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DONALD EVARTS McKINNEY
GEORGIA - Donald Evarts McKinney, also known as Sonny or Mack, of Jay, passed away in Newport on Tuesday, April 8, 2003.
He was born in Fanny Allen Hospital in Burlington on Dec. 21, 1931, and lived on Georgia Shore Road in Georgia. He attended the Stone School until high school at Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, attending until he was 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for four years. He attained the rank of Boatswain Mate 3rd Class and while in the Navy finished high school and one year of college.
Upon leaving the Navy, he met and married his first wife, Gloria, who predeceased him in 1987.
He was employed by the Atlantic Refining company in Philadelphia, Pa.. for 35 years. He also attended the Philadelphia Police Academy and served part time in the Police Reserves.
After two years he moved to the suburbs of Philadephia called Rutledge Borough, where he lived for 48 years.
While in Rutledge he was involved in several unpaid borough positions: Rutledge policeman (one man force, four years); director of Civil Defense (25 years); Rutledge Borough Council chairman of Public Safety (several years); a member of the zoning commission, serving as chairman; mayor (eight years); and code enforcement officer.
As mayor he performed 2, 600 weddings. He was also custodian of the fire house and hall rental (five years).
He loved hunting, surf fishing, freshwater fishing, and gardening. He was especially fond of the memories of his three children (hunting, fishing and camping with them). Ice fishing was also a passion for him.
Upon his retirement he moved back to Vermont (to Jay) with his angel and wife, Carolyn, whom he met after his wife, Gloria, died in 1987. He became involved with the Jay Zoning Board and was chairman for one year, resigning after his illness. After he became ill he was able to continue with his detailed birdcarving and painting.
He belonged to serveral carving clubs in the New England states and also belonged to the William Rush Woodcarvers in Pennsylvania.
He was involved in carving competitions up and down the Eastern Coast from New England to New Jersey and also in the Albany, N.Y. area. In these competitions he won many ribbons (approximately 50 or more).
His bird carvings would not have been possible without the help of his loving wife, Carolyn, and the many friends they met at carving shows. Don was considered one of the top bird carvers in Vermont and this was another of his great passions. Many students at North Country Union High School will remember him as their instructor, teaching them the art of birdcarving for a couple of years.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his children, Donna Koterba and her husband, John, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, Elaine Lucci of Prospect Park, Pa. and Wayne McKinney and his wife, Jean, of Sharon Hill, Pa; his grandchildren, Paula Webb and her husband, Larry, of Pennsylvania, Patrick Ingle and his wife, Lisa, of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Burch and her husband, Mike, of Virginia, Chrissy and D.J. McKinney of Pennsylvanian; his great-grandchildren, Skyla and Nathan Ingle and Ryan Webb; his step-son Curtis Ray and his wife, April, and their children, Janelle and Bill Ray; his half-brothers Earle Hayden of Morrisville and Phil Hayden of Georgia; his sister, Joyce Hind of St. Albans; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is also survived by his special friend, Leslie (Buddy) Churchill of Jay. He was predeceased by his brother, Edward Dudley and by his son-in-law, Richard Lucci.
A memorial service will be held on Friday April 11, at the Newport United Church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Martha Peck and the Rev. Joy Toll-Chandler officiating. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family.
Should friends desire, contributions in Donald's memory may be made to the United church of Newport, Third Street, Newport, Vt. 05855.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Curtis-Britch converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
WILLIAM ANDREW MULCONNERY
WEST SWANTON -- William Andrew Mulconnery, 58, a resident of Lakewood Drive in West Swanton, died early Monday morning, April 7, 2003, in the Vermont Respite House in Williston following an eight month battle with brain cancer.
Bill was born in East St. Louis, Ill., Feb. 28, 1945, the son of the late Andrew Walter and Dorothy (Donze) Mulconnery. In his earlier years he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and had been elevated to the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1968 he married his high school sweetheart, Gail Marie Hambleton who survives him.
Prior to moving to the Swanton area in November of 2002, Bill lived in Barre from 1968 to 1988, and in Waitsfield from 1988 until their move to Swanton on Lake Champlain. While living in Barre he had been a very active member of the Barre Jaycee's.
