Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Edward R. Baxter, 35, of Guilford. Died May 1 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Husband of Christina Campbell for 10 years. Father of Damon and Annah-Marie Baxter. Sister of Rachel Baxter of Guilford. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Harold “Ed” and Norma (Brewer) Baxter-Winchester, he attended Whitingham schools and has worked as a papermaker for FiberMark in Brattleboro for the past 11 years. He loved fishing, hunting and barbecuing with his family and friends. He enjoyed tossing horseshoes and playing badminton, and loved playing poker. He was a huge Oakland Raiders football fan and enjoyed following NASCAR. Most of all, he was a devoted husband and father and cherished times spent with his family especially his children. Memorial information: A funeral service was held May 7 at Covey & Allen Funeral Home in Wilmington, with interment in the family lot in Sadawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations for the family and children of Ed and Christina Baxter, may be sent in care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Christine May Bills, 80, of Townshend. Died May 3 at home. Wife of the late Howard Bills for 35 years. Mother of Mayla Brown and her husband, Alan, of Brookline; Rosanne Kenyon and her husband, Ron, of Keene, N.H.; Raye Liebfried and her husband, James, of Vernon; and Rosemarie LaPierre of Greenfield, Mass. Sister of David Miller. Born in Concord, N.H., the daughter of Romulus and Isalee (Goss) Turcotte, she was a wife and a homemaker. She worked for Brattleboro Senior Meals in Brattleboro and as a clerk in Roots Pharmacy after the death of her husband. She moved to Heartwellville in 1991, where she was a valuable and much loved member of The Door of Hope Fellowship, where she resided until 2009. She enjoyed cooking and ministered to the young people as they worked along with her at the ministry. In 2009 ,she moved to Valley Cares Assisted Living in Townshend, where she enjoyed living until her death. Memorial information: A graveside service was held May 10 at Fairview Cemetery in Wardsboro. Donations to Valley Cares, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Barbara Leary Blow, 81, of Brattleboro. Died May 1 at home. Former wife of Allen H. Williams. Wife of the late Erwin H. Blow. Mother Vicki Williams and partner, Janet Pratt, of Swanzey, N.H.; Verlene (Birdie) LaShay and husband, Robert, of Guilford; Nonie Enola Fournier and husband, David, of Dummerston; and Ruth Putnam of Guilford. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of John F. Leary and Ruth Gertrude Fuller. She attended local schools, and worked at H. Margolins, American Optical, and Amp Keyboard in Brattleboro. She was a member of the VFW Post 1034 and the American Legion in Brattleboro. She loved Bingo, card games, and crocheting. Memorial information: No services are planned.
• Lt. Col. Paul Kent Coughlin (ret.), 78, of New York City and Dover. Died May 2 at his home in Vermont. Husband of Kathryn Coughlin. Born in Bronxville, N.Y., the son of Alfred A. Coughlin and Dorothy (Kent) Torre, he had a successful career at ABC, spanning 30 years until his retirement as Executive Vice President for Engineering and Operations at ABC Radio. Coverage of the Olympics and the U.S. space program were particularly rewarding to him. Also sources of pride and accomplishment were his more than 30 years of military service in the New York National Guard and his membership in the Squadron A Association. His intelligence, leadership, and endearing way with people were evident in his participation in many activities and organizations. He was a founding member of the Haystack Ski Educational Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors at the Green Mountain Valley School, and vice president of the NYAC Pistol Club. His interests were varied from sailing the BVI to exploring the Antarctic convergence. He loved rooting for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants, as well as being “top gun” at the NYAC. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on May 7 at St. Jean the Baptiste Catholic Church in Manhattan. Donations to The Green Mountain Valley School, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Renal Department, Duke Diet Fitness Center or a charity of choice in care of the Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• James Alphonsus Ducey, 51, of Brattleboro. Died April 24 at his home. Brother of Daniel Ducey, Mary Lampasona, and Susan Phillips of Brattleboro. Predeceased by a brother, Kevin Ducey Jr. He was born in Buffalo, N.Y., the son of Kevin and Frances (Williams) Ducey. Memorial information: Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
• Jane Maloney Forbes, 53, of Claremont N.H., formerly of Brattleboro. Died May 1 at her home. Wife of Donald Forbes. Mother of Brandy Bushway of Claremont N.H., Jessica Bushway of Brattleboro, and the late Sorrell Bushway. Born in Schenectady N.Y., she grew up and spent most of her adult life in and around the Brattleboro area. She was the general manager of Baymont Inn located in Lebanon N.H. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro on Sunday, May 8. Donations to the Humane Society of your choice.
