College news
• Kyle Record of Grafton was among 181 first-year students who received a Dean's Scholarship this year at Keene State College. This renewable merit scholarship is awarded annually to incoming freshmen who demonstrate academic excellence with either a high school GPA of 2.5 or greater and a minimum SAT score of more than 1,700 or a high school GPA of 2.75 or greater and a minimum SAT score of more than 1,600. Full-time in-state students receive $2,500 annually, and full-time out-of-state students receive an annual award of $6,000.
Obituaries
• Florin “Andy” J. Andrew, 78, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 11 at his residence. Husband of Juanita Andrew. Father of Michael Bedard and his wife, Tammy, of West Chesterfield, N.H., Peter Andrew of Brattleboro, Robin Hodgman and her husband, William, of Hinsdale, and Melissa Andrew of Arizona. Brother of Marion Griffin and the late William Andrew and Christine Burdick. Also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Born in Northfield, Mass., the son of the late Milford and Della (Fay) Andrew, he was educated in the Northfield school system. He served his country in the Navy. He was employed as a machine operator at Fulflex before his retirement. He loved spending time with his family, especially his great-grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services will be private. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Robert Horace Earle, 94, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 6 at Thompson House, where he had been a resident since 2012. Husband of the late Gladys (Raithel) Earle for nearly 64 years. Father of Jan Brown and husband, Todd, of Dummerston, and Sue Coleman of Hinsdale, N.H. Also survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Born in Plainfield, N.J., the son of the late Horace and Mary (Rushmore) Earle, he was educated at the Pingry and Loomis Schools, and graduated from Williams College with the Class of 1945, known as the “class that went to war,” as all enlisted to serve their country after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served his country as an artillery sergeant in the 35th Infantry Division of Gen. George Patton's Third Army. Attacked on 35 of the 45 days in action, they were recognized as playing a “brilliant and effective role in the liberation of France.” In later years as he spoke more of the war, he liked to tell of discovering a German soldier hiding in a farmer's home in Belgium. The soldier was “just a young lad.” He and his fellow soldiers brought him outside, gave him chocolate and a cigarette, and let him warm on the hood of the jeep. This memory was clearly treasured by him as his division was also first to come upon one of Hitler's concentration camps. Returning home to West Dover after the war, he was employed by American Optical as an industrial engineer. He had a wide variety of interests. An accomplished fly fisherman, he loved his trips to Canada and was a member of the Wantastiquet Trout Club in Weston for many years. He was a voracious reader with an ever-curious and fun mind. He was known as a really fun grand-dad who hoisted a grandson up the flagpole for a bird's eye view of the neighborhood, set off the old cannon in the driveway, and lit the kitchen on fire while mixing chemicals - all to the delight of his grandchildren and dismay of his wife. His life and legacy were ones of deep integrity, contentment, and appreciation for a simple life. He loved his caregivers and all staff at the Thompson House who showed unending and outstanding compassion, sensitivity, and love. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of the lives of Rob and Gladys, who died in July of this year, will be held at a later date. Any donations in his memory will be used in his honor for a new outdoor resident's bench at Thompson House, P.O. Box 1117, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com
• Henry Kinsley “Skip” Eaton, 84, of Jamaica. Died Nov. 5 at his home. Husband of the late Lorena (Sherman) Eaton for 42 years. Father of Vicki Brown of De Kalb Junction, N.Y.; Sophia Sanderson and husband, Bob, of Jamaica; Penny Harrington and husband, Dennis, of Newfane; Tonilyn Fletcher of Norton, Vt.; and the late Patrice Chaves. Brother of Jean Brown and the late Carl Eaton and Judy Bean. Also survived by 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Born in Rochester, Vt., the son of the late David and Amy (Kinsley) Eaton, he was raised and educated in Hancock, Vt. For 50 years, he worked for Cersosimo Lumber Co., wearing many hats from trucking and sawyer to operating a bulldozer while building roads for the company. He was a member of Rural Mason Lodge #29 of Rochester. He and his wife were avid snowmobilers and had been riding since 1972. They enjoyed spending time in Montana and Maine and snowmobiled all over the state of Vermont. In the summer, they enjoyed camping and traveling all over the United States. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, who called him Grandpa Nuts, Grandpa Eats, and many other nicknames. One of his famous sayings was “See you in church!” MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of his life was held at his Eaton Road home on Nov. 15. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, in care of Robert Backus, M.D., P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Diane Burns Longley, 62, of South Londonderry. Died Nov. 9. She was co-owner of The Startingate Ski Shop in Rawsonville with her husband, Gary Longley, which they started in 1980. They met when they were both working for the Rossignol Co., touring the United States with the Rossignol Exhibition Ski Team. She was born in North Andover, Mass., the daughter of Thomas and Sylvia Burns. She went to Pike School in Andover, Mass., and graduated from Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, R.I. She studied acting at Hampshire College and attended the Eugene O'Neill National Theater Institute before graduating from Hampshire. After college, she worked as an actress in New York City. During that time, Rossignol Co. hired her to tour with the team, where her future husband, a champion freestyle skier, was part of the exhibition team. She is survived by her husband; her son, Chance Longley of Winhall; her daughter, Bond Longley of South Londonderry; sisters Poppy Burns of New York City, and Wendy Conquest of Hanover, N.H.; her brother, Lansing Burns of Fairfield, Conn.; her father, Thomas Burns of Boston, Mass.; a niece and a nephew. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Congregational Church in Peru, with the reception immediately following at Red Fox Inn in Bondville. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Homes & Cremation Service Chester.
