Obituaries
• Beatrice Louise “Bee” Allen, 99, of Rockingham. Died peacefully in her home on March 19, 2022. Born Oct, 23, 1922, she was the daughter of Herbert and Louise Allen of Westminster. At age 19, Bee married George Everett Allen, of Claremont, N.H., and together, they raised four children. The family lived in Claremont and Lebanon, N.H., before moving to Westminster. Everett and Bee were married for 59 years before Everett's death in 2000. In addition to raising her family, Bee worked as a salesperson for Allen Brothers Farmstand, a business created by her brothers, John, Russell, Frank and Raymond. She also worked for the nearby Tip-Top bakery store. Bee loved working with people in the marketplace. She collected tolls with her husband, Everett, at the Cheshire Toll Bridge, connecting Charlestown, N.H., and Springfield, Vt. And, during her retirement years, she served as a care-giver and companion to elderly seniors in their homes. Bee was a lifetime member of the Christian Family Circle Church which was founded by her father, Herbert, in Westminster. She was active in the church as a Sunday-school teacher and a volunteer with Camp Blessing, a ministry of CFCC. Throughout her life, Bee loved and nurtured her varied flower and vegetable gardens, staying active into her late 80s. Bee was predeceased by eight of her siblings, William, Raymond, Walter, Frank, John, Russell, Margaret DeFredo and Gladys Trombley. Bee is survived by her sister, Daisy Jean French, of Brattleboro; her sons, Ronald Allen, of Stephens City, Va., and Donald Allen, of Springfield, Vt.; daughters, Jane Lafayette and Becky Matthews, of Rockingham; grandchildren Rhonda Lancaster, Todd Allen, Sarah Allen, Jean Gilles, Moses Allen, Ira Allen, Angela Lawrence, Daniel Lafayette, and James Matthews; and 13 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: Visiting hours will be held at the Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, on Friday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service for Bee will be conducted at Christian Family Circle Church (now known as Redemption Church), Back Westminster Road, Westminster, on Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m., to be followed by a graveside service in Westminster Cemetery. Donations to the Victory Christian Children's Home at Charles Trombley Ministries, P.O. Box 140207, Broken Arrow, OK 74014-0002.
• Beverly Jean Brown, 93, of West Dummerston. Died on March 8, 2022. A direct descendant of the West Dummerston Clark family, she was born April 12, 1928 to Elsie (Clark) and Thomas Tier at the Tier homestead in West Dummerston. She was educated in the West Dummerston elementary school and was among the first class to graduate from that eight-grade program. She was a 1946 graduate of Brattleboro High School and a 1951 graduate of Castleton Teachers College. Upon receiving her teaching degree, she taught in several Vermont towns, with her first being in West Dummerston, where she herself had been educated. She also taught in Arlington, Va., and in New York state. When her children became school age, she held a position in the New York State Special Needs School for Boys. Upon moving back to West Dummerston, she continued her teaching career at Guilford Central School. She ultimately ended up assuming the position as the school's Principal and remained in that position for the last 25 years of her career. Jean was an 80-year member of the West Dummerston Grange until its closure. During her active time with the Grange, she held various offices and participated in several capacities throughout the surrounding area in Vermont Granges. She was a devoted communicant of the West Dummerston Baptist Church her whole lifetime and served in numerous capacities. Jean was a choir member and helped organize the first youth group and served as their advisor. She was also a long-time deaconess and continually voiced her ideas and thoughts for the betterment of the church. When Jean and her children left New York to return to Vermont in 1972, she was instrumental in bringing a new yearly holiday tradition to her village - the Candle Luminari which she had first seen in DeWitt, N.Y., where she had resided while teaching in New York. At Christmas time each year, she, with family and friends would fill waxed bags with sand and candles and place them every few feet along both sides of the village street. Each night, Jean and her group of family and neighbors would light the candles and illuminate the roadway of West Dummerston village for passersby to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the holiday season. This tradition is till carried on today as a legacy to Jean. After retiring from the educational field, she volunteered for many summers at the Route 9 tourist information booth in West Brattleboro and met and guided countless travelers coming into Vermont. Retirement also gave her and her husband, Robert Brown, time to travel the United States in their recreational vehicle. Many summers found them at their favorite campsite in the Schroon River, N.Y., area enjoying their time together and making new friends. Jean was never without a furry friend in her home - cat or dog - her love of animals gave her much comfort every day. They surely loved her back. At Christmas time, she was especially noted for her handmade peanut butter cups, which were generous gifts to family and friends. Jean was an avid reader and an accomplished knitter. She completed afghans for each member of her family along with countless other creations for friends. Jean was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Ronald Tier, and her husband of 25 years, Robert Brown. Jean is survived by her son Brian Allen (girlfriend Lee Rock) of Williston, and her daughter Lori Morgan (husband Michael) of Milton. Lori and Brian both made it possible for Jean to remain in her home for the duration of her life. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Michael Allen (wife Kaitlyn) of Huntington, Julia Polk (husband Tye) of Princeton, Texas, Brett Short (wife Baleigh) of Portland, Tenn. She was blessed to also have a great-grandson, Ezekiel Polk. Additionally, she leaves a sister-in-law, JoAnn Tier of North Hero, and a whole host of friends that were like family. Memorial information: None provided.
