, 73, died in Barton Thursday, November 6, 2008, surrounded by her loving family and members of the Orleans Fire Department. The firemen gave Mrs. Lapierre a final salute out of respect for their dispatcher. She was born on April 23, 1935, on the Arthur Butler homestead inIrasburg. Her parents were Arthur W. Landers Butler and Glenna M. Huntington Butler. For the first two years of school, she walked to the Burton Hill Country School, until it closed. Then she was bused to the Irasburg Elementary School. During this time, her father was the Irasburg road commissioner. She assisted the family with farm chores, while three of her brothers were serving in World War II. During her high school years at Orleans High School, she boarded at Gordon and Barbara Spencer's home. During one summer, she worked as a waitress at the Alpine Hotel in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. At this time, she met Emile Lapierre of Orleans, and they were married on June 27, 1953. Mr. Lapierre predeceased her on November 3. She graduated from Orleans High School in June 1953. Mr. and Mrs. Lapierre lived with his great-aunt Idell Taylor, and they operated the filling station and small country store, at the present location of the the Sunoco One-Stop in Orleans, for five years until it was sold to the Sunoco Oil Company. Their first two children, Connie Marie and Deborah Ann, were born at this time. The small family moved to an apartment building where daughters Mary Jane, Cynthia Jean, and Karen Olive were born. In May 1966, she and her husband bought their first and only home at 36 Water Street in Orleans, where their son William Arthur was born. For half a year before William was born, Mrs.Lapierre worked as a cook for Rena and Gordon Marcotte at Maple Lane Nursing Home. In the mid-1970s, Mr. Lapierre became the Orleans fire chief, and Mrs. Lapierre purchased a CB base station radio and soon began dispatching for the Orleans Fire Department, as each firetruck had a CB radio in it. Her CB handle was the Phantom Base. For many years she had a red phone to answer fire calls. Finally, all the CB radios were changed to the FM system. She served as the Orleans fire and ambulance dispatcher for more than 30 years and was the answering service for both Barton and Orleans villages to assist with power outages, etc. She was extremely dedicated to Orleans residents, and all are very grateful to her for all these years of service. She is survived by her six children and their partners: Connie and Robert Hunt of Groveton, New Hampshire, Debbie Ehrgood and Kim Whipple of Evansville, Mary Jane of Orleans, Cindy Pickel of Newport, Karen of Orleans, and William "Bill" of Orleans; by 15 grandchildren; by seven great-grandchildren; by her siblings: Bernard Butler of Barton, Arland Butler of Irasburg, Fay Butler of Massachusetts, Francis Butler and his wife, Phyllis, of Massachusetts, Pauline Fernandez anf her husband, Jose, of West Virginia, and Florence Tillinghast and her husband, George, of Pennsylvania; by two brothers-in-law, Donald Lapierre and his wife, Jackie, of Derby Line and William "Bill" Lapierre and his wife, Delores, of Newport; and by sister-in-law Marilyn Barry and her husband, Lloyd, of Newport. She was predeceased by her husband, Emile Lapierre; by granddaughter Shannon Annette Pickel; by great-granddaughter Morgan Ann Lapierre-Diette; by son-in-law David Pickel; by two sisters, Beatrice Kittredge and Shirley Smith; by brother Stanley Butler; and by her best friend, Joan Pouliot. She was a remarkable woman and will be sadly missed, but always remembered for so many different things. She loved putting together a Butler Huntington genealogy with the help of second cousins Herb Marsh and Mike Estabrook. She was so proud of being the Orleans fire and ambulance dispatcher. She looked forward to her Monday afternoon tea with her niece Dorothy Campbell and her annual fire conventions with her husband and Marilyn and Lloyd Barry. She cherished her family and will continue to be their matriach as she becomes their guardian angel and mother. Funeral services were held November 11 at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Orleans with the Reverend Sixmund Nyabenda celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Lapierre's memory may be made to the Orleans Emergency Unit, Orleans, Vermont 05860.

, 67, of Barton died in Newport November 5, 2008. Mrs. Hall was born November 22, 1940, a daughter of Bernard and Lettie (Long) Douglas. She graduated from Brighton High School and was a member of American Legion Post 80. On July 7, 1976, she married John "Linwood" Hall, who predeceased her on December 4, 2007. She worked at Ethan Allen in Island Pond, Newport Plastics, and Jay Peak Resort, where she was a housekeeper. Her enjoyments included making wreaths, crocheting, and working with her hands. She is survived by her children: Loretta Robishaud and her husband, Maurice, of Milford, New Hampshire, Dean Hale and his wife, Diane, of Brownington, Yvette Dewing and her husband, Jeffrey, of West Glover, James Hale and his wife, Margrita, of Newport, Roger Hale and his friend, Rosalie Aiken, of Newport, Valerie Tinker and Robert Shambo of Rockland, Massachusetts, and Lee Hale of Newport; by stepchildren: Jacqueline Greenwood and her husband, George, of Brownington, Linda Ball of West Glover, Sidney Hall and his wife, Marie, of West Glover, Cathy Fortin and her husband, Andre, of Coventry, Laurie Laszakozits and her husband, John, of Falls Church, Virginia, and Patricia Whidden and her companion, Gary Whiting, of Orleans; by 36 grandchildren; by several great-grandchildren; by her brother Roderick Douglas and his wife, Carol, of Milton; by two sisters, Mary Jane Taylor of Island Pond and Jean Pelletier of Bethehem, New Hampshire; by sister-in-law Karlene Ball and her friend, Robert George, of St. Johnsbury; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Bernard and Lettie Douglas. Funeral services were held November 11 with the Reverend Roger Fletcher officiating. Interment followed at Hillside Cemetery in East Charleston. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Hall's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division, P.O. Box 1460, Williston, Vermont 05494.

