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.
• Sandra “Sandy” Johnson, 71, of West Dover. Died March 22 at home following a courageous battle with cancer. Wife of the late Charles Johnson for nearly 50 years. Mother of Randall Johnson and his wife, Robin, of West Dover; Monica Crawford of Wilmington; Bradley Johnson and his wife, Beth, of Hopkinton, Mass; and the late Anthony Johnson. Sister of Irene Sherman of East Dover, Carrie Wheeler of Wilmington, Julie Fox of Jacksonville, Terry Brissette of Mims, Fla., Reginald Bartlett of Wilmington, James Bartlett of Patten, Maine, and the late Howard Bartlett. The daughter of the late Halbert and Gertrude Bartlett, she graduated from Wilmington High School. She lived in Leominster, Mass., and Wilmington and Jacksonville, before settling down in West Dover. She worked as a food service manager at Mount Snow and Classic Foods of Greenfield, Mass., and most recently was employed by Sugar Tours. She had belonged to the Dover Ladies Aid Society, the West Dover Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, and the Parent Teachers Club at the Dover school. She enjoyed candlepin bowling, reading, crossword puzzles, gardening, kayaking and was her children's and grandchildren's biggest fan at their sporting activities. She cherished the moments spent with her family. Memorial information: A funeral service was held March 26 at West Dover Congregational Church, with burial in the Sadawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations may be made to the Vermont Kidney Association, any cancer center, or any Veterans Administration Fisher House, in care of Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Dorothy P. Kingsley, 98, of Jacksonville. Died March 20 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Wife of the late Arthur Kingsley. Mother of Gordon A. Kingsley and his wife, Anita, of Jacksonville; Merle H. Kingsley and his wife Theresa of Erving, Mass.; Genevieve Jacobs and her husband Reginald “Reggie” of Wilmington; and the late Allan and Roy Kingsley. Born in Newfane and adopted by the late Clarence and Florrie (May) Plumb of Whitingham, she attended Whitingham schools, graduating from Whitingham High School in 1931. She also attended Brattleboro Business Institute. She loved her home and taking care of her children, and was a babysitter for many families in town. She was a former Girl Scout, belonged to her church youth group, and was a 50-year member of the North River Grange, the Home-Dem Club, the Ladies Benevolent Society, and a PTA member. She was very active as a member of the Jacksonville Community Church, and active in past blood drives with the American Red Cross. She was an active member of the Senior Group and RSVP. She enjoyed geneology, family weddings, and reunions, as well as knitting, crocheting, and keeping up with current events. Memorial information: A funeral service was held March 27 at the Jacksonville Community Church, with burial in the family lot in Sadawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations to the Jacksonville Community Church, the Whitingham Ambulance Service, or the Ladies Benevolent Society, in care of the Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Joseph Kohout, 91, of West Dummerston. Died March 18, at home. Husband of Helen Griffin Kohout for more than 61 years. Father of Joseph A. Kohout of Walpole, N.H.; Susan Kohout of Brattleboro; Kerry Kohout of Nantucket, Mass.; George Kohout of Northampton, Mass.; Margaret Anderson of Burlington; Michael Kohout of Dummerston; and Barbara Pacelli of Concord, N.H. Brother of Georgiana Stewart of Cleveland, Ohio, and the late George Kohout. The son of the late George Kohout and Mary Ellen MacNamara, he was educated in New York City and joined the Merchant Marine in 1943. He served as a purser and pharmacist mate on voyages to South America, the South Pacific, and the North Atlantic until the end of World War II. After the war, he owned and operated a Sunoco station in Brooklyn, N.Y., with a partner, Buddy Simpson. It was at this time that he met the woman who would be his wife, at the time, a secretary for UNICEF at the United Nations. After their marriage, they lived in Levittown, Long Island, before moving to Fairfield, Conn., in 1957. He developed a thriving electrical business in Westport, Conn. with partner George Quigley, named Quigley and Kohout Electric. In 1967, Joe's love of hunting and fishing led him to purchase house and property on the West River in West Dummerston. Soon, this became more than a hunting camp, as his children also loved the place and began to raise their families “up north.” In 1985, the Kohouts made Dummerston their permanent home and the central location for their multi-generational family to gather. During this time of his retirement, he stayed extremely busy with car mechanics, home renovations, and volunteering his time with Meals on Wheels, Brooks Memorial Library, and the Dummerston Historical Society. In addition, with his three sons he established the Kohout Invitational Golf Tournament at the Brattleboro Country Club, now in its 20th year. he enjoyed gardening and putting foods by; his apple pies and bread and butter pickles will be missed. Beginning in about 1990, the Kohouts began to spend the winters on the Gulf Coast of Florida, most recently in Englewood, where they made many new friends. His was a unique voice, as a singer, mimic, a storyteller, a reciter of poetry and a perceptive commentator on his fellow man. He was open to everyone but nobody's fool. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of his life later in the spring, all will be welcome.
