NEKG - 2004 Obituaries

, 96, of 6 Lehan Road, Lebanon, N.H., and for the past year, a resident of Morrison Nursing Home in Whitefield, passed away at Littleton Regional Hospital Aug. 9, following a short illness. She was born in Asbestos, Canada, July 18, 1908, daughter of George and Amanda (Houle) Moran. Cora spent most of her life in Littleton. She worked for Norton Pike Company, retiring in 1971. Cora was predeceased by her first husband, Edmund Rioux; second husband, Karl White; and son Arthur Rioux of Seminole, Fla., where she lived for 20 years following her retirement. She then returned to the North Country for the past two years. She was a former member of the Catholic Women's Club and the VFW Auxiliary. She loved fishing, walking the beach in Florida, and taking long road trips with her family. Cora was known for her kindness, her courage, her vision beyond her challenges, her faith and her spunk! She is survived by a daughter, Anna and her husband Roland Bronson of Bethlehem; two sons, Everett Rioux of Biloxi, Miss., and Joseph Vigil of Seminole, Fla.; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lena Smith of North Bend, Ore. A service for friends and family will be held at the Bronson residence, 6 Lehan Road, Bethlehem, N.H., Sunday at 6 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date in the St. Matthews Cemetery, Whitefield. Donations in memory of Cora may be made to the Morrison Nursing Home, Sartwell Place, 4 Terrace St., Whitefield, NH 03598.

, of Center Conway, N.H., died Wednesday morning, Aug. 11, 2004, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, surrounded by his family, at the age of 61. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., April 13, 1943, son of the late Howard S. and Frances M. (Rattigan) Willard. Thomas grew up in Sheffield and Lyndonville, Vt., Maine, Missouri and New York. He was a 1961 graduate of Delaware Academy and Central School in Delhi, N.Y. He received a degree in applied science from SUNY Delhi in 1965 and completed additional course work at SUNY College of Forestry at Syracuse University and at the University of Vermont. For the past 33 years, Thomas was employed as a manager by New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, and worked in their Conway and Plymouth offices. Thomas was a skilled woodworker and over the years hand-crafted numerous Shaker and early American-style furniture pieces. He enjoyed the outdoors and was a former guide at Lost River Gorge in Woodstock, N.H. He was also an avid golfer and lifelong skier. Survivors include his son, Geoffrey Willard and his wife Eileen and their daughter Casey Frances of Reston, Va.; his two daughters, Kerry Willard Bray and her husband Erik of Nashua, N.H., and Alison Willard of Philadelphia, Pa.; two brothers and their wives, James and Marjorie Willard of Colchester, Vt., and John and Susan Willard of Grand Isle, Vt.; two sisters, Eleanor Bradford of Windsor, Vt., and Frances Alibrio and her husband Anthony F. Sr. of Moultonboro, N.H.; two aunts, Eleanor Courteau of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Marion Rattigan of Phoenix, Ariz.; and nieces and nephews. Friends may meet with the family Tuesday morning, Aug. 17, from 9:30-10:30 at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday morning, Aug. 17, at 11, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lyndonville, Vt. (located on Hill Street), with the Rev. Stephen Nichols as celebrant. Burial will follow in William-Dexter Cemetery in Sheffield, Vt. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Thomas' memory may be directed to Jen's Friend's Cancer Foundation, which can be reached at donate@jenfriends.org, or P.O. Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860, or by phone at 603-356-5083.

, 87, of Newport, died peacefully Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, in Farmington, Maine. She was born Jan. 8, 1917 in South Stuckley, Quebec, a daughter of Harmidas and Leontine (Decelle) Allard. She married Wallace A. Roberts who predeceased her in 1993. Mrs. Roberts had lived in Lyndonville, Vt. and for the past 40 years she lived in Newport. At one time, she was a seamstress for a glove factory in St. Johnsbury, Vt. She is survived by a son, Russell Whitney and his wife, Sheila, of Corinth, Maine; and by three grandchildren: Heidi Poole and her husband Mark, Tina Meserve and her husband Jeff, and Christopher Whitney and his wife Brenda. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17 at the Lyndon Center Cemetery, Lyndon Center, with the Rev. Paul Prince officiating. Interment will follow.