• Dawn (Brooks) McCormick, 52, of Marlboro. Died Nov. 1, after being diagnosed with cancer last year. Mother of Justin McAllister, Stephanie McAllister, Joseph McAllister, Jeffrey McCormick, Brian McCormick and Kimberly McCormick. Also survived by two grandchildren. Born at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, the daughter of Barbara (Stacey) Brooks of Dummerston and Norman Brooks of Newfane, her family was the center of her world and she loved taking pictures of all of their crazy adventures. She was a sweet, caring person, who put everyone else first, despite her pain and struggles. She was also well known for her beautiful gardens. As soon as the weather allowed, she could be found outside in her gardens, until it grew too dark to see. From the time she was young, she had a special connection with children, but her true gift really became apparent when she began working with special needs children. Over the years, she changed the lives of many young kids, with her humor, patience and love for her work. For the past 15 years, she had worked in the Intensive Service program at the Dummerston School. When she was diagnosed with cancer, one of her greatest concerns was not returning to work to be there for her kids. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services were held Nov. 14 at Newfane Congregational Chruch. Donations to the Frances Hicks Foundation, in care of Marshall Wheelock, 107 Oak Grove Ave, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Sultan Saleh Rashed, 35, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 9 in Brattleboro. Husband of Sheena (Randall) Rashed for 11 years. Father of Mazin Rashed. Brother of Ahmad Rashed of Brattleboro, Mohmmad Rashed and Maram Rashed, both of Toledo, Ohio, Mona Rashed of Saudi Arabia, and the late Khalid Rashed. Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the son of the late Saleh and Izdihar (Alawi) Rashed, he was raised and attended school in Jordan before coming to the United States at the age of 16. He continued his education in Brattleboro, where he attended Brattleboro Union High School. He worked as a foreman for the Lane Construction Company, based in Westfield, Mass., and was a member of Laborers' Union, Local #999. He also volunteered at his brother's family business, Rashed's Garden Center on Marlboro Road. A faithful and devoted husband and loving father, his family meant the world to him. He especially cherished time spent with his son making weekly trips to an indoor waterpark in White River Junction, where he enjoyed swimming with his boy. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle, and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He was known for being a hard worker with an excellent work ethic, and will be remembered for his easy-going nature, spirit of friendship, and his contagious smile. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial gathering was held Nov. 14 at VFW Post #1034 in Brattleboro. A private burial was held in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations may be made to a special trust established for his son, The Mazin Rashed Fund, in care of People's United Bank, 479 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Ellen L. Sharkey, 89, of Westminster. Died Nov. 6. Wife of the late John Sharkey. Mother of Paul Sharkey of Ayer, Mass., Dennis Sharkey of Farmington, N.H., Mary Sharkey of Westminster, and the late Charles and John Sharkey. Also survived by three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Born in Medford, Mass., the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Tracey, she was a graduate of Lexington High School and attended Framingham State College and Worcester State College. She was founder and executive director of the Clarendon Family Day Care, a nonprofit organization that helped feed 12,000 children and provided family child care services for thousands of children across all communities in Massachusetts. In 2005, the organization was awarded the Victory Against Hunger award by the U.S. Congressional Hunger Center. At the age of 87, she attended the University of Vermont and Extension Services Master Gardner Program with a goal of starting a donation farm to feed food insecure in the local community. It began to take form as she turned her property into farmland. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held Nov. 14 at Christian Family Circle Church in Westminster. Donations to Our Place Drop In Center, 4 Island St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Doris Amy Sprague, 96, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 13 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Born at her maternal grandparents' home in the village of Algiers in Guilford, the daughter of the late Raye and Amy (Newcomb) Sprague, she and her siblings lived in Weatherhead Hollow in Guilford until her second grade. Then, she and her family moved to West Brattleboro. After her parents separated, Doris, her brother, Donald and her sister, Irene went to live with their paternal grandparents, Alfred and Elizabeth Sprague, on Melrose Street in 1933. Grandpa Sprague (Alfred) died in January 1934 and her brother, Donald, died in April of 1934. When her parents divorced in October 1934, her sister Irene went to live with her mother in Bernardston, Mass. Doris stayed with her father and attended Academy School in West Brattleboro, then Brattleboro High School, graduating with the Class of 1939. During her last two years of high school, her father and grandmother moved to Hardwick. Her dad got a job up there and Doris