College news
• Katherine Hambleton of Wilmington graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in biopsychology.
• The following local students recently graduated Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island: Dustin O. Powell of Westminster received a B.S. in Landscape Architecture and Joseph M. Sawyer Shaw of Brattleboro received a B.A. in Film Media.
• Conor Madison of Londonderry has earned Highest Honors, while Kelsey Patterson of Brattleboro has earned Honors during the spring 2015 semester at the University of New Hampshire.
Obituaries
• Dr. Dudley Moore Baker, 83, formerly of Dummerston, Died July 2 in Bennington. Husband of the late Geraldine “Gerry” Feyrer Baker. Father of Christopher Baker Sr. and his wife, Josephine of Ipswich, Mass.; David Baker of Alexandria, Va.; Catherine Baker and her husband, Richard Feldman, of Seattle, Wash.; Michael Baker of Waipahu, Hawaii, and Stephanie Baker and her husband, Cameron Bowie of London, UK . Brother of Stephen Baker of Brattleboro and Dennis Baker and his sister-in-law, Deborah Baker, of Dummerston. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late James and Beatrice (Massey) Baker, he grew up in Dummerston and took great pride in being a seventh generation Vermonter. As a young man, he worked on the family farm and helped at the family store. He attended the Choate School, Williams College, and the University of Vermont Medical School, where he met his future wife. He and Gerry were married in 1955 and enjoyed 54 years of marriage until her death in 2009. He did his training in orthopedic surgery at Boston Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital and served several years as a lieutenant commander on the orthopedic staff of the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego. He moved to Bennington in 1964 and had a successful orthopedic practice there for 32 years. He was active in the Bennington community. In the 1960s and 1970s, he revived the Mount Anthony chapter of the Jaycees and was elected as a Selectboard member. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Bennington Museum for 20 years, assisting with fundraising and shepherding the museum through two executive director searches. In 1984, he received the General Stark Society Award for his outstanding service to the museum. He had a wide range of interests and a big circle of friends. He and Gerry loved playing golf at the Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Mass. He was an especially proud Williams College alumnus and treasured his lifelong friendships with fellow alums. He enjoyed working in his garden and took great delight in hosting a rhododendron party in his backyard each spring. An avid reader with a curious mind, one could often find him in his reading chair with a stack of newspapers, medical journals, history books, and biographies. After his retirement, he audited history classes at Williams College and wrote over a dozen opinion columns that were published in local newspapers. His wit, dry humor, and storytelling prowess will be remembered dearly by all who knew him. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro on Friday, July 24, at 11 a.m. Committal rites and burial with full military honors will follow in the Baker family lot in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to the Bennington Museum, 75 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Brian M. Burke, 70, of North Walpole, N.H. Died July 9 at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. Husband of Joanne (Morris) Burke for 21 years. Stepfather of Michael, Eric, and Constance Clark, all of Bellows Falls, and Ronda Morris of Saxtons River. Brother of the late Dale Burke. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of the late Edward and Elizabeth (Condon) Burke. He attended St. Charles School, graduated from Bellows Falls High School, and earned an accounting degree from Northampton (Mass.) Commercial College. He worked for W.T. Grant, Jones & Lamson, the Grafton Cheese Factory, Unified Data, and also worked as a bartender in area clubs. He was a member of the Elks, the Polish American Club, and the American Legion, all in Bellows Falls. He was an avid sports fan and was a Pee Wee Football coach for 16 years. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 15, at 2 p.m., at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Burial will follow the service in St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster.
• Norma Dorothy (Lacey) Gagnon, 94, of Brattleboro, formerly of Hillsboro, N.H.. Died July 4 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Raymond Gagnon. Mother of Richard N. Gagnon and his wife, Jennifer; Deborah Gagnon Ronzano and the late Denise Gagnon. This extraordinary woman will be missed by all who knew her. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m.in St. Mary's Church in Hillsboro. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery in Hillsboro. A lunch and reminiscence to follow at the American Legion in Hillsboro. Donations to Hillsboro District Food Pantry, 7 Church St, Hillsboro, NH 03244, or the Thompson House, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301.
• Joyce Louise Gay, 84, of North Westminster. Died July 4 following a struggle with cancer. Wife of Robert L. Gay Jr. for 68 years. Mother of Sandra Gaspardino of North Walpole, N.H., Robert Gay III of Springfield, Vt., Daniel Gay of Saxtons River, and John Gay of Underhill Center. Sister of Lillian Turner, Loretta Grover, and the late Pauline Gibbs, Barbara Willard, Thelma Lake, Marjorie Schroeder, and Vernon and Richard Horton. Also survived by 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Born in Randolph, the daughter of the late Hattie Parker and Henry Locke, she moved to Saxtons River in 1942. She got married in 1947 and raised her children in Saxtons River initially, and later in North Westminster. She dedicated herself to her family and there will be a significant void in the lives of those who knew her. She treasured time with family, enjoyed writing poetry, having back yard get-togethers, playing Bingo, and taking trips to casinos with family and friends. She was very passionate about the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Red Sox. Memorial information: A private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations to the American Cancer Society or to Share Southern Vermont (sharesv.net).