, 43, of 304 Peverly Road, Northfield, N.H., died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004, at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass., following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Concord, N.H., June 27, 1961, son of Albert H. Prue Sr. and Barbara A. (Stiles) Prue. He lived in Loudon, N.H., for several years before moving to South Walden, Vt., where he resided before moving to Northfield. He schooled in Vermont and later Tilton High School. At the age of 13, Albert was the youngest licensed auctioneer in both Vermont and New Hampshire and continued working as an auctioneer. He raised and sold livestock and was former co-owner of Rumney Livestock Auction Company in Rumney. Albert also owned, trained and sold race horses and was a member of the Horsemen Association of New Hampshire and United States Trotting Association. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed the outdoors and farming. He was of Roman Catholic faith. He was predeceased by a brother, Billie Prue, in 1969; a nephew, Douglas Abbott, in 1997; and his father, Albert H. Prue Sr., who died in 2002. His family includes, his beloved wife of six years, Susan Ann (Ford) Prue of Northfield; his children, Brandon, Victor, Steven, Joshua, Tyler and Robin; two beloved grandchildren, Dylan and Maria; his mother, Barbara Ann (Stiles) Prue of Northfield; a brother and his companion, Frank J. Prue and Brenda Hines of Littleton, N.H.; his sisters, Grace N. Cookson and her husband John of Cabot, Vt., Katherine Cates of South Walden, Vt., and Laurie Dyer of South Walden, Vt.; and a niece, nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews. Calling hours will be Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., at the William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home, Franklin-Tilton Road in Tilton, New Hampshire. A funeral service will be held in the Memorial Home, Thursday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. Officiating will be family friend, the Rev. Edward Paquette, retired. Burial will follow in Park Cemetery in Tilton. The William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home of Tilton is assisting the family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be made to either the "Resident Fund," Merrimack County Nursing Home, 325 D.W. Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303; or to the N.H. Humane Society, P.O. Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247-0572.

, 79, of East Charleston, passed away in New Port Richey, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004. She was born in Newport, Oct. 14, 1924, the daughter of Donald and Jennie (Lapierre) Smith. On Jan. 25, 1947, Gloria married Jack B. Sloan, who survives her. Together they owned and operated the General Store in East Charleston for many years. She was a past selectwoman, assistant town clerk and postal clerk for the town of Charleston. She also worked as a nurse's aide for the Orleans County Hospital. Gloria liked to help Jack with the store, auctions, antique business, and furniture refinishing and restoration. She was a member and past matron of the Eastern Star North Chapter 25, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Newport Post 21, and a member of the Ladies Shrine. She and Jack liked to travel and spent winters in Florida, where she was also a member of the Seabees Ladies Auxiliary Island 17. Besides her husband Jack, Gloria is survived by her mother, Jennie Smith of Hudson, Fla.; her children, Gerald "Mike" Sloan of North Carolina, Cherie Sloan and her special friend Arland Stone Jr. of Glover, James Sloan and his wife Kathryn of Newport, and Jack "Pat" Sloan and his special friend Marie of Newport; her brothers, Donald A. Smith and his wife Priscilla of New York, Milton Smith and his wife Janet of California, Conrad Smith and his family of California, and Charles Smith and his wife Jeannine of California; her sister-in-law, Geraldine Tumminelli of Methuen, Mass.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many special cousins and their families. Friends may call at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, Darling Hill Road, Newport (formerly Sias Ave.) Friday, Aug. 20, from 6-8 p.m. An Eastern Star service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Plymouth Congregational Church in East Charleston at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Michael Ford officiating. Interment will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in East Charleston. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gloria's name may be made to the Order of the Eastern Star, North Star Chapter 25, Island Pond, VT 05846; to the Masonic Order Scholarship Fund, Lodge 44, Island Pond, VT 05846; or to the charity of one's choice.

