NEKG - 2008 Obituaries

, 53, of Westmore died August 9, 2008, in Newport. Mrs. Willey was born September 30, 1954, in Torrington, Connecticut, dear daughter of Edward and Roberta (Kimberly) Petit. On August 22, 1998, she married Jeff Willey, who survives her. She owned and operated a house cleaning service for many years. She was an avid supporter of the Westmore Volunteer Fire Department. She enjoyed going to Lake Willoughby, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her close friends and her dogs, but most of all, she loved her time with her husband on the Harley. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jeff Willey, of Westmore; by her parents, Edward and Roberta Petit, of Torrington; by her stepdaughter Amanda Willey of Barton; by three stepgrandchildren: Madison, Tyler, and Brianna; by her sisters Judy Skilton and Lou-Anne Archer and her husband, Les, of Torrington; by two nephews, Kevin James and Keith Donald Archer, of Torrington; by her brother Edward W. Petit Jr. of Torrington; and by many loving friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She will be dearly missed. She was predeceased by her stepdaughter Amy Willey. A gathering for friends and family will be held at Nan's house on August 17 at 2 p.m. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Willey's memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 36, of Leavenworth, Kansas, died July 16, 2008, as the result of an automobile accident. Major Weaver was born October 24, 1971, in New York City. He was a summer resident of West Glover throughout most of his life. He attended the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Day School and received a superb first- through eighth-grade education at St. Bernard's School. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, a wonderful public magnet school. He was accepted at the four colleges to which he applied, but opted to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1993. His military service took him to many places in the world, including tours of duty at Frankfurt, Germany; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Seoul, South Korea; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Kosovo; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Afghanistan and shorter stays at many places in the U.S., Egypt, Jordan, and Argentina. He loved to sing! As a boy soprano he sang almost every important role including Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Britten's "Curlew River," Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms," and some 20 performances of Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors," including the first performance of that opera in New York's Avery Fisher Hall under the composer's direction. He sang a solo on network television, and both he and his sister sang for many years in the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera children's choruses. Wherever he found himself in the world for any length of time he joined a church choir. He was a superb choral singer with adroit reading skills. It was in the choir of First Presbyterian Church in Leavenworth that he sang in the bass section with a Lieutenant Colonel Cox. They sang together in the local barbershop singing group, the Cody Choraliers. In due time he met Colonel Cox's daughter Meredith, and the rest is history, as they say. Jonathan and Meredith were married in Leavenworth on June 26, 2004, with many friends and relatives of both the Weaver and Cox families present. He had an unusual fluency in foreign languages. In every country he visited he quickly learned the rudiments of the local tongue. His Russian was rather good, and he studied Arabic at West Point. At the Military Academy he rather overloaded his schedule, accumulating many more credits than were required. He delighted in the demanding intellectual studies there. His memory for details and history were amazing to all who knew him. He had just finished the command and general staff course at Fort Leavenworth and was due to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan this fall. He was on the last leg of a grand trip on which he visited with his sister and parents in Northville, New York, and West Glover and his wife's family in Michigan. On the night of July 16, some 40 miles from reaching his home in Leavenworth, he was cut off by a tractor-trailer truck and killed instantly. He is survived by his wife, Meredith Weaver, of Leavenworth; by his parents, John and Marianne Weaver, of West Glover; by his sister Kirianne Weaver of Northville, New York; by his father- and mother-in-law, Brad and Mary Cox, of Leavenworth; by his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Loring Cox, Leif and Beth Sanford, and Chuck and Brandi Cox of Leavenworth and Seattle; by his aunts and uncles: David and Barbara Weaver of Towson, Maryland, Robert and Anne Weaver of Montague, Massachusetts, and Esther and Wesley Traub of Concord, Massachusetts; and by his cousins, nieces, and nephews. Interment is planned at West Point for the fall.

, 105, of Newport, formerly of Barton, died peacefully August 8, 2008, in Newport. Mrs. Valley was born January 8, 1903, in Central Falls, Rhode Island, a daughter of Elzear and Marie Rose (Fontaine) Mailhot. On September 14, 1920, she married Perley Valley, who predeceased her January 20, 1970. In 1917 her family moved to Vermont where they bought a farm in Westmore. In the 1940s she used to make Major League baseballs to earn extra money, and she later worked at the Franklin Store in Barton for 25 years. After her husband's death, she spent winters in Florida with her brother Napoleon Mailhot, who predeceased her in 1988. She became a eucharistic minister in 1982. She would go to homes of sick people and to nursing homes in the area to minister. She gave it up in 1989 because of hip replacements. She made many quilts and afghans in her lifetime. Each grandchild and great-grandchild has at least one. She is survived by eight grandchildren and by numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by three sons: Paul, Percy, and Roger Valley. Funeral services were held August 11 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Barton with the Reverend Yvon Royer celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed in St. Paul's Cemetery in Barton. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Valley's memory may be made to St. Paul's School, Barton, Vermont 05822; or to the Barton Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 364, Barton, Vermont 05822.

