Paul Emile Blair
Paul Emile Blair, 86, of Williston died and came to the end of his earthly life on September 18, 2009, following an extended period of declining health.
Mr. Blair was born November 23, 1922, near May Pond in Barton, a son of Edmund and Aldea Blair of Quebec.
In 1945, he married Helena Anderson, and they became dairy farmers in West Glover, Panton, and Williston at Taft’s Corners.
In 1960 the family pulled together after a devastating barn fire, from which they saved most of their cows. A neighbor farmer leased them a barn while a new one was being built.
They sold their cows in 1978 and subsequently developed Blair Park, the first major commercial development in Williston. He was president of the local branch of the National Farmers Organization.
He was an avid ice and lake fisherman and enjoyed hunting and maple sugaring. He was a parish member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winooski.
He was the quintessential farmer, skilled in fixing anything at any time under any conditions and often better than the original manufacturer.
He is survived by his wife, Helena, of 64 years; by his children: Francis, Ronald and his wife, Janet, Carol, Rose and her husband, Dan, Mark, Lawrence, and Michael and his wife, Kathy; by seven grandchildren; by five great-grandchildren; by his sister Simone Parenteau of Meriden, Connecticut; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; by his daughter Corena; and by brothers: Leo, Adrien, and Noel.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated September 23 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Interment followed in East End Cemetery in Williston.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Champlain Community Services, earmarked for developmental disabilities, 512 Troy Avenue, Colchester, Vermont 05446; to Essex Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 8442, Essex, Vermont 05451; or to a charity of one’s choice.
Roland W. “Curt” Curtis
Roland W. “Curt” Curtis, 86, died and went peacefully to Heaven to be with Velma, his beloved wife, on October 3, 2009.
Mr. Curtis was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Before and after the war he worked at Union Butterfields for 44 years.
He was a member of the Elks Club and the Derby Line Fire Department for 25 years.
He loved to fish, hunt, play cards, and read anything he could get his hands on.
One of the things he loved most was being a brother in the Golden Rule Lodge 5 in Stanstead, Quebec, where he was a member for 49 years.
He climbed Owl’s Head for more than 30 consecutive years.
He and his wife spent 16 winters in Florida.
His two beloved children, Laurel Cadieux of Derby and Richard Curtis of Pittsford, survive him. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Shawn, Sara, Scott, Bethany, and Ryan; by great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Mariah, Cameron, Cassandra, Christopher, Julia, Anne, Brittany, Nikia, Michaela, Julia, Riley, and Dylan; by his brother Don and his wife, Ferol; by sisters-in-law: Gerry Barber and her husband, Louis, Phyllis Derick, Gertrude Cross, and Ruby Davies; and by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth and Walter Curtis; by his brother Lawrence; and by twin sisters, Doris and Joyce.
Funeral services will be held at the Derby Line Village Hall on Saturday, October 17, at 2 p.m. A celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis’ lives will follow the service. Refreshments will be served; please bring cookies to share. Committal services for both Mr. and Mrs. Curtis will be in the Derby Line Cemetery. The family requests no flowers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Derby Academy Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or to a charity of one’s choice.
Lucille O. Drown
Lucille O. Drown, 84, of Barton died October 10, 2009, in Glover.
Mrs. Drown was born June 12, 1925, in Newport Center, a daughter of Elmo and Alice (Sherlaw) Crandall.
In 1947 she married Grosvenor “Bud” Drown, who predeceased her in 1964.
She cooked for the hot lunch program at Barton Academy for many years and for Bonnie at the mini-mart in Barton. She was a clerk at Cook’s Market in Orleans.
She loved to cook, garden, and knit to the benefit of her family, neighbors, and friends. She was always ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. She loved her family and enjoyed their visits as well as going to their homes to visit.
She is survived by three children: Brent Drown of Barton, Bonnie Bousquet and her husband, Lou, of Florida, and Brian Drown of Barton; by grandchildren: Jason and his wife, Suzanne, of St. Johnsbury, Jodi Morley and her husband, John, of Orleans, Joshua and Alice Drown of Orleans, Erin and Lyle McGee of Enosburg, and Deveney and Mike Wolfe of Ohio; by great-grandchildren: Taylor, Brooke, Isaiah, Zeke, Zoe, Benny, Avery, and Dalton; by sister Patricia Amato and her husband, Mike, of Tennessee; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Katherine Cota.
A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family at the Welcome O. Brown Cemetery in Barton.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Drown’s memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Anita “Babe” Guillette
Anita “Babe” Guillette, 81, of Newport died October 6, 2009, in Newport.