• Ursula Jean Hull, 57, of Wardsboro. Died March 22, 2022, at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. She was born Aug. 4, 1964, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the daughter of Janice Robinson Hull and the late Michael Gordon Hull, and the sister of Michelle Jamie Hull, all of Wardsboro. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Kenneth and Shirley Robinson and Jesse and Dorothy Hull, as well as aunt Charlotte Evans and uncle James Hull. In addition to her mother and sister, she is survived by aunts and uncles Stanley Evans of Dummerston, Norma and Stefan Schernthaner of South Londonderry, Gary and Evelyn Robinson of Alton, Mo., and Jacqueline Hull and Marcia Waszkiewicz, both of Wallingford, Conn., and many, many cousins. Ursula was a graduate of Buckingham County High School in Buckingham, Va., and earned a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia and an M.S. degree in information sciences from the University of Tennessee. After stints at Friendly's Restaurant and Best Products, she worked at Acme Visible Records in Crozet, VA and the University of Virginia library in Charlottesville, mostly in government documents. She worked for 12 years at Silverchair Information Systems and rose to be manager of custom publishing platform content. After moving to Vermont to be closer to her family, she continued to work as a contractor for Silverchair. She worked seasonally for the Moover, Green Mountain Express, Mount Snow, and recently at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. While living in Wardsboro, she wanted to contribute to her community and took local offices as Justice of the Peace, cemetery commissioner, and Lister, as well as administering a local initiative to fly American flags throughout town. Ursula was meticulous and precise and held others to the same high standards. She was always aware of and knowledgeable about the world around her. She enjoyed sharing facts and opinions with others and was active on social media. She showered her late dachshunds, Buck and Gracie, and family dachshunds, Senji and Deuce, with affection. She loved feeding birds, squirrels, and chipmunks and observing animals and plants in nature. While living in Charlottesville and Staunton, she was active in No Shame Theater. Everywhere she went she made lifelong friends. Especially important were those she worked with at Silverchair. In 2013, she was proud to complete the Richmond Marathon after training with her friends. Other interests included reading, listening to music (especially favorites Dwight Yoakam, Social Distortion, Eric Church, and Ramones), taking photographs, playing card and board games, especially Cribbage, and going for drives and walks with her family. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m., at West Wardsboro Cemetery, followed by a celebration of her life at the Wardsboro Town Hall.
