Obituaries
• Tanya Cutler, 42, of Jacksonville. Died April 2 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, in Bennington after a long battle with cancer. Wife of Robert Cutler Jr. for seven years. Mother of Daniel, Charlie and Kimberly Cutler. Sister of Taro D. Woodcock and Tina P. Westfell. Daughter of Edda Woodcock Philips and the late Anthony Alfred Woodcock. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held April 11 at Covey & Allen Funeral Home in Wilmington. Donations to either the Tanya Cutler Memorial Fund or to the Southwestern Vermont Cancer Research Center, in care of the Covey & Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Condolences may be sent to www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Gladys B. (Burbee) Gale, 87, formerly of Townshend. Died March 29 at her home in Rockport, Mass. Wife of the late Wetzel L. Gale. Mother of Patricia DeMarco, Jane Elizabeth Gale, Janet O'Donnell and her husband, Thomas, and Beau Gale and his wife, Nikole, all of Rockport; Priscilla Gale-Gibson and husband E. Clark Gibson, of Stuart, Fla.; and the late John M. Gale. Sister of the late Russell and Stuart Burbee. Born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Arthur G. Burbee and Leta Gibbs (who died in childbirth), she was lovingly raised by Arthur and Harriet McPherson Burbee. She grew up in Townshend, where her family owned the Townshend Furniture Co. and the Windham Lumber Co. She attended Green Mountain College, and was married in 1945. Vermont was always her true home, and over the years, she and her family often returned to vacation at the beloved Townshend house her husband built in 1946, where the two began raising their children. The Burbees and Gales moved to Rockport in 1947, where they bought the “Texas” Smith home on Eden Road. Clearing the surrounding land and building 13 cottages with Vermont lumber, they opened Rocky Shores Inn & Cottages. With their growing family, Wetzel and Gladys continued to run Rocky Shores until 1980, and their children enjoyed growing up there and helping with the many innkeeping duties. Throughout the years, she continued to spend time in Rockport and also lived in Stuart, Fla. She was a loving mother and dear friend to many. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held in Bondville. Donations to VNA Care Network & Hospice, Development Office, 5 Federal St., Danvers, MA 01923, or the First Baptist Church of Rockport, 4 High St., Rockport, MA 01966, or to the Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Muriel A. Horning, 77, of Brattleboro. formerly of Marcellus, N.Y. Died March 29. Wife of George Horning. Mother of George W. Horning Jr., and his wife Ann of Jeffersonville, Becky Daitch and her husband, Bryan, of Topsfield, Mass., and Gretchen Hunter and her husband, Craig, of Manchester, Vt. Sister of Richard Gilbertson and his wife, Yola, of Plymouth, Mich. Born in Cortland, N.Y., the daughter of the late Merle and Grace Gilbertson, she grew up in Polkville, N.Y. on the family farm. She graduated from Cortland High School 1953. After graduation, she was married and went with her husband to work at Springfield (Mass.) College, where she was a private secretary in the Student Coordinator Office. She also worked part-time at the Basketball Hall of Fame and at the college's post office. She moved to Marcellus in 1960, where she became an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church. She was proud of being part of a committee that brought “Miss Beverly's Dancing School” to Marcellus. She was also a member of the Home Bureau Extension of the Marcellus Hospitality Club and enjoyed being part of her Bridge Club. She worked as a Realtor for Yuhas Real Estate for 23 years. In 1998, she moved to Brattleboro to be closer to her children. She enjoyed her new friends, neighborhood craft groups, volunteering with the Strolling of the Heifers organization, and gardening. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m., at St. John's Episcopal Church in Marcellus, followed by a reception in the church hall, where the family will receive friends. Donations to the American Lung Association.
