd is survived by his son Loren Ladd and his wife, Patrice, of Island Pond. He was predeceased by his wife and by a son, Gary Ladd, in 1966.
A graveside service will be held at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport on Wednesday, October 20, at 1 p.m. with the Reverend Robert Cargill 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.
Reginald Parker Leavens
Reginald Parker Leavens, 98, of Derby died on October 15, 2010, at his home with his beloved wife, Doris, by his side.
He was born on August 2, 1912, in Morgan, a son of William and Margaret (Eley) Leavens. He was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, who have predeceased him.
On November 16, 1935, he married Doris Bradford who survives him.
Mr. Leavens was a lifelong farmer and carpenter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and his summers at Lake Salem.
He is survived by wife of nearly 75 years, Doris Leavens, of Derby; by four children: June Selby and her husband, Orry, of Underhill, William Bradford Leavens Sr. and his companion, Gloria Moulton, of Derby, Sherry Ann Rangel and her husband, Uvaldo, of California, and James Clair Leavens and his partner, Eric Perkins, of Arizona; by five grandchildren; by several great-grandchildren; and by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate Inc., 434 Hurricane 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 H. Menard
Roger H. Menard, 70, a lifetime resident of Barton, died suddenly at his home on October 10, 2010.
He loved his Lord and savior and was dedicated to his Bible study. He enjoyed the company of his many dear relatives and friends. He was known for his warm smile, hearty laughter, and winning games at bingo. In his younger years, he traveled throughout the U.S. and had a story to share about all the places he visited.
He is survived by his siblings: Pauline Nault and her husband, Ralph, of Barton, Roland Menard of Enfield, New Hampshire, Rita Benoit and her husband, Robert, of Barre, Patty Saum of Lake George, New York, Frank Menard and his wife, Sue, of Barton, Denise Wilkins and her husband, Paul, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Raymond Menard of Derby, Pierre Menard of Essex, and Carole Coggio and her husband, Michael, of Richmond; by his stepmother Simone Menard of Newport; sister-in-law Gloria Menard of Craftsbury; brother in law Steven Brown of Glover, VT. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Hervey and Simone Menard; by siblings Terri Cotton, Benjamin Menard, Isabelle Brown; by brother-in-law Harry Saum; sister-in-law Christina Menard and special friends Yvonne Bertolini and Madeline Freeheart.
He was an uncle to Dee Dee Simmes, Debbie Bacon, Donnie Cotton, Michael Cotton, Jamie Cotton, Jackie Tremblay, Benjamin Menard Jr., Rene Menard, Michael Nault, Jean Agusto, Chris Nault, Diane Brown, Donna Brown-Perry (Mr. Menard’s loving and dedicated caretaker), Lisa Brown, Ted Brown, Carmen Brown, Tony Menard, Tim Menard, Raechel McLeod, David Benoit, Michael Benoit, Daniel Benoit, Arawn Menard, Jon Menard, Nathan Menard, Chauntelle Powers, and Krystle Menard. He also had many grand-nieces and -nephews, and a special friend, Tami Stone.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Barton on October 16 with the Reverend Daniel Rupp officiating at a Mass. Interment followed at the St. Paul’s Cemetery in Barton.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in his memory be made to Saint Paul’s Church in Barton.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Diana Elizabeth (Howard) Nicholson
Diana Elizabeth (Howard) Nicholson, 93, died peacefully in her sleep on October 17, 2010, at the Bel-Aire nursing home in Newport.
Mrs. Nicholson was born in Burlington on March 8, 1917, the second child of Lenna (Humphrey) and Charles Howard.
She graduated from nursing school at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington in June of 1938 as a registered nurse, but her nursing career was short-lived. She fell in love with University of Vermont student Elmer “Nick” Nicholson, married him in January of 1939, and began a 61-year trip “around the world” before her husband’s death in 1999.