• Agnes Mary Lyons, 81, of Brattleboro. Died March 22 at her home following a period of declining health. Mother of James F. Lyons III and his wife, Mary, of Worcester; Robert J. Lyons of Brattleboro; Donna M. Lyons of Worcester, Mass.; and Sandra M. Gauthier and her husband, Michael, of Brattleboro. Sister of the late Miriam Wetmore and Patricia Baynard. Born in Worcester, the daughter of Dallas and Sara (Wetmore) Lafley, she was raised and educated in Worcester, attending Commerce High School and later the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she majored in early childhood education. She had worked most of her career as a telephone operator employed by New England Telephone in Brattleboro, which she retired from in 1997. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Ave Maria Circle #128. She also held membership in the Telephone Pioneers of America. For several years, she was an active volunteer at Care Net Pregnancy Center in Brattleboro. She enjoyed genealogy and was known as the family historian and storyteller. She liked to read, play cards, do puzzles, and keep in touch with her many friends through Facebook. She enjoyed time with her family, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 28 at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Andrea L. Mullaney, 75, of Brattleboro. Died March 20 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Mother of Francis Dawes of Brattleboro, Donald Warriner of Windsor Locks, Conn., and Lawrence Warriner of Conowingo, Md., Elizabeth Snyder, Kathleen Leclaire, and Laura Thomas, all of Brattleboro; Christal Dawes of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Linda Mullaney of Greenfield, Mass. Sister of Francine Simonoko, Janice Bramucci, Diane Picard and the late Beverly Dempsey. Born in Ludlow, Mass., the daughter of the late Francis and Ursula (Roberts) Mullaney, she was raised and educated in Indian Orchard, Mass., where she attended St. Aloysius Parochial School. She was a longtime resident of the area residing in Hinsdale and Brattleboro. A former resident of California, she had been employed as a medical assistant in the Sacramento area before moving back to the East coast. Locally, she had worked at the former Book Press in Brattleboro. She was also a devoted homemaker and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, where she served as a Eucharistic minister. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella. She thoroughly enjoyed her time spent at the Gathering Place on Terrace Street and playing Bingo every week at the Brattleboro Shrine Club. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Ruth E. Sawyer, 77, of Boonville, N.Y., formerly of Whitingham. Died March 20 at her home. Mother of Linda S. Batchelder and her husband, Bob Roberts, of Constableville, N.Y.; Rickey E. Phelps, of Whitingham; and the late Daniel Paul Phelps. Born in Ballston Spa, N.Y., the daughter of the late William and Lena Smith Arnold, she grew up in Ballston Spa, where she graduated from high school. For 56 years, she was a resident of Whitingham, moving to Boonville in 2010. For 10 years, she was employed as a bookkeeper at Sawyer Bentwood, Inc. of Whitingham. She greatly enjoyed crocheting and traveling. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held Saturday, April 7, at noon, at Sadawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donation to the Lewis County Humane Society, P.O. Box 682, Lowville, NY 13367.
• Rose “Tootsie” Stoodley, 93, of Westminster. Died March 7 of a cerebral hemorrhage at Springfield Hospital. Wife of the late Frank Stoodley Sr. for 43 years. Mother of Donald Badger and his wife, Margaret, of Manchester; Frank E. Stoodley, Jr.; Michael Stoodley and his wife, Debra, of Bellows Falls; John T. Stoodley and his wife, Suzanne, of Westminster; and Rose Alice Newell and her husband Paul of Titusville, Fla, Stepmother of Joan Edwards and husband, Royal of Plant City, Fla., and James Stoodley of Laconia, N.H. Sister of Charlie Leary of Manchester; William E. Leary, Jr. and his wife, Alice, of Millbrae, Calif.; Robert Leary and his wife, Tracy, of Ludlow; Margaret Brooks of Poultney; Ruby Mattison of Arlington; and the late Richard, John, and Francis Leary. Born in Saxtons River, the daughter of the late William and Rose (Tenney) Leary, she was a 1937 graduate of Burr & Burton Academy. She was a member of the Bellows Falls Emblem Club #153 and was a 57-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. In 2005, she received the “Service To America” award from the Legion in recognition of her work. She worked at Benny's Grocery Store, Rockdale Department Store and H.A. Manning Co., until her retirement. Memorial information: A memorial Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial to follow at the Saxtons River Cemetery. A celebration of her life will follow at American Legion Post 37 in Bellows Falls. Donations to American Legion Post 37 Baseball Program, Rockingham Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101, or Bellows Falls Union High School Football Program, in care coach Ryan Stoodley, 58 Williams St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.