Bill received his primary, secondary and college education in St. Louis and was a graduate of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. For the past 34 years he has worked as a Registered Pharmacist in Vermont including the Allan Milne Pharmacy in Barre, Northfield Pharmacy in Northfield and The Drug Store in Waitsfield. He was also a member of the American and Vermont Pharmaceutical Associations. In addition to his Pharmacy responsibilities he and his wife Gail owned and operated The Weathertop Lodge, a bed and breakfast in Waitsfield.
In addition to his wife, Gail of 35 years, he leaves two daughters and their husbands, Kelly (Mulconnery) and Peter Gosselin of Bolton and Kerry (Mulconnery) and Michael Chaffee of Barre. Also surviving is a brother, Mike Mulconnery; and a sister, Mary Ann (Mulconnery) Neuner both of Illinois; four grandchildren, Ryan and Jordyn Gosselin and Kaitlyn and Tyler Chaffee; an aunt and uncle, as well as several nieces and nephews. Bill also leaves his dog and buddy, Rhett.
At Bill's request he was cremated and a Memorial Service will be held Sunday, April 13, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Williston Federated Church, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 2 and the North Williston Road.
In lieu of flowers gifts in Bill's memory may be made to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston Vt. 05495.
JOAN BARBARA CORCORAN
SEBASTIAN, Fla. - Joan Barbara (Malinowski) Corcoran died at home in Sebastian, Fla. with her family around her on March 25 after a short illness.
Joan is survived by her husband Richard and her children, Donna Corcoran of Burlington, Vt., Michael and Jeanne Corcoran of Westminster, Colo., Paul Corcoran of Central City, Colo., and Carolyn and Bruce Pelkey of St. Albans, Vt.; her brother Richard and Eleanor Mergo of Lakewood, Ohio.
She is also survived by eight grandchildren, a large extended family, and many loving friends.
Mrs. Corcoran was born on March 24, 1938 in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. She attended GAR High School and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. She later received her nursing degree from Niagara County Community College in Western, N.Y.
Her long career as a Registered Nurse included work at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, Vt. and Health South Rehab Hospital in Vero Beach, Fla.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 27, 2003 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Sebastian, Fla.
MERTON E. COMBS
RICHFORD -- Merton E. Combs, age 62, died Thursday, April 3, 2003, at the Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home in Burlington following a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 30, 1940, in Franklin, the son of the late Clifton and Margaret (Burnor) Combs.
Merton worked on area farms and did odd jobs most of his life. Mert was very well known and liked by many.
He is survived by one brother, Gene Combs and his wife Francine of Richford; four sisters, Muriel Tauper of St. Albans, Joyce Thompson and her husband Nixon of Eden, Caroline Rivers and her husband Roy of Richford, and Henrietta Combs of Barre; and several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. Besides his parents he was predeceased by several siblings.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the South Richford Cemetery with Rev. Frank Eksterowicz officiating. There will be no calling hours.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home, 43 Starr Farm Road, Burlington, VT 05401.
Merton's family would like to thank Fr. Frank Eksterowicz for his assistance and everyone who was involved with helping care for Mert through his battle with cancer.
Spears Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
DELBERT G. "SAM" CHATES
BERKSHIRE -- Delbert G. "Sam" Chates, age 75, died Thursday afternoon, April 3, 2003, at his home. He was born July 18, 1927, in Bakersfield, the son of the late Frederick and Ethel (Ryea) Chates.
Delbert started his own dairy farm in 1969 and had also worked several road construction jobs as a heavy-equipment operator. He had also been Road Commissioner for the Town of Berkshire. His greatest pleasures were horse trading and horse pulls.
He is survived by his wife, Idris (Durack) Chates of Berkshire; two sons, Eric Chates and his wife Anne Marie of Franklin, and William Chates and his fiance Pamela Ploof of Berkshire; grandchildren; his sister, Reba Tibbitts of Berwick, Maine; and several nieces and nephews.
In keeping with Delbert's wishes, he will be cremated and there will be no funeral services.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478.