lived with her dad's sister, Nellie Fitts. After school, she worked at various jobs in Spofford Lake and Putney. For two years, she was employed by Professor John and Anne Holden in Putney, caring for their home and baby son, Ben. In 1941, she worked for Dr. Allan Sutherland as a medical secretary, living again with her uncle and aunt on 25 Green St. She worked full time for the doctor from 1942 to 1954, and part time until 1963. She continued with his taxes until 1976. She also cared for the Sutherland's youngest son, David, for nine years of his life. During this time, she also helped put out an international medical magazine, doing editing and mailing. In 1954, she worked part time for Elizabeth Wagner in the shoe store and then for her successor, Donald Robertson, who purchased the shoe store. When Uncle Francis died in 1963, she took a bookkeeping position with the Volkswagen dealership in Bennington to make a home for her Aunt Nellie. She worked for several auto dealerships in the two decades she lived in Bennington. She received many awards and honors as bookkeeper and accountant until 1982, when she and her aunt returned to West Brattleboro in 1984. She and Aunt Nellie took residency at Hayes Court Senior Housing. Upon retirement, Doris worked part-time for Taylor for Flowers until 1987. She was baptized in 1935 in West Brattleboro Baptist Church, where she served in various capacities until 1962 as assistant clerk, Sunday school teacher, choir and the weekly newsletter. In Bennington, she joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and served as an aide in the nursery. When returning to Brattleboro, she joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Green Mountain Chapel. She returned to West Brattleboro and worked for Donald Record at Mt. Home Trailer Park and Dorothy Russell at Vermont Traveler. She did many volunteer programs, including knitting 30-45 sweaters per year for the Reformer Christmas Stocking and volunteering 1,000 hours per year for RSVP. Doris was a professional knitter for 22 years. She was treasurer of the Hayes Court Association for 19 years and secretary for two years. She was very fond of God's handiwork, especially in nature. She loved trees and nature, Christian music, photography, writing and reading (especially God's Word), and she did much with family genealogy. She loved to sing and sang in many churches. She claimed that one day when she goes to heaven and gets her eyes and ears, she will sing to the glory of the Lord. She is survived by one sister, Irene Long of Granby, Mass., two nieces, Nancy Kriss and Karen Dean, and several grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. She was predeceased by Nellie Fitts, who died in 1997 at the age of 94, and her brother, Donald Sprague. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held Nov. 14 at the Green Mountain Chapel on Western Avenue with Pastor Bill Steele, officiating. Burial will be in the Family lot in West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road. Donations to The Green Mountain Chapel of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, 40 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the VT Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, 38 Park Place, Suite #2, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Etta E. (Pressman) Tarmy, 93, of Belmont, Mass. and Brattleboro. Died Nov. 9. Wife of the late Jack Tarmy. Mother of Susan Tarmy, Barbara Tarmy & Gary Fradin, Mark & Camilla Tarmy, and the late Arlene Selznick. Mother-in-Law of Joel Selznick and Margaret Tarmy. Also survived by 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services were held Nov. 12 at the Beth El Temple Center in Belmont. Donations to the Etta and Jack Tarmy Schloarship Fund, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011; or the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St, Boston, MA, 02114.
• Jo-Ann Wheeler, 68, of Putney. Wife of Ronald B. Wheeler for 30 years. Died Nov. 7 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a lengthy period of declining health. Mother of Scott Lunge and his companion, Donna Cole, of Hinsdale, N.H., Kimberly Porter of Hillsboro, N.H., Christopher Lunge of Jacksonville, Fla., and Cindy Delano and husband, Keith, of Springfield, Vt. Twin sister of Betty Worden of Brattleboro. Sister of Rosalyn Enos of Brattleboro; Paul Lavender of Mount Vernon, Maine, Michael Lavender and wife, Claire, of Brattleboro, and the late Mary Sanborn. Also survived by six grandchildren, a great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Anthony and Amelia (Lamb) Blanchette, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1966. She had been a resident of Putney for the past 31 years. A quiet unassuming woman, she was known for her spirit of friendship and happy go lucky personality. She always loved a good joke. She was also an avid Boston Red Sox fan. She had worked at Eden Park Nursing Home for many years and had been employed in the bookbinding department at the former Book Press in Brattleboro. She eventually returned to the nursing home when the facility became Pine Heights. She enjoyed fishing, trips to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos, scratch tickets, and time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. MeMORIAL INFORMATION: In keeping with her final wishes, no formal funeral services are planned. Donations to Putney Volunteer Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 875, Putney, VT 05346. To sign an online register book and send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.