While raising four children, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson moved frequently in pursuit of his insurance career. They lived in Montpelier; Niagara Falls, New York; Newington, Connecticut; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Chicago, Illinois before retiring to Pinehurst, North Carolina for 20 years. For more than 40 years, they made a summer pilgrimage to their cottage in Newport on Lake Memphremagog where they enjoyed the friendships of neighbors on Strawberry Acres Road.
Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Nicholson lived year-round in her beloved cottage with the assistance of caretakers until her failing physical health required residency at Bel-Aire.
Wherever the family lived, Mrs. Nicholson established a warm and welcoming home and was always a wonderful cook and gracious hostess. A talented seamstress, she made her daughters’ wedding gowns and her own beautifully tailored clothes. She was a loving grandmother, attending many of her grandchildren’s milestone events and sending them care packages across the country.
Mrs. Nicholson was predeceased by her husband as well as her sister Hope Jordan Stewart, and her brother Charles Howard. She is survived by her children: Carol and her husband, Jerry Fryberger, of Duluth, Minnesota, and their children Jeremy Fryberger and his wife, Mary Tess O’Sullivan, Lynn and her husband, Mark MacLean, Holly and her husband, Alex Sienkiewicz, and Sarah and her husband, Zachary Madison; Linda Goodman of Oakdale, Connecticut, and her sons Jay and his wife, Connie Tetschner, James and his wife, Jennifer O’Brien, and William and his wife, Hilary Robbins; David Nicholson and his wife, Deirdre, of Burlington, and their son Zachary; and Nancy Cekalla of Little Falls, Minnesota, and her sons Garrett and his wife, Tina, and Wyatt and Morgan. She also leaves behind 14 great-grandchildren and two nephews Paul Jordan and John Howard.
A memorial service will be scheduled for early November. The family requests that those who wish to remember Mrs. Nicholson make a contribution 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.
Urban Raymond Starr
Long time businessman and lifetime resident of North Troy Urban R. Starr Sr., 90 years young, died peacefully on Monday, October 11, 2010, surrounded by his loving family and special family members at his home in North Troy.
He was born on September 10, 1920, in North Troy, a son of George Edward Starr and Hazel (Hardy) Starr.
On October 25, 1947, he married ReJane “Jean” Martel, who predeceased him on May 26, 2006.
Mr. Starr is survived by special family member Denise Pigeon; by his six children: Urban R. Starr Jr. of North Troy and friends Kellie and Charlie, Linda Starr Alberghini and Tom of Rochester, New Hampshire, Sally Starr McAllister and Tom of Bridgeton, Maine, Jane Starr Leblanc and Brian of Lakeland, Florida, George E. Starr of Wabash, Indiana, and David W. Starr and friend Heather of Tucson, Arizona; by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Trevor and Marie Starr and Anthony, Kara and Keith Godfrey and Bailey, Bianca and Bryan Begin and Maxim and Malli, Jared Alberghini and his friend Karen, Dr. Stacey and Dr. Karson Clark and Taylor, Grace and Karson, Tabitha and Scott Noble and Brittany McAllister and Michaela Royea, Vanessa and Andy Rosenberger and Cody and Paige, Bridgitte and John Jones and Johnathan, Brian Jay Leblanc, George and Mindy Starr and Brandon, Cameron and Madison, Jenna Starr and Andy and Michael and Eva, Lee-Ann Starr and Jeremy, and Peyton and Parker, and Tyler Starr; by his sisters Ida Starr Cadieux and John of Newport, Dorothy Starr Westerberg of St. Johnsbury; by his brother Dr. Durward Starr and his wife, Lorraine, of North Troy; sister-in-law Ila Starr of North Troy; and by many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his precious son Jay Starr in 1977; by his sister Barbara Starr Lynch; and his brothers Robert Starr and Jack Starr.
Mr. Starr graduated from North Troy High School in 1939.