, 88, died peacefully in her sleep Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at her residence, the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab Center. Alice was born the eldest daughter of the late George and Edith Morrill in Littleton, N.H. She grew up in Littleton, graduating from Littleton High School, and continued her studies at Plymouth Normal School (which is now Plymouth State University), graduating in 1936. After finishing her teacher's training, she taught for three years in a one-room schoolhouse in Stark, N.H. She then moved to North Stratford, N.H., to continue her elementary teaching for two more years. In 1941, she married the late Robert G. Barrett in Littleton, N.H., who predeceased her Jan. 9, 2004, and moved to New Jersey with her new husband. In New Jersey, she was active in the Ridgewood Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She also was a den mother for Cub Scouts and ran a Brownie pack. She baby-sat in her home for many years, caring for as many as 13 infants and preschoolers on any given day. Alice always made room for one more. She is survived by three children, Larry and his wife Laura Barrett of Waterford, Vt., Rachel and her husband Edward Tomosieski of Bloomfield, N.J., and Helen Watson of St. Johnsbury, Vt. She is also survived by two sisters, Ina Andersen of Rumney, N.H., and Isabel Thompson of Geneva, N.Y.; eight grandsons; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by a daughter, Susan Ackerson, in 1996. Services will be held Thursday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m., at Passumpsic Community Baptist Church, and visitation will be Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 5-7 p.m., at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer St., St. Johnsbury, Vt. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Passumpsic Community Baptist Church, Route 5, Barnet, VT 05821.

, 89, of Littleton, N.H., passed away peacefully Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at his home. He was born in Barnet, Vt., April 15, 1915, the son of the late Pliney and Nellie (Laird) Granger. He attended Montpelier Seminary, where he played football and was on the track team. Mr. Granger worked at the Cog Railway for many years following in his father and uncles' footsteps, and starting a family tradition of working at the Cog Railway, which has continued down through to his grandchildren. He began as a dishwasher in the boarding house, and through the years he advanced to working on the track and trains and became track foreman. In his later years he worked as a consultant for the Cog Railway. He was an avid hiker of Mt. Washington and was very proud of the time he ran up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail in 45 minutes. Mr. Granger worked for the B & M Railroad starting in 1934 in Billerica working on steam engines. He transferred to Mechanicville, N.Y., in the late 1940s and ended his career as a road foreman in 1975 after 41 years of loyal service. He and his wife built their home in Littleton in 1969 and moved here permanently after his retirement in 1975. After retiring, he enjoyed many winters with his wife Mildred in Naples, Fla. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing in the area's ponds and rivers. While living in New York State he also enjoyed ice fishing. He passed on the enjoyment of this pastime to his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed putting together intricate jigsaw puzzles. During World War II he served in the United States Army in India as a locomotive engineer. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Mildred (Deslandes), in 1999; two brothers, Alan and Granville; and two sisters Maidene and Mary. He leaves a sister, Bernice of Schnecksville, Pa.; a brother, Guy of Merrimack, N.H.; a daughter, Dale Ann Granger-Eckert and her husband Dale of Newburyport, Mass.; a son, Pliney Granger III and his wife Judy of Northfield, Mass.; two granddaughters, Gabrielle Granger-Clark and her husband Peter, and Leigh Ann Haggett and her husband Allen, both of Littleton, N.H.; three great grandchildren, Joshua Clark, Megan and Jordan Haggett; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the North Country Home Health Agency, 536 Cottage St., Littleton, NH 03561; or the Littleton Senior Center, P.O. Box 98, Littleton, NH 03561. A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m., at the St. Rose of Lima Church, Littleton, N.H.

, 74, of Glover, Vt., passed away suddenly in Newport, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004. He was the beloved husband of Arlene. Friends may call at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, Elm Street, Barton, Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 20, at the West Glover Church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Michael Caldwell officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in Loudon's memory may be made to the Glover Bicentennial Scholarship Fund, in care of Donna Sweeney, Glover Town Clerk, 51 Bean Hill, Glover, VT 05839. A full obituary will follow.