, 65, of St. Johnsbury died peacefully at his home, following a brief illness, on Monday morning, August 4, 2008. Mr. Michaud was born January 22, 1943, in Bradford, Maine, a son of Neil and Shirley Michaud. He attended high school in Newington, Connecticut, prior to entering the U.S. Army, where he served in Turkey during the Cold War with the military police. Later he attended Rochester Institute of Technology to study printing. In 1972 he collaborated with friends to form the Green Mountain Trading Post in East Charleston. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Reihmer, of St. Johnsbury; three daughters: Dorinda Michaud of St. Johnsbury, Rena Michaud of Anchorage, Alaska, and Gina Michaud of Johnson; his former wife Carol Michaud of Brownington; two brothers, Reggie Michaud and his wife, Kathy, of Connecticut and Gerry Michaud and his partner, Helen, of Maine; his sister Sheila Michaud of Maine; and nieces, nephews, and his extended family. He was predeceased by his parents; and by his brother George Michaud. A memorial gathering at his home was held August 9.

, 29, died July 8, 2008, in Newark, New Jersey. Sulaimar "Su" was born on August 24, 1978, in Newark, New Jersey, to Shirby Kirksey of Greenville, South Carolina, who predeceased him. Su was educated in the Newark Public School system. He graduated from East Side High School. Sulaimar moved to Vermont, where he performed with the Bread and Puppet Theater. He attended Johnson State College (JSC) as a political science major. During his time at JSC he was employed as a disc jockey and manager of the college's radio station. Political science was most fitting for Sulaimar. He could debate any subject with passion. Along with a strong personality, Su had a comedic side and loved to tell jokes. Sulaimar fought a good long fight, but the battle was no longer his to fight. On July 8 Sulaimar was called home. He will be dearly missed. He leaves to cherish in his memory a son, Sulaimar Isaiah Maxwell Braithwaite, of Oakland, California; two brothers, Travis Kirksey of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Alfred Kirksey of Newark; two sisters, Dominique Shell and AyeshaKirksey of Newark; the mother of his child, Martha Braithwaite, of Oakland; his grandmother Sara Kirksey of Newark; three nieces: Savannah, Jamaya, and Angel Kirksey; three nephews: Savon, Tayriq, and Tyler Kirksey; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

, 90, lifelong resident of Lyndonville, died peacefully at her son's home in Lyndonville, with her family at her side, on Monday evening, August 4, 2008. Mrs. Fisher was born July 6, 1918, in Lyndonville, a daughter of Earl and Emma (Dana) Fletcher. A member of Lyndon Institute's class of 1937, she had been the class secretary ever since. She then attended Becker Business College in Worcester, Massachusetts. On July 2, 1942, she married Paul Fisher, who predeceased her in 1977. In the 1980s she married David Knowlton, who also predeceased her. To say she was active in her community would be an understatement. She was a life member of the Lyndonville First Congregational Church, serving as deacon. Memberships included the Lyndon Historical Society, the League of Vermont Writers, the Lyndon Outing Club (where she was crowned the first winter carnival queen), and the Lyndonville Military Band, in which she played trumpet. She was a justice of the peace in Lyndon for many years. She had worked closely with Representative W. Arthur Simpson and was a Lyndon Town historian, assistant to the secretary at the Caledonia County Fair, 1986 Lyndonville Rotary Club Citizen of the Year, and recipient of the 1999 Vail Darling Award and the 2004 Vermont Woman of Achievement appreciation award by the Business and Professional Women's Group. She was a writer and local historian who published six books of local historical interest. She loved dancing at the Lyndon Corner Grange for many years, working in her flower gardens, traveling, sewing and making crafts, helping local schoolchildren, attending the Lyndon Area Senior Meal Site, going to the Cobleigh Public Library, spending time with her family, and meeting with all her friends. Survivors include her son Kermit Fisher and his wife, Carol, of Lyndonville; two daughters, Lois Fowler and her husband, Bill, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Janet Bishop and her husband, Allan, of Newport; seven grandchildren: Sharon Fowler Grant, Daniel Fowler, Todd and Dana Fisher, and Mary, Greg and Matthew Bishop; 12 great-grandchildren; nephews; cousins; and many good friends. She was predeceased by her parents; by two husbands; by her brother Gordon Fletcher at the age of 13; and by close friend and classmate Patricia Leslie. A funeral was held August 9 at the Lyndonville First Congregational Church with the Reverend Donald Vincent officiating. Burial followed in the Lyndon Center Cemetery. Contributions may be directed to the Harriet F. Fisher Memorial Fund, in care of Bonnie Boucher, Community National Bank, P.O. Box 125, Lyndonville, Vermont 05851.

