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Edsel E. “Pops” Lowell Sr.
BRANDON — Edsel E. “Pops” Lowell Sr., 60, died at his home in Brandon Jan. 14, 2009.
He was born Nov. 28, 1948, in Leicester, the son of Edward E. and Susan (Aines) Lowell Sr. He graduated from Otter Valley Union High School and later received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Johnson State College.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served in Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart medal. On July 7, 1972, he married Deborah J. Prescott at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Forestdale. He lived in Brandon until 1974 when he began his lifelong career working for the U.S. Postal Service.
He worked for many years in White River Junction and later became the postmaster in Pittsfield, Mass., Brandon and Rutland, from where he retired in 2004. In his earlier years in Brandon he was a deputy game warden and special officer for the Brandon Police Department. He also served as a town selectman.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brandon and the Brandon American Legion Post 55, where he was a past commander.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and playing Texas hold ‘em.
His special companion was his Newfoundland, Bubba.
He is survived by a son, Edsel E. Lowell Jr. and his wife Pam of Brandon, and a daughter, Kelly Lowell and her fiancé Matthew Markowski of Brandon.
He was predeceased by his wife, Deborah J. Lowell in 1999, his father Edward Lowell in 1997, his mother Susan Lowell in 2007 and his brother Edward E. Lowell Jr. in 1991.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Jan. 20 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Brandon. Graveside committal services and interment with military honors will take place in Pine Hill cemetery, Brandon, at a late date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division for Breast Cancer Research, 13 Loomis St., Montpelier, VT 05602, or the Community Cancer Clinic at Rutland Regional Medical Center, 160 Allen St., Rutland, VT 05701.
Joseph Minott Kerr
FERRISBURGH — Joseph Minott Kerr, 79, died peacefully in his sleep at his lakeside home in Ferrisburgh on Nov. 26, 2008, after a 10-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Born in New York City on June 24, 1929, to John and Margaret Minott Kerr, he was raised in St. James, Long Island, N.Y., and attended Emerson School and Exeter Academy. He received a degree in business administration from Northwestern University. During the Korean War he taught Arctic survival to aircraft pilots and crews in California’s High Sierras for the U.S. Air Force.
His career ranged from dealing with Longshoremen in labor negotiations for General Foods in Hoboken, N.J., to working as a consultant with New York City’s Booze Allen Hamilton until 1965.
In the mid-1960s he and his wife Mary and three sons moved from Mendham, N.J., to Fayston, Vt., seeking a rural lifestyle closer to nature.
His love of and work in Vermont were highlighted by three years in the Gov. Deane C. Davis administration. As the state’s secretary of civil and military affairs he assisted in writing landmark legislation that resulted in helping to preserve Vermont in its highly pristine state. Among these efforts were Act 250, a billboard ban and a bottle-deposit requirement. He also served as commissioner of employment security during Gov. Richard Snelling’s administration before returning to the private sector in 1980.
Between administrations he organized the original Vermont Community Foundation under the auspices of the McConnell/Clark Foundation that also took him to Quebec’s Eastern Shore to work with local native tribes.
He retired from B.F. Goodrich of Vergennes in 1998 after 18 years as an executive with the human resources and training departments. He was an active liaison with local community projects for Goodrich. He served as Addison County United Way president and chairman of the Bixby Library board of trustees. Family says he was particularly proud of working with architect Martin Tierney to restore the Bixby building, including the magnificent stained-glass atrium. He also served on the Elderly Services board in Middlebury.
He and his wife Mary traveled all over the world from their home on Lake Champlain to Washington state’s San Juans, the Chesapeake Bay, the Virgin Islands and the coast of Turkey for sailing; and to ski in the French, Italian, Austrian and Swiss Alps. A member of the Amateur Ski Club of New York, he was an original investor in Fayston’s Glen Ellen. He served as a board member during the fledgling ski area’s growing pains from 1962 to 1967.