• Nancy Jane Lapan, 85, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died March 18, 2022 in the comfort of her home, with her daughter at her side, following an extended illness. Nancy was born in Montague, Mass., on September 25, 1936, the daughter of Anthony and Jenny (Paski) Zimnoski. She was raised and educated in the village of Millers Falls and was a graduate of Millers Falls High School. She had been employed at the former American Optical Company in Brattleboro, which she retired from following many years of faithful service. Nancy enjoyed working in her flower gardens and Sunday visits with her granddaughter Kori, her grandson-in-law Dylan, and great-granddaughter Hadley. Survivors include her daughter Cynthia “Cindy” Huffman of Brattleboro; her sons Ronald W. McKay of Easthampton, Mass., and Dane M. McKay of Idaho Falls, Idaho; a sister, Cynthia Newton of Greenfield, Mass.; and four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: In keeping with Nancy's final wishes, there are no formal services scheduled. She will be laid to rest in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• John “Poppa John” Rogers, 92, of Wilmington. Died March 3, 2022 in Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass., surrounded by his loved ones. John was born on Sept. 23, 1929 to Calvin and Vivian Rogers in Colrain, Mass. He married Beatrice Ariel in 1954 and had four children. After divorcing in 1975, he found his soulmate, Phyllis, and then they where married. After John graduated from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass., he went to work for Pratt & Whitney as a machinist while going to barber school at night. After graduating from barber school, he decided to start a traveling barber shop. He later worked at GS Precision in Wilmington, and was the first employee to start there, and then started Sno-Valley Service, pumping septic tanks and then branching out to the portable toilet business with his sons. However, John's true passion was barbering, which he did for two decades at Streeter's Barber Shop in Bernardston, Mass., until the age of 91, when he finally decided to retire and closed it on April 23, 2021. John loved working at his barber shop but, in his spare time, he enjoyed motorcycles, fishing, hunting, dancing and being a part of society. He was a member of the Moose, the Shiners, and the Masons. Anyone who knew John was touched by his kindness, his humor and his smile. He was one of a kind, and he will be missed more than words can say. John was predeceased by his parents, his two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his wife Phyllis Rogers; his daughter Andrea (husband, Don) Gardner, his sons John Douglas (wife, Elaine) Rogers of Vernon, Gerald (wife, Sheila) Rogers of Rockingham, Donald Rogers (Nancy) of Lantana, Fla., his stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and an abundance of friends. Memorial information: In keeping with his wishes, his body was donated to the University of Massachusetts Medical School. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. Donations to the Shriners or to the Moose.
• Arthur R. “Nick” Slate Sr., 86, of Wilmington. Died March 21, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his family. Nick was born in Brattleboro on May 18, 1935, the son of the late Fred E. Slate and Lillian Carlton, and attended local schools. Nick served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict on the USS Strong (DD-758). One of his many jobs on the ship was Marine Oiler (Boiler Tech). Upon his honorable discharge, Nick worked for Pepsi-Cola, the Denim Blue Jean Factory in Brattleboro, Cersosimo Lumber, and The Book Press. While living in Brattleboro, Nick was a member of American Legion Post 5 and was also part of the local DAV chapter, where he once held the position of commander. He moved to Wilmington in 2000 and was known for going to C&S in Wilmington for his morning coffee, scratch tickets, and local chatter. He would also be seen regularly at the North Star Bowl for his evening coffee, scratch tickets, and bowling. He loved candlepin bowling, fishing, was an avid baseball and Boston Red Sox fan, enjoyed Celtic music and the sounds of the Big Band era. Nick is survived by his daughter Patti Weller (Jim) of Wilmington and Arthur R. Slate, Jr of Plattsburg, N.Y., and his grandchildren Casey Davis (Larry) of Wilmington, and Brandi Younger. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carrie Johnson Slate, whom he married in 1962. Mrs. Slate died in 1995. He was also preceded in death by his siblings. Memorial information: Services were held March 26 at Wilmington Baptist Church, with a private interment in Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Wilmington Police Department, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Peter Burr Tustin, 77, of Bokeelia, Fla., and Townshend. Died March 11, 2022. Peter was born Sept. 24, 1944 in Hartford, Conn., the son of the late Mary Elizabeth Tustin (nee Logan) and Clifford Joseph Tustin. He grew up in Windsor, Conn., and attended Windsor schools. In 1964, he joined the Marine Corps and did his basic training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He rose to the rank of sergeant and served honorably. He participated in Operation Steel Pike, the largest peacetime amphibious landing exercise in history, conducted by Naval and Marine Corps forces on the coast of Spain in 1964. He