, 51, of Newport died in his home on November 5, 2008. Mr. Elliott was born March 18, 1957, in Newport, a son of Raymond and Betty (Watson) Elliott. He was employed with Ethan Allen in Orleans for many years before moving to Newport to take care of Bret Skinner. He enjoyed music, his family, and friends. He is survived by six brothers: John Elliott of Colebrook, New Hampshire, Douglas Elliott and his wife, Patty, of Barton, Randy Elliott and his wife, Tammy, of Olympia, Washington, Darion Elliott and his wife, Jill, of Lake Stevens, Washington, Mark Elliott, of Washington, D.C., and Jesse Elliott and his wife, Shannon, of Newport; by a sister, Loretta Taft, and her husband, Jim, of Cornish, New Hampshire; by three aunts: Henrietta Crowell of North Troy, Shirley Elliott of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Marion Watson of Newport; by one uncle, Orloff "Sonny" Watson, of North Troy; by 15 nieces and nephews: Jason Morse, Jesse Taft, and Beth, Michael, Amy, Sarah, Josh, Timothy, Cheyene, Cassandra, John Jr., Amanda, Chelsea, Camden, and Daven "Bucky" Elliott; by many stepnieces and stepnephews; and by one great-niece. He was predeceased by his parents, Raymond and Betty Elliott; and by several aunts and uncles. Friends may call between 10 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Lake Road in Newport where funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Reverend David Lisner officiating. Interment will be at the family's convenience. Donations in Mr. Elliott's name may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division, 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, Williston, Vermont 05495.

, 87, of Newport died peacefully November 7, 2008, in Newport. Mrs. Comtois was born February 12, 1921, in Racine, Quebec, a daughter of Elzear and Marie (Hebert) Lamarche. On July 28, 1941, she married Real Comtois, who predeceased her in 1973. She was a rural elementary schoolteacher, and for seven years she taught at the former Sacred Heart Elementary School in Newport. She taught adult education for several years. She was owner and operator of the former Edward's and Comtois Furniture Company for seven years. She held membership with St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church in Newport, where she sang in the choir. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and was state regent for four years. She was a volunteer for North Country Hospital for 14 years. She is survived by her children: Roger Comtois and his wife, Patricia, of Florida, Pauline McKinney of High Point, North Carolina, Theresa Phillips and her husband, Jim, of Sunderland, Claire Comtois of Newport, Marcel Comtois and his wife, Jane, of Rochester, New Hampshire, Paul Comtois and his wife, Carol, of West Charleston, Norman Comtois and his wife, Lori, of Alachua, Florida, Marie Comtois of Sharon, Jeannine Bennett and her husband, Dean, of Charleston, and Richard Comtois and his wife, Catherine, of Newport; by 18 grandchildren; and by 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held November 11 at the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church with the Reverend Charles Davignon celebrating Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Comtois' memory may be made to St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 191 Clermont Circle, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 54, of Glover died suddenly on November 4, 2008, at his home. Mr. Chamberlin was born April 15, 1954, in Newport, a son of Harris and Edna (Larocque) Chamberlin. He was road commissioner for the town of Barton. He enjoyed hunting and working with equipment. He is survived by his brother Terry Chamberlin and his wife, Kathy, of Barton; by three sisters: Linda Calloway and her husband, Sonny, of Orleans, Barbara Carrier and her husband, Alfred, of Glover, and Valarie Hinton and her husband, Dale, of Brownington; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held November 7 in Barton with the Reverend Sixmund Nybenda officiating. Interment followed in Westlook Cemetery in Glover. Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Chamberlin's memory may be made to the Glover Fire Department, Glover, Vermont 05839.