He was active in the Mad River Valley’s Boy Scouts, an organizer of the Valley Junior Racing Club and Ski Education Foundation and a founder of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Mission in Waitsfield. After moving to their Ferrisburgh home in 1990, Joe served on the mission committee of the Vergennes Congregational Church and as a volunteer for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
He is survived by his wife Mary, whom he married on April 2, 1955, in East Hampton, N.Y. He is also survived by three sons, J. Minott Kerr of Portland, Ore., Gibson B. Kerr and his wife Diane of Springfield, Va., and Geoffrey G. Kerr of Palo Alto, Calif.; a brother, John Kerr of Hightstown, N.J.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Elizabeth, in July 2008.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, Jan. 24, 1 p.m. at the Vergennes Congregational Church, with a reception immediately following at the Bixby Memorial Library.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Bixby Library, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the Vergennes Food Shelf or the Heat Assistance Program.
Marion Adline Grace
BRATTLEBORO — Marion Adline Grace, 90, formerly of Chester, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 15, 2009, at the Thompson House Nursing Home, where she has resided since March 2006.
She was born on the family farm on Sept. 14, 1918, the oldest child of Philip and Annette (Sharrow) Cyr, in New Haven. She attended Beeman Academy and graduated in 1938.
She was married to Leonard Grace on March 21, 1940, at the Methodist Church in Middlebury. She was employed as a cook for 28 years at the Chester-Andover Elementary School, serving about 225 children and staff lunches daily throughout the school year. She and her husband were very active in their church (First Baptist Church of Chester), with her cooking for the many suppers, bazaars, food sales, etc. She was well known for her baking: dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, breads, pies and doughnuts, to name a few.
She is survived by a son, Phillip Grace and wife Jane of Addison; two daughters, Elaine Ranney and husband Charles of East Dummerston and Carol Faas and husband Jim of Jamaica; two sisters: Illean Fortin of Addison House in Middlebury and Helen (Francis) Dupoise of New Haven, currently wintering in Florida; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her husband Leonard in 1994 and two brothers, Wilbur and Louis, whose widows live in Middlebury and South Burlington, respectively.
Private calling hours will be at the convenience of the family. Funeral services and burial will be in the spring at the family’s hometown church, the First Baptist Church of Chester, at a date and time to be announced by the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Thompson House Activities Fund, c/o Sandra Ware, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the First Baptist Church, c/o Rev. Thomas Charlton, Main Street, Chester, VT 05143.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family through the funeral home at www.atamaniuk.com.
Barbara Mary (Oakland) Connor
BRIDPORT — Barbara Mary (Oakland) Connor, 85, of Bridport died Jan. 17, 2009.
She was born Dec. 28, 1923, and married Leo Jerome Connor on April 15, 1944.
She is survived by her husband Leo and by her twelve children, Leo “Jerry” Connor Jr., and his wife Cheryl of Bridport, William Connor and his wife Linda of Bridport, Michael Connor and his wife Linda of Shoreham, Paul Connor and his wife Marion of Bridport, Christopher Connor of Bridport, Peter Connor and his wife Tiama of Hartford, N.Y., Jonathan Connor and his wife Maryann of Addison, Linda Connor and her husband Dave Heitkamp of Orwell, Mary Connor and her husband Stanton Pratt of Middlebury, Barbara Connor and her husband James Caldwell of Chesterfield, Mo., Elizabeth Connor of Bridport, and Caroline Connor and her husband John Martone, of Glen Cove, N.Y. She is also survived by her brother, William Oakland of Cape Coral, Fla., 51 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents; a son, Joseph Connor; and a granddaughter.
Her family says she will be remembered always for her kind and gentle spirit and the love and affection she showered on her family each and every day of her life.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Jan. 20 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Waverly J. Carl
BRIDPORT — Waverly J. Carl, 68, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, surrounded by his family.
Born Nov. 18, 1940, on the family farm in Bridport, he was the son of the late Avery E. and Mercedes H. (Roberts) Carl.
A 1959 graduate of Middlebury High School, he spent his entire life working on the family dairy farm, retiring in 1991 due to failing health.
He was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed spending time with his family.