then completed a tour of duty in Chu Lai, Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam. He became a welder in the Marines, and upon his discharge, worked in that trade for several years. In 1975, Peter married Eveline “Evie” Cummins and two years later, they built their home in Guilford and started their family. In 1984, Peter became the owner and operator of Tri-State Asphalt Sealing and Saf-T-Lines Company in Guilford, which he continued to operate with his son, Christopher, until its sale in 2018. In 1999, Peter even had the opportunity to be employed at the largest base and research station in Antarctica, McMurdo Station. Peter spent the last years of his life between sunny southwest Florida and Townshend, doing what he enjoyed most - spending time with his family, fishing, traveling, and driving his restored 1955 Thunderbird convertible. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and Elks. Peter is survived by the love of his life, Evie; three children, Stephanie Wilbur (Walter “Bud”) of Sterling, Mass., Christopher Tustin (Hannah) of Guilford, and Rebecca Lapointe (Kyle) of Townshend. He is also survived by his brother Jonathan C. Tustin (Carolyn) of Louisa, Va., and his favorite sister Deb Tustin of Bass River, Mass.; as well as grandchildren Reece, Conner, Emily, Wyatt, Norah, Silas, Katie, Christopher “CJ,”and Kayden; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Mark L. Tustin. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 29 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Burial will take place later this spring. Donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in honor of Pete at app.mobilecause.com/vf/PFFTribute/PeterTustin. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jacqueline Alice Taylor, 91, formerly a resident of Lincolnville, Maine and Wilmington. Died peacefully on March 18, 2022 at the Village at Fillmore Pond in Bennington. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 5, 1930, she was the only child of Orland F. and Alice (Schwaighart) Trites. Jacqueline graduated from high school in Portland, Maine, and continued her education at Nasson College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1952. While in college, she met her future husband, Mervyn L. Taylor; they were married in Falmouth, Maine in 1953. Together they enjoyed a wonderful life with their family skiing, sailing, and spending summers on East Grand Lake in Maine. Jacqueline worked over the years in fashion in many boutiques. Jacqueline was an avid gardener and a fabulous cook, famous for her signature fish chowder and blueberry muffins. Growing up in Maine, she had a love of the ocean and enjoyed watching and feeding the wild birds in her yard. Most of all, she loved being in the company of all her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of the United Christian Church of Lincolnville. Jacqueline relocated to Wilmington to be closer to family after the passing of her beloved husband of 63 years in 2015 and, in 2020, she became a resident of Bennington. Jacqueline is survived by her two children, Brad Taylor (Alison) of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Laurie Caplan (Richard) of Wilmington; five grandchildren, William Taylor (Carolyn) of South Windsor, Conn.; Benjamin Taylor of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Jonathan Caplan of Breckenridge, Colo.; Nate Caplan of Wilmington; and AJ Taylor of Olympic Valley, Calif.; along with her sister-in-law Mary Taylor of Otisfield, Maine; brother-in-law Ed Taylor (Debbie) of Park City, Utah; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband and their eldest son, Brian R. Taylor. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date at the United Christian Church in Lincolnville. Memorial gifts may be made to the United Christian Church of Lincolnville, in care of Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main St., Bennington, VT 05201.
• Linda Ann Weaver, 72, of West Brattleboro, Died March 14, 2022, following a period of declining health. Linda was born in Mooers Forks, N.Y., on Feb. 6, 1950, the daughter of the late Albert and Victoria (Messic) LaValley. They would later move to Brattleboro where Linda attended BUHS. Linda had been employed by The Book Press in Brattleboro as well as Geka Brush. At one time, she had a daycare in her home. On Nov. 18, 1967, she was married to David Weaver, who predeceased her in 2012. Linda loved to garden, play cards, and do puzzles but her biggest enjoyment was time with her family. She enjoyed the birthday parties, get-togethers, sporting events, phone calls, and holidays, and loved the visits with her great-granddaughters. She is survived by daughters Suanne Cross (Jim Buck) of Vernon and Deborah Spindler (Craig) of Hinsdale, N.H.; granddaughters Tiffany (Frank) Shelley and Sarah Spindler of Hinsdale, Tasha Cross (Tim Meadows) of Vernon, Kelsey Spindler of Hinsdale, and Samantha Buck of Vernon. She leaves behind three great-granddaughters and a grandson to be born in May. Linda also leaves behind sisters Lea Perkins (Mike) of Florida, Sandra Rouleau of Brattleboro, Barbara Winslow (Scott) of Massachusetts, and Theresa Bolster (Cleon) of Dummerston; brother James LaValley (Hazel) of Florida; and many nieces and nephews, as well as her cat, Precious. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no service. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354.