• Hector R. Greve, 89, of Vernon. Died July 9 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Husband of the late Daisy Imhoff for 48 years. Father of William C. Greve and Phyllis Newton and her husband, David, all of Vernon. Sister of Phyllis Schramm of Park Ridge, N.J. Born in Teaneck, N.J., the son of the late Charles and Marion (Campbell) Greve, he attended Westwood High School in New Jersey and then the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics in Newark, N.J. He served his country in World War II in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Sixth Division. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in action during the invasion of Okinawa. He and his family moved to Bernardston, Mass., in 1969 from Hillsdale, N.J. He was a former member of the Westwood Reformed Church, then the Emerson Bible Church and Northfield Baptist Church and served as deacon, Sunday School teacher, youth director, and sang in the choir in both of the latter churches. He served on the board of the former Christian Heritage School in Brattleboro. He was employed by the State of Massachusetts as an elevator inspector. He was very active in serving others, taking people to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, and served with Meals on Wheels in Vernon for several years. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m., at the Advent Christian Church, 4554 Ft. Bridgman Rd. Vernon. Burial will follow in Center Cemetery in Bernardston. Calling hours will be Friday July 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave. Northfield. Donations to Advent Christian Homes, 61 Greenway Dr. Vernon, VT 05354, or the Northfield Baptist Church, 87 Main St. Northfield, MA 01306.
• Joseph Leland Johnston, 70, of Walla Walla, Wash. Died April 11. Son of the late Marsha (Gale) and Leland Johnston. Brother of Gail Clodius of Walla Walla, and the late Mary Chapman. Born in Brattleboro, he grew up in the Brattleboro area and lived in West Chesterfield and Hinsdale, N.H., and Dummerston before he moved west to Milton-Freewater, Ore. and the Walla Walla area. He attended Hinsdale High School and graduated in 1964. He then joined the Army and was stationed in Germany. He returned to the Brattleboro area and worked as a cement finisher with his father. Later, he became an independent painting contractor and did this until sidelined by heart-related health issues. He had a dry sense of humor and could break the ice at any function he attended. He loved classic and antique automobiles and owned several over the years. He was a warm and giving person who would help others. Memorial information: A memorial service was held July 11 at the West Townshend Seventh-day Adventist Church. Donations to your local Humane Society.
• Jan “Smiley” Leland, 65, formerly of Athens. Died July 2 at his home in Providence, R.I., after a trying battle with cancer. Husband of Leonila Leland. Father of Fern Earthwood and her husband, Christopher; April Earthwood and her husband, Seth; Hope (Dustin) Earthwood and her husband, Dustin, Carley Leland, Matthew Leland, and the late Amber Leland. Brother of Patience Trainor, Martha Leland, and Scott Leland. Born in Rochester, N.Y., the son of the late Maurice Leland and Esther Mather Brown, he grew up in Connecticut but also spent much of his time growing up in the green mountains of Vermont, where he made his home in Athens years later. Each new chapter of his life brought a new abode, moving from Vermont to Michigan to Texas to Mississippi, back to Texas and finally in Providence for his final farewell. He was an artisan in wood, leather, and stained glass, but he was mostly a master of the art of telling a good tale. He had a strong work ethic and a heart of gold. He shared his smile with all he knew and lived a full life, rich with friends and family from coast to coast. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at a date to be announced.
• Gary H. Lucier, 80, of Eagle Mills, N.Y. Died July 7. Husband of the late Gail Mackey Lucier. Father of Christine Brimmer of Vernon, Sharon Frazee, and her husband, Brad, of Speigletown, N.Y.; David Lucier and his wife, Jane, of Denver, Colo., and James Lucier and his wife, Amanda, of Wynantskill, N.Y. Brother of Paul Lucier, and his wife, Mary Alice, of Pittstown, N.Y.; D. Bruce Lucier and his wife, Peggy, of Gainesville, Fla.; and the late G. Wayne Lucier. Born in Troy, N.Y., son of the late Henry W. Lucier and Edith M. Connally Lucier, he served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1958. He worked as a self-employed fire investigator for many years. He loved old cars and traveling with his wife. He was a very proud father and grandfather. His grandchildren were his biggest joy. Memorial information: A graveside service was held July 9 at St. Agnes Cemetery in Memands, N.Y.
• Persis Gilbert Stillson, 98, of Brattleboro. Died June 18 at Thompson House in Brattleboro, after a short illness. Wife of the late Robert Stillson. Mother of Hollie Bowen of Brattleboro and Dick Stillson of Manchester Center. Sister of Walter Gilbert of Forty Fort, Pa., and the late Pauline French. The oldest child of the late Walter and Charlotte (Crawford) Gilbert, she attended the North Hartland School and was proud of attending and graduating from the Lyndon Institute in Lyndonville. She attended many reunions at LI, the most recent being her 75th in 2009. She was the first in her family to attend college (Stoneleigh in Rye, N.H.) After graduation, she worked for the State of Vermont in old age assistance, covering much of southern Vermont. She had tales of driving over the Green Mountains when many state roads were little more than dirt or gravel, and commuting by train from Bellows Falls to Rutland due to wartime gas rationing. After his discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, she married Mr. Stillson in 1946 in Hartland, where they lived, worked, and raised their family. Her last job before retirement in 1982 was as Hartland's Town Clerk, a job she held for 19 years. From 1965 onwards, she was also the Town Treasurer. She was a lifelong member of the First Universalist Society of Hartland. She enjoyed spending the winters in Florida with her husband where they spent many hours exploring the “boonies.” Her husband's green thumb kept both homes looking wonderful, with many kinds of citrus fruit on the table in Florida. She also enjoyed family, music, travel, and reading her newspapers - the last a habit she inherited from her father. In addition to driving trips with her husband and later with her son, daughter or other family members, she enjoyed a wonderful trip to Ireland with her sister-in-law and daughter. Memorial information: A graveside service is planned for Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m., at the Hartland Village Cemetery. A gathering for family and friends will follow directly afterwards at the First Universalist Church in Hartland. Donations to the First Universalist Society of Hartland, P.O. Box 75, Hartland Four Corners, VT 05049. Graveside arrangements are under the direction of Knight Funeral Home in Windsor.