He is survived by a brother, Winston A. Carl and his wife Louise of Bridport; four sisters, Marlene Shackett and her husband William of Burlington, Yvonne Many and her husband Raymond of Middlebury, Donna Bushey and her husband Ralph of New Haven and Sharon Blackwell of Tarrytown, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Burial will be held in the spring at St. Mary’s cemetery Middlebury.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s School, 86 Shannon St., Middlebury VT 05753.
The family wishes to thank all those we took care of him at Helen Porter Health & Rehabilitation.
John C. Desforges
MIDDLEBURY — John C. Desforges, 72, died peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2009, at Fletcher Allen Health Care Fanny Allen Campus.
He was born Feb. 6, 1937, in Sudbury, the son of the late Leo P. and Yvette Marie (LaRocque) Desforges.
He attended Brandon High School. He served in the Army National Guard during the Berlin Crisis.
Family says he loved spending time with them and with friends, including Saturdays with his brothers. He was an avid card player. He loved his travels to Florida with his wife Carmen. John married Carmen Audet on April 20, 1985, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury.
He is survived by his wife Carmen (Audet) Desforges; his brothers Robert J. Desforges of Sudbury, Roland J. Desforges and his wife Jaska of Sudbury, Raymond J. Desforges and his wife Sharon of Sudbury, and Patrick “Paul” Desforges and his wife Beverly of Sudbury; his sisters Shirley Plouffe and husband Aldee of Bridport and Yolande Larson and husband Robert of Charlotte; two aunts, Yvette Desforges and Lucille Desforges of Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday March 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. William Beaudin celebrant. There will be no public calling hours.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Mary’s School, 86 Shannon St., Middlebury, VT 05753, or Addison County Home Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.
Susan M. (Hoffnagle) Shea
NEW HAVEN - Susan M. (Hoffnagle) Shea, 59, of New Haven and Fountain, Colo., died on September 23, 2007, after a prolonged illness. She was born on April 22, 1948, the daughter of Earle and Madeline (Spaulding) Hoffnagle.
Susan graduated from Vergennes Union High School and attended Champlain Business College in Burlington. She worked 31 years for the Department of the Army with 22 years of service at Fort Carson, Colo., as the chief of Reassignments Branch. She married Roger K. Shea on July 26, 1969, and lived in New York, California, Hawaii, Germany and Colorado as she followed her husband through his military service in the Army.
Susan was a treasured member of the Fort Carson Civil Service team, helping to take care of thousands of soldiers throughout her career.
Susan had many hobbies including home decoration, gardening, knitting, reading, cross-stitch and cooking. According to family, she took a particular interest in family and state history, maintaining close ties with Vermont and visiting often. Susan enjoyed reading cookbooks to learn about different culinary traditions from all over the world.
She is survived by her husband, Roger K. Shea; three sons, David E. Osgood and his wife Lori of Williamsburg, Va., Kevin L. Shea of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jason R. Shea and his wife Patricia of Fayetteville, N.C.; her mother, Madeline O’Brien of Brandon; and five grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her father, Earle, and a sister, Gail.
A memorial service was held on Sept. 28 at the Fort Carson Soldier Memorial Chapel. Interment will take place in June 2008 at the New Haven cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Haven Congregational Church, PO Box 6, New Haven, VT 05472.
Henry Richard Seymour
FAIRFAX — Henry Richard Seymour, 75, formerly of Brandon, died Oct. 5, 2007, in St. Albans. He was born May 14, 1932, in Randolph, the son of Glenn R. and Julia L. (Magiveny) Seymour.
According to family he enjoyed delivering the Fairfax News, collecting Hot Wheels cars, and was an avid fan of Red Sox, Bellows Free Academy and Fairfax baseball.
He is survived by his brother, Rodman Seymour of Winter Haven, Fla.; two sisters, Mertie Seymour and Joyce Burrell, both of Bethel; and many cousins.
The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in South View cemetery in Randolph, with the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to B.F.A. Fairfax Baseball Team, in care of Mike Brown, 75 Hunt St., Fairfax, VT 05454.