, 63, of Derby died August 8, 2008, in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Mrs. Dopp was born April 23, 1945, the eleventh child of Silas Sr. and Mildred Bean Scott. At that time the family was living at the end of Bear Mountain on the Old Beadle Farm. She attended the old Hillside School on Armstrong Road in Newport Center from 1952 to 1956. The school was closed in 1956, and she then attended Newport Town School from 1956 to 1960. In 1961 she and her sister Maxine went to live with their uncle and aunt Olin and Minnie Bean in North Troy where Mrs. Dopp attended school from 1961 to 1963 and graduated with honors. On October 26, 1963, she married Larry Wendell Dopp at the United Church in Derby. Her first job was working as assistant town clerk for the town of Troy and the village of North Troy. She also worked for the Newport Plastics three times, the Border Motel, and Ethan Allen. She took care of her dying uncle at home, she was legal guardian for her cousin for several years, and she was administrator for her father's estate and cousin for whom she cared. She was a personal representative for a brother-in-law. She taught Sunday school in several area churches and was the Sunday school superintendent at one of them. She was deaconess in two churches. Her hobbies included reading, writing, making special occasion cakes, flower gardening, knitting, fishing, traveling, and sticking her nose in everyone's business to see if she could help in some way. She lived in Vermont all her life, except for ten months in Marion, Connecticut, from 1967 to 1968. In 1976 she and her husband had their first home built at Salem View Heights in Derby. She is survived by her husband, Larry Dopp, of Derby; by three children: Wendell Dopp of Derby, Wanda Dopp of Coventry, and Kevin Dopp and his wife, Penny, of Derby; by four grandchildren: Jason and Crystal Dopp and Kristen and Jacob Dopp; by five sisters: Annabelle Dreher of Flordia, Shirley Kocis of Island Pond, Margaret Barnes of Florida, Charlotte Powers and her husband, Dean, of West Charleston, and Birdena Collins and her husband, Raymond Jr., of Brownington; and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by siblings: Walter, George Sr., Silas Jr., Maxine Cory, Mildred Collins, and Alice. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Darling Hill Road in Newport with the Reverend Roger Fletcher officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the hour of the funeral on Wednesday. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Dopp's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, Williston, Vermont 05495.

, 82, of Newport died August 2, 2008, in Newport. Mrs. Clad spent most of her life in Massachusetts and moved to Vermont in the mid-1990s to live with her son until she moved to a nursing home. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and playing cards when she was able. She really liked to watch her television. She enjoyed the many cats and dogs that they had over the years. The love of her life over the last few years were her grandchildren, as she was able to watch them grow up in their younger years. She is survived by her son Marc Clad and his wife, Nicole, of Derby; by grandchildren Hannah and Joshua Clad of Derby; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Emile Clad; and by two brothers.

, 67, died and went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at her Derby home. Mrs. Buzzell was born January 9, 1941, in Concord, New Hampshire, to Dorothy Arlene (Hurlbutt) and Irving Dean Dudley Jr. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, her occupations included work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and in tuberculosis research in the 1960s. She focused on her family for the next two decades before beginning a teaching career at North Country Union High School and United Christian Academy. In her retirement years, she directed the state's most attended senior meal site at the United Church of Derby, where she was a longtime member. She loved flowers, gardening, cake-decorating, and serving others. Anything that interested her children and grandchildren was of interest to her, so great was her passion for those she loved. The name Doris means "gift of God"; she fulfilled this meaning in the lives she touched. She leaves seven dear siblings: Sylvia Locke of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, Clara Jane Stern of Woodbridge, Connecticut, Helen Winstanley of Pensacola, Florida, Beatrice Jaynes of Naperville, Illinois, Barbara Austin of Reading, Massachusetts, Daniel Dudley of Concord, New Hampshire, and David Dudley of Gilmanton. A loving mother and wife, "Dorie" leaves her husband, George; four children: Roy of Middlebury, Patricia Wood of Newport, New Hampshire, Paul of Huntington, and Rebecca Brown of Virgil, New York; and ten grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the United Church of Derby at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 16. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Church of Derby, P.O. Box 294, Derby, Vermont 05829 and may be further designated for the Adopt-a-Child program, in which she participated.