Mrs. Guillette was born February 16, 1928, in Irasburg, a daughter of Hulderic and Dorilla (Hebert) Girouard.
On June 26, 1948, she married Henry Guillette, who predeceased her on January 20, 2004.
She loved to dance, go to the Elks Club with her husband, and play piano. She enjoyed following her son’s band, The Silver Eagles.
She spent most of her life working around the farm and raising her family. In later years she especially delighted in having members of the family come to visit and was very proud of the grandchildren and their accomplishments.
She is survived by her children Marcel Guillette and his wife, Francine, of Derby and Armand Guillette and his wife, Teresa, of Derby; by grandchildren: Anita McGowan and her husband, Jeremy, of Ohio, Marcy Guillette of Derby, René Picard and her husband, Nathan, of Derby, Brandon Guillette of Derby, Tonya Brown and her husband, Arnie, of Glover, Amanda Pepin and her husband, Mike, of Troy, and Armand Guillette and his wife, Jennifer, of Derby; by 11 great-grandchildren; by sisters Rose Desmarais of Orleans and Oda Fortin of Massachusetts; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by an infant son, George; by seven brothers: Lorenzo, Roland, Moise, Marcel, Ahren, Phil, and Louie; and by two sisters, Lucille and Rita.
Funeral services were held October 10 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church in Newport with the Reverend Michael Reardon celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Newport.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Rachel C. Miner
Rachel C. Miner, 89, of Omaha, Nebraska, died September 27, 2009, in Omaha.
Mrs. Miner was born November 9, 1919, in Troy.
She was predeceased by her husband, Richard H. Miner. She is survived by daughters Mary Ellen Duffack and her husband, Jim, and Fran Henton and her husband, Bob; by sons Rick Miner and his wife, Kathleen, and Rodney Miner and his wife, Susan; by sister Patricia Fiske of Burlington; by seven grandchildren; and by three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held October 12 at St. Ignatius Church in Lowell with the Reverend Henry Mlinganisa celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed in St. Ignatius Cemetery in Lowell.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Miner’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 172 North Main Street, Barre, Vermont 05641-4124.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Anthony “Tony” Joseph Weisman
Anthony Joseph Weisman, called Tony by friends and family, 65, died suddenly near his home in Seguin, Texas, on September 29, 2009.
Mr. Weisman was born May 31, 1944, in Hidalgo County, near the Mexican border, where his grandparents had a dairy farm. His father became a ranch manager for the Oblate Order, thus he moved when very young to the Texas hill country near New Braunfels, Texas.
He is mourned by his wife, Sylvia Ann Manning, who knew him since their high school years in New Braunfels; by daughter Leecia Manning; by granddaughter Stella Manning; and by countless friends, colleagues, and family members.
Tony and Sylvia recently acquired a house in Barton, which was to be their retirement home. With her, he began to visit Vermont, and thus had friends in Glover and Barton who he held in high regard. He also had new friends in Quebec City.
He worked as a construction manager. In 2008 he was designated a Leed accredited professional by the Green Building Certification Institute. His hope was that through better practices and methods people would save their natural home.
Judith Dawn (Lacoss) Wilcox
Judith Dawn (Lacoss) Wilcox, 63, of Newport died suddenly October 10, 2009, in Newport.
Mrs. Wilcox was born March 17, 1946, in Orleans, a daughter of Archie and Katherine (Johnson) Lacoss.
She was a lifestyle editor for the Newport Daily Express for 14 years. She worked at one time for the American Red Cross and was secretary for the local sheriff’s office.
She enjoyed watching cooking shows, soap operas, American Idol, and Dancing With The Stars; listening to Elvis Presley music; and dancing.
She is survived by her children Tammy Smith and her husband, Michael, of Newport and Scott Prue and his wife, Donna, of Sutton; by her longtime friend Frank Mills of Newport; by four grandchildren: Travis Prue, Samantha Holden, and Christian and Jorden Prue; by two great-grandchildren, Dylan Markum and Paradis Prue; by siblings: Mike Lacoss and his wife, Betty, of Westmore, Robin Lacoss and his wife, Clair, of Newport Center, Reginald Lacoss and his wife, Shirley, of Irasburg, and Bonnie Chartier and her husband, Joe, of Orleans; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Archie and Katherine Lacoss; by her brother Rodney “Donnie” Lacoss; and by two sisters, Betty Moquin and Phyllis Vallier.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Darling Hill Road in Newport with the Reverend Ann Squire officiating. Interment will take place at a later date in Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Wilcox’s memory may be made to the family, in care of Tammy Smith, 115 Second Street, #1, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
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