He was an avid and very talented baseball and basketball player, and his teams won state championships in 1938 and 1939. He went on to Randolph Technical College and continued as an outstanding athlete on the baseball and basketball teams. After college, Mr. Starr worked with his father, George E. Starr, hauling pulp. In the early 1940s, he founded Starr’s Transportation, which started with only one truck that needed many repairs that he made. It eventually grew to a multi-million dollar corporation with trucks traveling all across the U.S. and Canada.
After retirement, he developed his land in Jay, utilizing his many skills and expertise to transform the land into a dynamic and spectacular showplace for his family to enjoy and have weddings and many other memorable family functions.
Mr. Starr was an honored member of Who’s Who of American Inventors in 1989 and had an inscribed U.S. patent plaque. He invented the auxiliary suspension system for large transport trailers which was a safety device that kept trailers from tipping over if they had a fractured spring.
He loved parades and designed and built an electric powered bicycle that he drove in the parades through the years. His grandchildren loved this invention. Mr. Starr enjoyed developing and creating things to make life easier.
He was a distinguished member of the Vermont Truck and Bus Association as a director on the executive committee, and eventually became the president from 1987 to 1989. He was also a member of the American Trucking Association and was a delegate to the national convention for many years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #16 and the Newport Elks #2155.
On September 5, 2010, Mr. Starr was pleasantly surprised with a ninetieth birthday celebration at Tastings Restaurant in North Troy. Approximately 50 to 60 family members helped him celebrate this delicious dinner and birthday milestone.
On September 11 he was inducted into the Orleans and Northern Essex Athletic Hall of Fame at the Newport Country Club in honor of his outstanding achievement in baseball.
The funeral was held at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on October 16.
Should friends desire, contributions in Urban’s memory may be made to the Jay Starr Scholarship Fund and should be sent to James Starr, Highland Avenue, North Troy, Vermont 05859 for the North Troy High School Alumni Association.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Dennis Adelord Taylor
Dennis Adelord Taylor, 56, of Nashville, Tennessee, died suddenly in Texas on October 17, 2010.
He was a son of Lois and Ad Taylor of Barton.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Leipziger, publicist and songwriter from Nashville; by his parents; by siblings Kathy Trecartin and her husband, Doug, of Central Point, Oregon, Patricia Taylor and her spouse, Pam Skriletz, of Orleans, and Daniel Taylor and his wife, Kelly, and sons Ben and Josh of St. Paul, Minnesota.
The following appeared in the Nashville newspaper The Tennessean: “Dennis Taylor, a Nashville-based session and stage musician whose saxophone aided recordings by Delbert McClinton, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Michelle Shocked, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many others, died suddenly in Greenville, Texas.”
Mr. Taylor was on tour with McClinton, in whose band he’d played for the past two and a half years. He had chest pains Sunday morning and was taken to a hospital, where he died at 1:04 p.m. after suffering a heart attack.
A professional saxophone player for more than 30 years, Mr. Taylor had just completed his first solo album with help from Kevin McKendree, also of McClinton’s band.
“Dennis had an old-school kind of tone that I don’t hear in anyone else’s playing anymore,” Mr. McKendree said. “He knew how to make it sing, and he had a great sensibility for what was supposed to happen. He knew what to play, and he knew what not to play.”
Mr. Taylor authored a series of instructional books in which he analyzed other players’ styles and offered tips for emulating and understanding work from the masters of the instrument.
“Pinpointing all these idiosyncratic elements in other players is essential in developing your own voice,” wrote Mr. Taylor, whose own sax “voice” could vary from a sensuous growl to the kind of buzzing, bluesy howl he employed on McClinton’s “People Just Love to Talk.”
“He was a free-spirited artist,” said singer-songwriter Todd Snider, who recently recorded an album that features Mr. Taylor on saxophone. “His playing was so tasteful, and he was such a warm and good person to be around. What a loss.”
Memorial details are incomplete at this time.
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