Obituaries
• Robert Leonard "Bob" Gay Jr., 101, of North Westminster. Died peacefully at his home on Oct. 30, 2024. Bob was just 44 days from turning 102. Bob was born in Randolph, Vermont, on Dec. 13, 1922, to Marguerite (Harrington) and Robert L. Gay Sr. The family relocated to Bellows Falls in 1928. In 1942, Bob quit high school soon after Pearl Harbor and joined the Army Air Force. He served faithfully for five years, earning the rank of staff sergeant and spending time in the South Pacific. Bob was a radio communications technician and worked primarily on B-24 Liberator bombers destined for either Europe, Africa, or the Pacific. His last year was spent in the Pacific, maintaining radio towers on several atolls including Kwajalein and Tarawa. Upon returning home, Bob met the love of his life, Joyce Locke of Saxtons River. The two were soon married in Grafton on July 5, 1947. Bob and Joyce raised four children, all of whom survive him: Sandra Gaspardino (Alan) of North Walpole, New Hampshire; Robert Gay III of Springfield, Vermont; Daniel Gay of Saxtons River; and John Gay of Underhill. They lived 16 years in Saxtons River and moved to North Westminster in 1966. Bob loved his 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren (with one more great-grandchild expected soon). Bob often wrote letters and sent cards to many of them over the years. Bob was predeceased by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bob was one of eight children, his siblings are Helen Gay Hurley, Jean Gay Ostrowski, Anne Gay Curtin, Richard Gay, Nancy Gay Sullivan, Gilbert Gay, and Gloria Gay Quinn. His brother, Richard, and his partner, Shirley Frost of North Westminster survive him. His sister-in-law, Lillian Turner of Westminster also survives him. Bob's stepfather, Clarence Harlow, predeceased him in 1997. Bob's family traveled often around Vermont to visit family and enjoy the splendor the state had to offer. "Vermont is where it's at" was his slogan. One special trip for them was their cross country, month-long camping trip in 1962, visiting many national parks with a stop in Phoenix, Arizona, to visit his father and stepmother, Isabel Frost Gay, and sister, Anne and her family. Bob had a great love for his family, particularly its heritage, searching for its roots, discovering Gaysville, Vermont, was named after his ancestors who settled there in 1792. He spent many days locating graves and researching ancestors of his and his wife's extended families. Bob, with his cousin, Gifford Harrington organized an annual joint family reunion which continues to this day. Bob, with his brothers Richard and Gilbert, established Gay Bros. Fuel Oil Company in 1965. Bob retired from the business in 1984. Not one to sit around, he worked for Halladay's Nursery in Bellows Falls delivering flowers well into his 80s. It was a good fit as he already knew where most everyone lived in the community from delivering oil. Bob loved his Big Band music, listening to it all his life including the day he died. He and his wife, Joyce, loved dancing the jitterbug together, to the envy of everyone watching. The loss of his wife in 2015 was a difficult time for him. Bob was a life member of the VFW, and a member of American Legion Post 37 and the Loyal Order of the Moose in Bellows Falls. Memorial information: A graveside service will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. in Saxtons River Cemetery.
• Rosalyn B. Enos, 74, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 1, 2024, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire, following a period of declining health. Rosalyn was born in Brattleboro on Nov. 4, 1949, the daughter of Anthony and Amelia (Lamb) Blanchette. She attended St. Michael's Parochial School and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1967. From 1967 to 1991, Rosalyn was employed at First Vermont Bank on Main Street where she began as a teller and advanced to the position of controller. She later served as office manager for Dr. Luther Emerson, with her last position as bookkeeper for Brown & Roberts Hardware, from which she retired in 2018. Rosalyn took great pride in her home on Central Street and was an avid reader who also enjoyed time spent with her family. Survivors include siblings Betty Worden of Brattleboro and Paul Lavender and his wife Debbie of Mount Vernon, Maine; six nieces and six nephews that include Anthony Worden and his wife Jennifer of Greenfield, Massachusetts; a great-niece, Amelia Worden; and great-nephew, Henry Worden. She was predeceased by sisters, Mary Sanborn and JoAnn Wheeler, and a brother, Francis "Mike" Lavender. Memorial information: In keeping with Rosalyn's final wishes, there are no formal funeral services scheduled. She will be laid to rest in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care, 154 Hitchcock Loop Road, Lebanon, NH 03756. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Joseph N. "Joe" Martin Jr., 88, of Brattleboro. Died on Nov. 3, 2024. A beloved father and pépère, and a favorite uncle, relative, and friend, Joe was born Jan, 2, 1936, to Joseph N (Sr.) and Auriza (Lariviere) Martin of Central Falls, Rhode Island. One of eight children, he learned from an early age the value of hard work and generosity. He graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Central Falls in 1954 after fulfilling a pact with his brothers that they would all graduate from high school after working to cover their own tuition. He proudly served for five years in the Rhode Island Army National Guard as an artillery specialist. His remaining education was informal, with a deep appreciation of history and a love of reading; when he wasn't busy fixing something, his nose was in a very thick book, including reading a set of 26 encyclopedias. A lover of information, he possessed an incredible ability to remember facts and loved to share that knowledge with those around him. He was also intrigued by all things scientific and mechanical and understood the workings of many machines and engines in addition to appreciating the characteristics of creative problem solving, farm equipment, firearms, and, in his early years, fast cars. He could speak in depth about the periodic table of elements and was fascinated with astronomy. Joe was also a proud left-handed Frenchman who embraced Murphy's Law and appreciated Dilbert cartoons. In 1969, he met the love of his life, Jeanne (Mongeau). They were married in 1970 and settled in their first home in Burrillville, Rhode Island. With three toddlers in diapers, they took a leap of faith and in 1974, purchased a small farm in Stow, Maine, to begin a new life of farming and giving their children a childhood away from the city. Joe was particularly proud of cutting so much firewood that he only had to fill the oil tank one time in 15 years. He set up a solar water heating system in the 1980s, operated a portable sawmill and built just about anything you can imagine out of hand cut or reclaimed resources from the area. In 1998, they moved to Lovell, Maine, for retirement in a smaller home with a nice big garage full of tools and a beautiful view of the mountains. After Jeanne's passing in 2001, Joe lived alone for many years but spent significant time at the family farm in Stow with his daughter Sara and her family. Joe moved to Brattleboro in 2016 to be closer to his other two daughters and many grandchildren. He received spectacular end-of-life care from the teams at Vernon Hall and Bayada Hospice. Joe leaves his daughters, Suzanne Wagner and her husband Isaac of Brattleboro, and Rebecca Lescarbeau and her husband Michael of Agawam, Massachusetts; and grandchildren Gabrielle, Julia, Amanda Grace, Hazel, Greta, Virgil, and Eben. He is remembered fondly by nephews, nieces, friends and many others. In addition to his wife, Joe was predeceased by his daughter Sara Neddenriep in 2022, and his seven siblings Jean, Raymond, Theresa, Rita, Constance, Freddie and Normand. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 23, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro, followed by a luncheon at A Vermont Table on High Street in Brattleboro. Friends are welcome to call at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro, on Friday, Nov. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. Donations may be sent to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or any organization that focuses on the well-being, personal growth, and happiness of children and their families. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
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