, 74, of Island Pond, Vt., died suddenly Aug. 18, 2004, in Newport, Vt. She was born May 8, 1930, in Lisbon, Maine, a daughter of Albert and Ida Michaud. She graduated from Lisbon Falls High School. She is survived by her husband Gerald, whom she had been married to for 55 years. Mrs. Latouche was retired from Ethan Allen Manufacturing of Island Pond. She held memberships with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and American Legion Post 80 Auxiliary of Island Pond. She was a member of Lady of St. Anne's of Claremont, N.H. Among her hobbies, she enjoyed fishing, sewing, card playing, traveling, singing and yodeling. Mrs. Latouche was an avid bingo player and enjoyed traveling to casinos. She lived life to the fullest and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by five children, Joan LeClaire and her husband Lorne of Buxton, Maine, Jean Graveline and her husband Duane of Derby, Vt., Phyllis Ming and her husband Gary of Island Pond, Vt., Rita Major and her husband Gary of Pensacola, Fla., and Rena Latouche and her fiance Mark Ellingwood of Newark, Vt. She is survived by the following grandchildren, Kirk and his wife Jennifer, Paul, John, Matthew, Jennifer, Jenny, Nick, Tiffany and Thomas. She is also survived by the following great-grandchildren, Kyle, Allison, Andrew, Kaleb, Brianna, Michelle, Alexandra and Madison. Mrs. Latouche is survived by brothers- and sisters-in-law; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson, Richard; a great-granddaughter, Courtney; brothers, Armand and Albert; and by a sister, Connie Moore. Friends and family may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 20, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 1199 Railroad St., Island Pond (802-723-4419) where funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 21, with the Rev. Roger Fletcher officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery, Island Pond. Contributions in her memory may be made to Brighton Rescue, P.O. Box 456, Island Pond, VT 05846.

, formerly of St. Johnsbury and the Sunset Home, died Tuesday evening, Aug. 17, 2004, at the Pines Rehabilitation and Health Center in Lyndon, at the age of 98. She was born Nov. 1, 1905, in Greensboro, Vt., the last surviving child of the late Edward L. and Elizabeth A. (Wright) Garfield. On July 27, 1925, she married Kenneth P. Morrill. He predeceased her in August 1971. Mrs. Morrill enjoyed traveling, gardening, birdwatching and doing needlework making afghans and potholders. Survivors include a niece that she was very close to, Beryle Houghton and her husband Edwin of Lyndon, and their family Kathy Simpson, Paul Houghton and Beth Degreenia of Lyndon and Concord; another niece, Beverly Worth of Massachusetts; several other nieces and nephews and cousins; and two long-time friends, Mabel Barrett of St. Johnsbury, and Clarence Barrett of Clearwater, Fla. She was predeceased by eight brothers, Dana, Wilbur, Albert, Harold, Lucius, Edson, Perley and Carroll Garfield; and two sisters, Gladys Rivers and Eva Holbrook. Graveside services will be held Saturday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m., at Grove Cemetery in East St. Johnsbury. There will be no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory may be directed to The Pines Activities Fund, 601 Red Village Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851.

, died Aug. 14, 2004, at the age of 89, in Lakewood, Colo., of a stroke. His brothers Alden Webster and Vernon Webster, and his sisters Luella Mudgett and Clara Slack preceded him. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1936, then taught vocational agriculture for five years at Poultney High School in Poultney, Vt. For seven years, he was president of the Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vt. In 1951, he worked on a M.S. and Ph.D from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. After graduation at Cornell, he taught economics and marketing at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa., for nine years, until 1961. George and Mildred were married for 61 years and had three children, Carl Webster from York, Pa., Martha Johnson from Lakewood, Colo., and Ella Adermen from Lansdale, Pa.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In 1961, George worked for WFIL radio and TV in Philadelphia as a farm broadcaster. Six years later, he moved to New Jersey to work for the New Jersey Agricultural Marketing Association, traveling the state of New Jersey helping farmers. In his early years, George was active in his community and received several awards. He was a Scout master, distinguished service award from the National Association of FFA, Rotarian, Methodist Men's Club, Agriculture Engineers and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. In 1979, he retired and returned to his home community of Danville, Vt. He was president of the Caledonia County Farm Bureau and member of the Vermont Retired Teachers. He moved to Colorado in 1997 and participated in Rotary and his church, Lakewood United Church of Christ. The funeral will be Aug. 22 in Colorado, and interment will be at a later date in Danville, Vt. Memorials may be made to Lakewood United Church of Christ, 100 Carr St., Lakewood, CO 80226.