Spears Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
OLAV F. TAFFS
RICHFORD -- Olav F. Taffs, age 84, died Wednesday evening, April 2, 2003, at the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans. He was born March 10, 1919, in Atlanta, Ga., the son of the late Joseph Alan and Annie (Asmussen) Taffs.
He was a 1936 graduate of Proctor High School. He then attended Castleton State College in Rutland and Wheaton College in Elgin, Ill. and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Following his retirement from the service he was employed at General Motors for 13 years, retiring in 1973. He enjoyed attending plays and concerts and traveling and classical music.
He is survived by his wife, Beatrix (Gibson) Ruiter of Richford; four sons, Eric Taffs and Sven Taffs, both of Helena, Montana, twins, Hans Taffs of Elcho, Wis. and Rolf Taffs of Silver Spring, Md.; four daughters, Merry Ellen Gannis of Florence, Ala., Annie Taffs Ogden of Cincinnati, Ohio, Margaret Taffs of Dade City, Fla. and Karen Taffs Tolle of Kansasville, Wis.; 20 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Anthony Taffs of Albion, Mich., twins Siegfried Taffs of Kosciusko, Mich. and Leonard Taffs Tucson, Ariz.; five step-children, Beverly Poissant of Windsor Locks, Conn., Pamela Morrison of Williamstown, Cheryl Leach of Enosburg Falls, Bruceton Ruiter of Deltona, Fla., and Darry Ruiter of Windsor Locks, Conn.; nine step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Helen (Ratagick) Taffs in 1999.
In keeping with Olav's wishes, he will be cremated. A graveside memorial service will be announced at a later date this spring which will be held in the Richford Center Cemetery. There will be no visiting hours.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 13 Loomis St., Montpelier, Vt. 05602.
Spears Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
CHARLES BIDDLE SR.
MONTREAL/ISLE LA MOTTE -- After a lengthy, spirited battle with cancer, the family of Charles Biddle Sr. deeply regrets to announce the passing of a musical legend and a great man, Charles Biddle Sr. He passed away on Feb. 4, 2003, at his home in Montreal with his family by his side.
His contributions as a jazz bassist are legendary. He will be remembered for his lifelong devotion to bringing jazz to people all over the world, especially in Montreal at "Biddles Jazz and Ribs, " a Montreal landmark where he gave his heart and his soul and made people feel at home for more than 20 years. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of spending time in his company.
His legacy will live on through his children; Sonia, Charles Jr., Stephanie, and Tracy. He is also survived by his devoted lifelong companion, his loving wife, Constance Marchand Biddle.
Charlie Biddle was never more at home than when he was in Vermont. His home in Isle La Motte was his refuge against the storm. The simple joy that he felt just from being here was something to see. He had bought himself a little piece of heaven and the look on his face as he mowed the lawn, puttered around in the barn, or fixed a tool in the garage, showed that he considered himself truly blessed. The simple wholesome beauty of this place soothed his soul and strengthened his resolve for the long hours of hard work that were his trademark.
We would often pack the family and grandkids into the car and drive around for hours. Vermonters are open, friendly, hard working, decent people. Charlie fit like a glove.
Vermonters take the time to stop and talk to each other. Charlie loved that. You know how he liked to talk! Everywhere we went, Charlie would share a joke and make new friends. You accepted us. You have no idea how good that made Charlie feel. He fought against racism and discrimination his entire life in order to make this world a better place. Here in Vermont, Charlie found that better place. Charlie was accepted as one of your own without giving it a second thought. What a great place this world would be if they were all Vermonters!
We have it on good authority that Charlie is now up in heaven jamming with Duke and Ella and Count and all of the other jazz greats. You know he's smiling now!
Thank you for giving Charlie his little piece of heaven on earth.
Please join in the celebration of Charlie's life with his immediate family and some of his friends on this special occasion. Just bring your kindness of heart, and a smile, and we will see you there. Thank you all.
Charlie's celebration will be held on Sunday, April 20, 2003, at 3 p.m. in the Old Stone Church at the Center Cross Road in Isle La Motte.