• Charles Dana Holland, 64, of North Westminster. Died May 1 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School and worked for many years at Brown & Roberts in Bellows Falls. Memorial information: Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations to the Oncology Unit, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 19 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Elbert George “Al” Moulton Jr., 85, of Townshend. Died May 1 at his home. Husband of the late Geraldine “Geri” Lockhart for 59 years. Father of Bob and Barbara (Hennesey) of Duxbury; Daniel and Kevin (Murphy), and Sara (Cross Moulton) of Calgary, Alberta; David and Lisa (Rice) of Whitingham; and Patricia and Timothy Powden of South Londonderry. Born in Brooks, Maine, the son of Elbert G., Sr. and Fannie (Brown) Moulton, he served in the Navy during World War II; both in Normandy and Okinawa. After the war, Al completed his degree at the University of Maine. He began a career in Chamber of Commerce work as the director of Brattleboro's chamber, and later with the Rutland Chamber of Commerce and the chamber in Lawrence, Mass. He then served as the state's chief economic development leader under Governors Hoff, Salmon, Snelling, and Kunin. He was instrumental in the establishment of some of Vermont's landmark laws and initiatives: Act 250, Vermont's land use and development law (1970); the banning of billboards in the state (1968); and the establishment of Vermont's Captive Insurance industry (1981). His career in Vermont politics started in 1968, as he ran successful campaigns for Gov. Deane C. Davis and for U.S. Sen.Robert Stafford, and was chairman of the Vermont Republican party in the late 1960s. In between his stints in state government, he assisted in development of Quechee Lakes, served as executive director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. and Springfield Regional Development Corp., from where he retired in 1994. He helped numerous companies start-up, expand, or relocate to Vermont, and helped to create hundreds of jobs. He loved the state and was an unapologetic advocate and salesman for Vermont. Memorial information: A memorial service was held May 7 at the Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. A burial service will be held for immediate family at a later date. Donations to the Al Moulton Economic Development Scholarship Fund, REDC, 112 Quality Lane, Rutland, VT 05701. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Diane Marie Duhaime Murray, 63, of Brattleboro. Died May 3 at home. Wife of Robert W. Murray for more than 37 years. Mother of Joseph H. Murray, of Louisville, Ky.; Christine M. Murray and her partner, Brian Boucher, of Hinsdale, N.H.; Kevin S. Murray and his wife, Kelly Foley Murray, of Guilford; and Shannon L. Meckle and her husband, Kenneth Meckle, of East Dover. Born in Dayton, Ohio, to Theresa (Roy) and Henry A. Duhaime, she had a gift for teaching in every facet of life, whether it be something as simple as sharing her skills as a master knitter, or as complicated as embracing the unusual, always keeping an open mind, and to understand the lesson in any given situation. Those who knew her well will remember her most for her inappropriate giggle; the mischievous twinkle in her eye; the ringing of her contagious laugh and at times, her angry roar. Diane leaves behind her talent, knowledge, and beauty - in her sweaters, paintings and her most prized accomplishment - her children. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held on May 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with a celebration of life immediately following at the Elk's Club on Putney Road in Brattleboro. Donations to offset medical and funeral expenses can be sent in care of Robert Murray, 34 Deepwood Park, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Donald K. Olson, 70, of Guilford. Died April 30 at the home of his son, Kevin, in Greenfield, Mass. Father of Elizabeth Olson, of Guilford and Kevin Olson and his partner, Jane Polo. Brother of Catherine, Gail, Betsy, Margaret, Michael, Barbara, George, Mabel, David, Fred, Denise, and Donna. Predeceased by his parents and a brother, Robert Olson of Taunton, Mass. Born in Holden, Mass., the son of the late William and Ruth Olson, he served in the Air Force and later owned and operated Viking Auto Repair in Vernon for 30 years. He was a true “car guy” and an honest and gifted mechanic with amazing problem solving skills and a genuine desire to help others. He built hot rods and classic cars, and took great pride in restoring them and attending meets all over the country. He was a lifetime member of the National Street Rod Association as well as a member of the Reo Club of America, serving on its board of directors. He was a Boy Scout leader for Troop 62 in Bernardston, Mass., for several years. He was also an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He was known for his wit, wonderful sense of humor, and great laugh. He was smart and possessed a vast vocabulary as well as wide ranging knowledge of current events and life. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. at the West Brattleboro Meeting House, 29 South St., West Brattleboro. Donations to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St., Suite 2, Greenfield, MA 01301.
• Patricia D. Goggin Parker, 84, of Springfield, Mass. Died May 1 at her home. Wife of the late Fred Parker. Mother of David and his partner, Fran Ziperstein, of Brattleboro; Kevin and Diane of Poland, Maine; Debbie and John Matthew of Springfield, Mass.; Kathy and Paul Tomassetti of Agawam, Mass.; Chris, of Guilford; Mary and her partner Becky Roak of Brunswick. Maine; Michael and Maureen of Grafton; Maureen and her partner Rita Hawker of Feeding Hills, Mass.; and the late Timmy Parker. Born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of Pat and Johannah Landers Goggin of County Kerry, Ireland, she attended Holy Family School and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1943. She was known to never miss one of her children's sporting events. She belonged to a bowling league, the Catholic Women's Club, the Cathedral High School Golden Panthers, the Bloomin' Bunch Garden Club and a coffee club that met every other Wednesday for more than 40 years. She was also very active locally, volunteering at Mercy Hospital and baking weekly for the soup kitchen for 25 years. She was a blood donor of 11 gallons. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, where she was responsible for organizing the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Library and serving as a Eucharistic Minister to those homebound and in nursing homes for 20 years. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on May 4 at Our Lady of The Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, Mass. Donations to the Sisters of St. Joseph Retirement Fund, 34 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040.