, 96, of 471 Pettyboro Road, Bath, N.H., passed away Aug. 18, 2004, at her home after brief complications of old age. Born at home on Walker Hill in Lisbon, N.H., June 20, 1908, she was the daughter of David and Nora (Conway) Nihan. Mary attended the Walker Hill School in North Lisbon and was a graduate of Lisbon High School. On Oct. 15, 1928, she married Lester W. Presby of Bath, N.H. Together, they purchased his home place, which they named Klay Knoll Farm, where they worked and raised their family. Mary first caught the eye of her future husband when she won a hand-milking contest in Sugar Hill, N.H., in the 1920s. Along with her husband, Mary worked in their business interests of dairy farming, lumber operations, raising stock and crops for market, and maple sugar production. Every sugaring season, Mary made hundreds of her famous plain donuts, which she served with maple syrup to guests at the farm. For many years, they owned a prize herd of Ayrshire cattle. In recent years, Mary had been an owner of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway and a partner in the Mount Washington Hotel and the Bretton Woods Ski Area. During her career, Mary had been a member of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau; the Pine Grove Grange in Bath; Trout Unlimited; acted as a business adviser to the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort; and, following her husband, held the Boston Post Cane as the oldest resident of Bath. In her free time, Mary loved to shop, cook, pick berries, play cards, and visit with family and friends. One of her favorite hobbies was to photograph dairy barns in the region. During the 1950s, Mary was a finalist in the Mrs. New Hampshire contest, which was held at the Allen A Resort in Wolfboro, N.H. In 1998, Mary and Lester celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with an open house at the Lisbon Town Hall. Until very recently, Mary frequently traveled about New Hampshire and Vermont in her red Chevy convertible. Mary is survived by two sons, William Presby and his wife Elledra of Lisbon, and Lynn Presby and his wife Brenda of Freedom, N.H.; five grandchildren, David Presby of Sugar Hill, N.H., Bradley Presby of Bethlehem, N.H,, Wayne Presby of Littleton, N.H., Kathy Rae Emmi of Lewiston, Maine, and Penny Korte of Laurel, Mont.; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Lester, in 2000; her parents; an infant daughter, Lois Presby, in 1931; three brothers, Carroll, Maurice and Dennis; and a grandson, Adam Presby of Bath, N.H., in 1992. There will be no calling hours and a committal service will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory, to The Friends of Bath, P.O. Box 165, Bath, NH 03740.

, 74, of West Glover, died suddenly Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004, at his home. He was born March 8, 1930, in St. Johnsbury, the youngest child of Lawrence and Nellie Dewing Young. He was raised on Springdale Farm in West Glover. He attended Beach School in West Glover, Barton Academy and state agricultural school in Randolph. After school, he returned to the family farm where his parents and grandparents had farmed before him. In 1950, he married Arlene Perkins of Westmore. They raised seven children. In addition to milking cows, Loudon sugared, cut Christmas trees, plowed snow, hauled milk and cut pulp. Whatever he was doing, he rarely passed up an opportunity for conversation. Known throughout his life for his storytelling talent, during the 1970s, Loudon began writing a column for The Chronicle based on his everyday experiences. A compilation of the columns was published in 1977, titled "Loudon Young, Off main Street, West Glover VT." Loudon also sold advertising for the paper for years. He was in his element in the job, traveling from business to business, visiting with people, swapping stories, jokes and news. He was an avid reader and loved to pick berries. He served the town of Glover in a variety of elected positions, including 24 years as a lister (beginning at the age of 21), 12 years as school director and three years as selectman. Among his contributions were the insight and humor he brought to many a meeting. Loudon is survived by his wife, Arlene; his children, John and his partner Jan Russell of Charleston, S.C., Edward of West Glover, Georgia of Glover, Dean of West Glover, Darlene and her husband Ned Andrews of Glover, and Arthur and his wife Tara of West Glover; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Nathan Todd and his wife Sarah and their daughter Abigail of northern New York, Jennie Young of South Carolina, Ben Todd and his wife Kelly and their son Gabrial of Barton, Katie Young of Essex Junction, Christopher Todd of Glover, Meg Andrews of Glover, and Zoe Young of West Glover; two more great-grandchildren are expected this fall; his half-brother, Laurice Young of Connecticut; his sister-in-law, Barbara Young of Coventry; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Richard; his sister, Barbara Gagner; and his half-brother Earl Young. Contributions may be made in Loudon's name to the Glover Bicentennial Scholarship Fund, in care of Donna Sweeney, Glover Town Clerk, 51 Bean Hill Road, Glover, VT 05839. Calling hours were held Thursday evening. Funeral services are planned for Friday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m., at the West Glover Congregational Church with the Rev. Michael Caldwell officiating. A committal service will be held at the convenience of the family.