, 31, of Northfield Falls, died March 23. Born in 1968 in Merced, Calif., he was the son of Marcel and Shelia (Abascal) Ruel. He graduated from Northfield High School and later attended Vermont Technical College. He had been a chef and was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Northfield. Survivors include his mother; his father and step-mother, Marcel and Kathy Ruel; a brother, Darin; his fiancee, Callie Buck; his maternal grandmother; paternal step-grandmother; many aunts, uncles and cousins.

, 78, of East Barre, died March 24. Born in 1920 in East Barre, she was the daughter of Ralph and Jennie (Gillander) Lowery. She attended elementary school in East Barre and graduated from Spaulding High School. In 1941, she married Peter Aja, who died in 1998. She began work as a substitute clerk at the East Barre Post Office and continued there later becoming Postmaster and retiring in 1983. She was a member of the East Barre Congregational Church. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Aja and Cheryl Gorton; a grandson; a granddaughter; nieces and nephews.

, 87, formerly of Graniteville and more recently of Enfield, Conn., died March 23. Born in Graniteville, she lived most of her live in Montpelier before moving to Enfield, Conn. in 1984. She owned and operated the Boucher Jewelry Store with her husband, before retiring in 1969. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church in Enfield. Survivors include one daughter, Jean Beaucage; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

, 49, of Graniteville, died March 21. Born in 1950 in Barre, she was the daughter of Clyde and Jessica (Bradley) Spooner. She attended Graniteville schools. In 1967, she married Joseph Wayne Pelkey. She worked for Sprague Electric before attending beautician school at O'Brien's Beauty Studio in Burlington. She owned and operated Shear Art Beauty Salon in Graniteville. She was a member of Websterville Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Kim (Mrs. John) McGrath, Robin (Mrs. Timothy) French and Paula (Mrs. Richard) Clark; one son, Joseph Jr.; five grandchildren; three brothers; three sisters; many nieces and nephews.

, 84, of Moretown, died March 23. Born in 1915 in Moretown, he was the son of George and Ida May (Boyce) Farnham. He attended Moretown schools and served in the Army during WWII. He spent his life working on the family farm. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Moretown. Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

, 83, of Montpelier, died March 26. Born in 1915 in Stowe, he was the son of Burton Elmer and Milinda (Honer) Wedge. He attended schools in Stowe and in 1936, married Nellie Clary. He had worked for the Central Vermont Railroad and was a custodian at Vermont College, retiring in 1989. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Cecil; four grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; three godchildren; nieces and nephews.

, 27, formerly of Ryegate and Berlin, died March 24. Born in 1971 in Berlin, he was the son of Daniel and Linda (Perkins) Leonard. He graduated from Blue Mountain Union High School and studied demolition explosive techniques at Toronto Technical School in Toronto, Canada. He was a licensed demolition explosives expert in Mass. and Vt., working for Massachusetts Blasting Pioneer Explosives, Whipps Inc. and Clark's Garage in Athol, Mass. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Sarah Leonard; two brothers, Darren and Daniel; maternal grandmother; maternal step-grandfather; paternal grandparents; uncles, aunts, cousins and a niece.

75 of Calais, died March 25. Born in 1923 in Plainfield, he was the son of Merton and Pearle (Cotton) Porter. He attended schools in Plainfield and Cabot. In 1944, he married Genester Chapin. They moved to Calais in 1959 and he worked for the HP Hood Creamery and more recently as a master electrician for Washington Electric Co-op. He was member of the Grace United Methodist Church of Plainfield. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Linda Bartlett, Charlene Ibey and Vanessa Leno; two sons, Randon and Shawn; five grandchildren; a brother; five sisters; many nieces and nephews.

, 56, of Berlin, died March 22. Born in 1942 in New Brunswick, N.J., he was the son of Charles and Evelyn (Hoffman) Baltin. He had worked at WSKI Radio in Montpelier as an account executive and disc jockey. Survivors include a brother, Steven; a sister-in-law and a nephew.

, 69, of Montpelier, died March 25. Born in 1928 in Jamaica Plains, Mass., she was the daughter of Matthew and Natalie Cassin. She spent her childhood in Nahant, Mass. She graduated from Montpelier High School and in 1947, married Robert Morse. She was a member of the Worcester United Methodist Church. She attended Goddard College and received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She worked for Washington County Mental Health, retiring in 1994. After retirement she worked part-time at the Calais Post Office. Survivors include her children, James, Beverly Newton, John, Pam Everingham, Aaron, Polly Boothe, Debby Pinard and Joann Cummings; one sister; 13 grandsons; nine granddaughters; one great-grandson; three great-granddaughters; numerous nephews and nieces.