, 67, of Newport Center died at his home in Newport Center on August 4, 2008. Mr. Briggs was born to Leigh and Marguerite (Regan) Briggs on September 23, 1940, in Boston, Massachusetts. He lived in the Lynn, Massachusetts, area for more than 50 years, attending local schools including St. Johns Prep and Suffolk University. He worked for General Electric for 35 years and retired as a turbine tester. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus of Nahant, North Shore Old Car Club, and Cars of Yesteryear. He liked ATVing and gardening. He loved his cats and spending winters with his wife, Cathy, in Desert Hot Springs, California. He loved being with his family. He was an avid history buff and was a very outgoing and friendly person who was always willing to give a hand to help others. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; by children: Mary Mills and her husband, John, of Lynn, Leanne Welch and her husband, Ron, of Waterford, Connecticut, and Thomas Briggs of Brooklyn, New York; by stepchildren: Dona Kulakowski of Newport Center, Eric Bergendahl and his wife, Mary, of South Berwick, Maine, Donald Ross and his wife, Leslie, of North Berwick, Maine, Linda DesRosier and her husband, Larry, of Newton, New Hampshire, Louise Ross of Lynn, Travis and Kim Bowen of Morrisville, Melissa Bowen of Newport Center, and Scott Bumps of Newport Center; by 25 grandchildren; by his nephew William Hrubes of Colorado; by his niece Cara Hrubes of Lynn; and by his former wife Mary (Russo) Protz. He was predeceased by his parents; and by his second wife, Barbara Louise Briggs. A Funeral Mass was held August 11 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church in Newport with the Reverend Yvon Royer officiating. Burial followed in the Newport Center Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Briggs' memory may be made to the Vermont Kidney Association, P.O. Box 244, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

, 73, of Coventry died peacefully, surrounded by his family, August 8, 2008, in at his home in Coventry. Mr. Bowman was born April 1, 1935, in Newport, a son of Baxter and Evelyn (Wallace) Bowman. On August 13, 1955, he married Marion Phillips, who survives him. He was a truck driver for Calkins Sand and Gravel; he retired in 2005. He enjoyed bowling, going out to dinner, dancing, listening to country music, working, and going to his daughters' softball games. He is survived by his wife, Marion Bowman, of Coventry; by his children: Larry Bowman of Coventry, Gail Fortin and her husband, Roger, of Barton, Donna Ladue and her husband, David, of Derby, Cindy Letourneau and her husband, Gaetan, of Irasburg, Carolyn Granai and her husband, George, of Coventry, and Rachel Hart and her husband, Paul, of Wolcott; by grandchildren: Jamie Longley, Shaun and Rodney Messier, Gabrielle Granai, Dylan Fortin, and Trevor and Austin Letourneau; by great-grandaughterBaylee Messier; by stepgrandchildren; by stepgreat-grandchildren; by siblings: Dennis Bowman and his wife, Velma, of New Hampshire, Marshall Bowman and his wife, Esther, of Coventry, Durwood Bowman of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, Leland Bowman and his wife, Alice, of Derby, Louise Larivee and her husband, Ross, of Coventry, Joyce Rhines and her husband, David, of Massachusetts, Linda Yandle and her husband, Anthony, of Pennsylvania, Bernice Blair and her husband, George, of Washington, and Joan Swenson and her husband, Clifford, of Barton; by two sisters-in-law, Thelma Jewett of Newport and Dorothy Pratt and her husband, Gary, of Colchester; and by his friend Gordon Columbia. He was predeceased by his brother Winston Bowman; by his sister-in-law Velma Bowman; and by son-in-law Milton "Bimbo" Longley in February 1978. Funeral services were held August 12 in Newport with Mark Aube officiating. Interment followed in the Newport Center Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Bowman's memory may be made to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, Vermont 05657.