• Loretta “Rettie” J. Kelly, 76, of Bellows Falls. Died March 30 at Genesis Keene Center in Keene, N.H. Wife of Maurice Kelly for 50 years. Mother of Patrick and Brian Kelly, and Kathleen Neathawk, all of Bellows Falls. Sister of Bernard Brooks of Winchester, N.H., and Winifred Brooks of Vernon. Born in Hinsdale, N.H., the daughter of the late Kenneth and Anne (Paduchak) Brooks, she attended school in Hinsdale and was a 1953 graduate of Hinsdale High School. Rettie worked at the Shawmut Bank in Boston, the Singer Sewing Machine Co. in Brattleboro and for the Bellows Falls Central Elementary and Union High School lunch programs. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Polish American Club, both in Bellows Falls, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Brattleboro. She made many trips to Ireland, and many bus trips to Atlantic City. She enjoyed her front porch and dearly loved her children and grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was celebrated April 4 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster.
• Christian Tanner McPherson, 67, of Putney. Died Feb. 6 as a result of injuries sustained in an accident at his home. Life partner of Janice Baldwin. Former husband of Debra D. Johnson. Father of Scott and his wife, Dori. Son of the late Glenn A. Fulkerson and Helen Fulkerson Shipp. A second generation San Diegan, he was born Chris Lee Fulkerson, changing his name later to honor his Scottish heritage and reflect his interest in tanning buckskin. He graduated from San Diego State with a degree in Social Sciences, and lifelong interests in American History, the environment, and spiritual pursuits. He tried different professions, but found his true calling in the practice and teaching of Aikido, which he began in 1973. He was a student of the legendary T.K. Chiba Sensei, achieving the rank of 5th dan. Locally, he practiced with the River Valley Aikido Center in Brattleboro, where he was valued for his clear, strong approach and thoughtful care of fellow practitioners. An unconventional individual, he marched to his own drum, eschewing wealth or status, and was often at odds with the world and friends. Nevertheless, he sought to align his life with his values of respect for the land and for others. In pursuit of his values, he was at different times a skillful sailor, wise woodsman, 18th century reenactor, intuitive masseuse, natural musician and whistler, crafter of fine furniture, steward of the land, barterer of services, a good listener, and always a keeper of friends. Memorial information: A memorial practice will be held Saturday, May 5, at 10 a.m. at River Valley Aikido Center, with a celebration of life to follow at 2 p.m. at the Putney Friends Meeting House.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), March 14, 2012, a son, Shaughn Percy Leander Taylor, to Susan (Chubbuck) and George L. Taylor II of Hinsdale, N.H.; grandson to George L. Taylor and Margurite Lacasse, and the late Ralph J. and Carol A. Chubbuck.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 22, 2012, a daughter, Tenley Ayla Rea, to Victoria (Shippee) and Robert Rea of Vernon; granddaughter to Shane and Linda Shippee and Dana Bucossi and Tina Rea.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 1, 2012, a daughter, Desma Ellis Lalanne, to Rebecca (Ellis) and Nicholas Lalanne of Brattleboro; granddaughter to Russell and Grace Ellis of Putney, and Bernadette and Nicolas Lalanne of Queens, N.Y.; great-granddaughter to Rose Lalanne, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Transitions
• Maggie Aldrich, Caleb Clark, and Sandra Clark were all recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the United Way of Windham County. Aldrich is a assistant Human Resources manager at G.S. Precision. Caleb Clark is the director of the Educational Technology Masters program and a teacher at Marlboro College Graduate School. Sandra Clark, who previously served on the board, is an asset manager at Brattleboro Housing Authority.
• Frannie Waldron was recently hired as director of the Greater Falls Prevention Coalition. She returns to southern Vermont after nearly seven years with the Scleroderma Foundation, where she served as executive director of the New England chapter and CEO and director of development of the national foundation.
• Susan Bellville, Lisa DiBernardo, and Glenn Herrin were all recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing. Bellville is a real estate broker and owner of Caldwell Banker Bellville Realty in Brattleboro. DiBernardo is a mortgage originator at the Brattleboro office of the Vermont State Employees Credit Union. Herin is currently the Emergency Management Director for the town of Marlboro.
• Emily Walsh was recently hired as the new Early Childhood outreach specialist at the Windham Child Care Association. She has worked as an educator for the past 12 years, with the past eight years dedicated to early childhood education.