, 67, of Randolph, died March 24. Born in 1931 in Randolph, she was the daughter of Alfred and Bernice (Scott) Payette. She attended Randolph schools and lived most of her life in the Randolph area. She had recently lived with Joan and Rachael Blandin in Bradford and most recently in Quechee. Survivors include two brothers, Robert and Raymond; a sister-in-law; several nieces and nephews.

, 84, of Montpelier, died March 20. Born in 1914 in Madison, Wis., he was the son of Max Withrow and Margaret Putnam Morse. He graduated from Bristol (Pa.) High School and attended University of New Hampshire. He served in the Air Force during WWII. In 1945, he married Elinor Jean Burns, who died in 1992. They moved to Montpelier in 1954 and he was employed at Lyons-Farnham Pontiac and later at Hookers Wayside Furniture until his retirement. Survivors include two daughters, Elizabeth Jean Morse and Julia M. Heller; a son, David; one sister; a half-sister; a half-brother; a granddaughter; longtime friend Doris Washburn; nieces and nephews.

, 87, of Hardwick, died March 28. Born in 1911 in St. Germaine, Quebec, Canada, she was the daughter of Ernest and Marie (Couture) Brochu. The family moved to East Hardwick in 1920. In 1932, she married Arthur Messier, who died in 1972. They had lived in Stannard and in 1976, Mrs. Messier moved to Hardwick. she was a communicant of St. Michael's Church in Greensboro bend and also attended St. Norbert's Church in Hardwick. Survivors include four sons, Robert, Andre, Gerard and Paul; three brothers; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.

, 63, formerly of Northfield and more recently of Burnham, Maine, died March 27. Born in 1935 in Northfield, she was the daughter of Sylva and Elizabeth (Jerry) Premont. She attended Northfield schools. She had been married to Oliver Duprey and in 1976, married Harold Emerson. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church of Northfield. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Roger Duprey, Oliver Duprey, Walter Duprey and Harold Duprey; two daughters, Cheryl LaFaso and Lillian Langford; two brothers; two sisters; two stepsons, Jimmie Emerson and Michael Emerson; two stepdaughters, Lori Duprey and Christie Emerson; two grandchildren she raised, Colleen and Tanya Duprey; several other grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

, 75, of Cabot, died March 29. Born in 1924 in Cradock, Va., she was the daughter of Julian and Myra (Booth) Chockley. She attended public schools and graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond, Va. She then attended nursing school in Richmond. In 1948, she married Dr. Frank Henry Caffin, who died in 1991. She had assisted her husband with his medical practice. She was affiliated with the United Church of Cabot. Survivors include a son, Neale; a daughter, Stephanie Bushey; a stepson, Rev. Bob Caffin; two brothers; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins and an International Exchange student, Juan David Saldana.

, 49, of Waterbury, died March 26. Born in 1949, he was the so of Gerald and Jean (Breset) Collins. He graduated from Harwood Union High School in Duxbury. He was employed at the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury as a psychiatric technician. Survivors include his mother; his father; two sisters, Mary Ellen (Mrs. Francis) Trask and Carol (Mrs. Lynn) Mannan; a brother, Michael Collins; several nieces and nephews.

, 47, formerly of Northfield, and his wife, Patricia, 47, died in a traffic accident on March 9. Mr. Hayes was born in 1937 in Northfield, the son of William H. and Madelene (Church) Hayes. He spent his early years in Williamstown and Barre and attended Matthewson Elementary School and Spaulding High School. He was a member of Hedding Methodist Church. Survivors include a sister, Helena Blankenship; two nieces, four nephews, a sister-in-law and several cousins.

, 85, of Randolph, died April 1. Born in 1913 in Brockton, Mass., he was the son of Merton and Evelyn (Rowe) Hayward. He attended Brockton schools and graduated from Brockton High School. He continued his education at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture, graduated with a degree in architectural engineering. He served in the Navy during WWII. He worked as a hardware salesman for Emery Waterhouse of Portland, Maine and later for Dealer Supply of Springfield, Mass., retiring in 1984. In 1971, he married Janet Prior, who died in 1993. He was a member of Bethany United Church of Christ. Survivors include a step-son, Scott Whitham; two step-daughters, Sandra Therrien and Susan Hill; six grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

, 70, of Randolph, died April 2. Born in 1928 in Preston, Conn., she was the daughter of Allyn and Marion (Flood) Carpenter. She attended schools in Middletown, Conn. and was a chambermaid at Yankee traveler and the St. Johnsbury House. She also took care of children in her home. She moved to Randolph House in Randolph in 1994. In 1972, she married Francis Greenwood, who died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Stuart Perkins; two daughters, Leslie Hatin and Ruth Ann Perkins; four grandchildren.