Obituaries
• Frances L. “Sugar” Bird, 85, of Whitingham. Died Aug. 13 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Francis Bird for 58 years. Mother of Francis Bird Jr. and his wife, Barb, of Wilmington; Steven Bird Sr. and his wife, Sharon, of Dummerston; Linda Bird of Brookline; and Joe Anne Driscoll of Killington. Sister of Leon Sucharzewski, Mary Ann Berry, and the late Paul, Thomas, and Elizabeth Bird. Born in Readsboro, the daughter of the late Josephine and John Sucharzewski, she loved Vermont and lived within a 25-mile radius her whole life. As a young wife, she taught herself to cook, knit, and care for her four children. She taught herself sewing by clothing her husband and children. She also became an expert shot and hunter, as well as a skilled fisherman under the tutelage of her husband. She loved snowshoeing and snowmobiling. She worked during World War II for the war effort, soldering radio wires for Sprague Electric in North Adams. She worked many jobs outside the home, but her favorite and longest was working at Sawmill Farms in Dover. This is where she began sewing for an interior decorator. She made drapes for Nathaniel Hawthorne's home, as well as exclusive homes and resorts in England, Rhode Island, California, New York, Florida, St. Martin, and Vermont. She was always beginning new hobbies, including quilting at age 79, oil painting, crafts, gardening, and harvesting blueberries and raspberries for her family. She was an avid reader right up to her death. She will be remembered for her quick wit, sense of humor, many contributions to charities, and her generosity to all. Memorial information: At her request, there were no services. She asked to be buried next to her husband by her four children.
• Perry Ripley “Butch” Chase Jr., 72, of East Jamaica. Died Aug. 23 at home. Former husband of Donna Chase for 25 years. Father of Perry Ripley Chase III, Julie Faye Barrows, Marci Diane Barrows and Kenneth Mitchell Chase. Brother of William H. Chase, Richard Chase, and Peggy Carey. The son of the late Perry R. Chase Sr. and Helen Connolly Chase, he was a longtime resident of Wardsboro. He was a “Jack of All Trades,” and a master of many - first and foremost his amazing skills as carpenter that can be seen through the entire West River Valley. He loved to hunt, fish, and spend time with his family, never missing out on a good meal (and always having of seconds!) He was known as kind-hearted storyteller and was loved by all who knew him. His always positive perspective on life will be missed. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetary in Wardsboro.
• David Michael DeFosses, 61, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 21 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a period of failing health. Husband of Beverly (Ryder) DeFosses for 15 years. Father of Jimmy Merithew, and his wife, Laura, and Linda Prentice. Brother of Philip DeFosses, and his wife, Linda, of Franklin, N.H. Born in Franklin, N.H., the son of the late Victor and Doris (Thayer) DeFosses, he was raised in Franklin and Laconia, N.H. A graduate of Laconia High School, he went on to the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, graduating with a degree in business. He was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis as a child. He was very courageous and did not let his physical disability stop him from achieving so much in his life. Memorial information: A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 27 at St. Paul Church in Franklin, N.H., with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Franklin. Donations to the Palliative Care Program, Office of Development, DHMC, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, N.H.
• Bernard J. “Bernie” Fleming, 73, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Aug. 19 at home after a long battle with cancer. Husband of Geraldine (Smith) Fleming for 29 years. Father of Patrick Fleming of Hinsdale, N.H., Timothy Fleming and James Fleming of Brattleboro, Marybeth Fleming of Brattleboro, and Lynette Soucia of Marlborough, N.H. Brother of Joan Dudek of Dover, N.H., Pauline Hanley of Greenfield, Mass., and the late Patricia Reis and Mary Kathryn Simas. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Elsie (Geiger) and Joseph Fleming, he was the owner and operator of Fleming Funeral Home in Brattleboro. He took over the business from his father, which he ran for many years. As a funeral director in his life's work, he assisted generations of many local families. He did this with tremendous care and respect through the difficult time following the loss of a loved one. He was also the owner and operator of the Fleming Ambulance Service. He enjoyed fishing, listening to music and had a deep abiding love for animals and nature. He found pleasure in spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren. In recent years, he appreciated the service and care of the Oncology Department at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and cherished the friendships established during this time. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Memorial information: In keeping with his wishes, burial will be private. Donations to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Oncology Department, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to St. Michael's Church, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Wayne Austin Plumb, 63, of Whitingham. Died Aug. 16 at home, after a determined battle with cancer. Husband of Thelma Stickney for nearly 39 years. Father of Rebecca Longe and her husband, Richard, of Jacksonville; Leslie Plumb and her fiance, Rick Price, of Wilmington; and Amber Holland and her husband, Mitchell, of Readsboro. Brother of Theresa Oakes and her husband, Dennis, of Whitingham; and Tami Butler and her husband, Ken, of Jacksonville. Born in Whitingham, the son of Austin and the late Gloria (Russell) Plumb, he graduatedfrom Whitingham High School. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and later worked for Yankee-Rowe Nuclear Power Plant in Rowe, Mass. as a security project manager for many years. He was a weapons expert, managing weapons training at Yankee-Rowe and was very successful at competition target shooting. He enjoyed woodworking and building furniture, as well as boating, fishing, muscle cars - especially Mustangs, and watching movies. In his earlier years, he was a very good bowler and auto mechanic. He cherished times with his family, especially family gatherings, enjoyed listening to the music of the 1960s, and was an avid reader. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 22 at Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington, with interment in the family lot in Sawdawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations to the American Cancer Society.
• John A Rocray, 80, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 18 at home. Former husband of Barbara S. Rocray of Dummerston. Father of Polly K. Rocray of Concord, N.H. Brother of Samuel E. Rocray and his wife, Bernice, of Orleans, Mass., and Peter E. Lindvall and wife, Pamela, of Wilmington, Del., Bertha Rocray of York, Maine, the widow of his brother, David; and stepsister Jean L. O'Rourke of Waterbury. A graduate of Winchester, Mass., High School. Hebron Academy, Dartmouth College, and Cornell University Law School, he joined the Brattleboro law firm of Fitts and Olsen upon graduating from law school in 1957. During his distinguished 55-year career as a Brattleboro attorney, he was State's Attorney for Windham County for 12 years and had his own law firm. Due to ill health, John closed his law practice in 2012. He was a long time member of the Vermont Bar Association, and was dedicated to his profession. He greatly valued his interactions and discussions with his colleagues. He especially enjoyed his work and the warm friendship and support of the Brattleboro Thai community. He was also known for his love of Shakespeare, the theatre, music and the opera. Memorial information: Funeral services were private. A reception in his honor will be held at the West Village Meeting House on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m. Friends and colleagues are cordially invited. Donations to Latchis Arts, 50 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
Births
• In Burlington (Fletcher Allen Health Care), Aug. 9, 2012, a daughter, Isabella Rose Charron, to Jennifer (Coburn) and Andrew Charron of Middlebury.
College news
• Carla Yudin of Guilford graduated with the Class of 2012 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Yudin received a B.A. in Psychology.
• Meaghan Taylor of Wilmington was named to the Curry College Dean's List for the Spring 2012 term.