, 82, a lifelong member of the East Hardwick community, died Tuesday, November 4, 2008, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. Mr. Batten was born March 17, 1926, in Morrisville, a son of Carleton and Susan (Joslyn) Batten. He graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1944 and continued his education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He entered the Army Air Force on August 21, 1944, in Rutland. He served his country as an airplane radio mechanic throughout the United States and in the South Pacific. He received a World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and an Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal for his efforts. Corporal Batten was honorably discharged on August 6, 1946, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. On August 16, 1952, he married Anne C. Kelly in Millers Falls, Massachusetts. They lived most of their married life in the East Hardwick area. He worked on the family potato farm for seven years prior to his employment as an armament test engineer at General Electric in Jericho until he retired in 1988. He later retired from Wildcat Busing in 2003. He enjoyed reading, the family cats, and time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. Survivors include his wife, Anne, of East Hardwick; two children, Robert Batten and his wife, Lydia, of Jericho and Barbara Schoolcraft and her husband, Greg, of Peacham; five grandchildren: Nathan Batten, Lucas Batten, Brady Batten, Kristen Schoolcraft Speer and her husband, Michael, and Blake Schoolcraft; one great-granddaughter, Peyton Speer; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Susan Jean Batten; and by his dearest friend, classmate, and best man, Cola Hudson, who died in January. Funeral services were held November 8 at the Northern Vermont Funeral Home in Hardwick with the Reverend Judy Waible of the United Church in Hardwick officiating. Burial with military honors followed in Sanborn Cemetery in East Hardwick. Contributions in Mr. Batten's memory may be made to Lyndon Institute, P.O. Box 127, Lyndon Center, Vermont 05850.

, who died October 11 in Glover, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, at the Derby Center Cemetery with the Reverend Roger Fletcher officiating.

, 90, of Newport died in Newport on November 14, 2008. Mrs. Weed was born in Derby Line on November 29, 1917, the first of seven children of Dermond and Gladys (Lemere) Kelley. In 1942 she married Clayton Weed who predeceased her in 1990. For many years she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Colton Chapter 66, in which she held several offices. Other memberships include Rebekah Lodge 68, the International Order of Odd Fellows, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 798, the Coventry Grange, and the Coventry Congregational Church. In the 1960s and '70s she and her husband, Clayton, owned and operated a ceramics business at their home in Coventry. She enjoyed doing many crafts - knitting, crocheting, rug-hooking - reading, and doing crossword puzzles. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by two brothers, Gordon Kelley and wife, Leona, and Francis Kelley; and by three sisters: Ruth Fields and her husband, Nelson, Rosanna Provencher and her husband, Phillip, and Grace Simons. She is survived by her brother Roland Kelley and his wife, Carmen, of Coventry; by her sister-in-law Margaret Kelley of North Carolina; and by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at a Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport November 18 with the Reverend Roger Fletcher officiating. Burial was in the Derby Line Cemetery following the funeral service.

, 77, who was born October 13, 1931, to Leonard Lafoe and Bernice (Dane) Bullock, died November 16, 2008, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Mrs. Sheltra was the beloved wife of Lewis Sheltra for 61 years and eight months. Survivors include her husband, Lewis; daughter Colleen Belanger and her husband, Charles P.; grandchildren: Claude Poitras and his wife, Donna, of Maine, Sheila Kohl and her companion, Brian, of Connecticut, and Peter Belanger of Sutton; great-grandchildren: Jason Poitras, Vanessa, Rebeckah, and Travis Kohl, and Andrew Lewis Belanger; many nieces and nephews; and her pet cat Peter Boots. She was predeceased in 1998 by her daughter Patricia Elaine (Sheltra) PoitrasTwombly at age 50; by her brother Vernon Bullock; and her parents. She worked before her disability at Newport Plastics Corporation. She was a member of the Newport Veterans of Foreign Wars for more than 35 years. She enjoyed making afghans for many years for family and friends. She enjoyed spending time with her family and had great times at The Meeting Place in Newport. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Meeting Place, Second Street, Newport, Vermont 05855; give blood to the American Red Cross; or do something good for someone.

on November 29 at 2 p.m. at the Westmore Community Church.

, 48, of Newport died suddenly November 21, 2008, at her home. Ms. Ricard was born September 25, 1960, a daughter of John Sr. and Avis (Lafont) Ricard. She received a bachelor of science degree in human services from the Community College of Vermont and Lyndon State College. She was a home visitor for Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) and more recently, an aide at the NEKCA preschool. She loved M&M's candies, and she collected M&M's figurines and moose articles. Her passion was drawing, and she designed the logo for Newport City, which appears on the city's letterhead. She loved children, and children loved her. She is survived by two children, Tyrone Ricard and Joseph Ricard of Newport; by her siblings: Theresa Ricard of Newport, Roger Ricard and his wife, Lynn, of Windsor, Connecticut, Deborah Biron and her husband, Dale, of Newport, and John Ricard Jr. and his wife, Tammy, of Newport; and by nephews and a niece: Devan Biron and Hannah and John Ricard III. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Lake Road in Newport with the Reverend Yvon Royer officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the hour of the funeral. Should friends desire, contributions in Ms. Ricard's memory may be made to the Ron Holland M.D. Community Dialysis Center, North Country Hospital, Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to the American Diabetes Association, Vermont Affiliate, 77 Hegeman Avenue, Colchester, Vermont 05446.