passed away in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, at the age of 79 with his wife of forty years Brenda by his side. Gene was the first born child to Floyd and Edith Easter. He was born in St. Johnsbury on June 18, 1930, attended schools in St. Johnsbury, and spent two years in the U.S. Army. He worked on Long Island before going to work at Fairbanks; he retired from there in 1992 after 26 years. He was a 37 year member of the St. Johnsbury Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #1343, loved hunting, fishing, boating skiing and golf. He and Brenda loved to travel and spending time with family and friends. He was a resident of Concord for more than 20 years and served as a selectman and lister. After retiring, Gene and Brenda sold their home, traded their motor home for a larger one, and traveled. They ended up in Winter Haven, Fla., and spent their summers in Vermont. He leaves his wife Brenda; a daughter Debra Easter of Boca Raton, Fla.; five brothers, L. Sidney 'Skip' Easter and wife Carol of Victory, Rodney Easter and wife Jean of East Haven, Donald Easter and wife Bonnie of West Barnet, Douglas Easter and partner Hildi Sparrow of East Burke, and Robert Desilets and partner Rita Bourcier of East Hartford, Conn.; his sister Roxann Stacy and husband A.J. of Sherrill's Ford, N.C.; three sisters-in-law, Carol Streeter of Lunenburg, Joan Isham of St. Johnsbury, and Sharon Moore and husband Thomas of St. Johnsbury; along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father in 1960 and his mother in May of 2008; two brothers James and Paul; his father-in-law and mother-in-law; two brothers-in-law Carl Streeter and Leonard 'Bud' Isham. Memorial services will be held at the Sayles Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Ann Hockridge officiating. There will be a committal service following at Grove Cemetery in East St. Johnsbury. Memorial contributions could be directed to "Hope Hospice," 9470 Health Care Park, Ft. Myers FL 33908; or locally to "Save a Dog/Save a Cat," c/o The Caledonian-Record, PO Box 8, St. Johnsbury VT 05819.

, 93, Hardwick, died peacefully Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, at the Greensboro Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 20, 1915, in Walden, the daughter of Joseph "J.R.", and Myrtie Wilcox Houston. Louise was a homemaker and raised six children along with her husband, Clarence. She was the bookkeeper for her husband's logging business. She was the hot lunch agent for the Mackville School for a number of years and baked for people from her home. She served as a 4-H leader of the Mackville Beavers Boys Group for six years. She was a member of the Mackville Home Demonstration Group and the Catholic Daughters Group, Court St. Veronica #1273 for many years. Legally blind from the age of 30, Louise taught herself to read and write Braille in her eighties while she volunteered for the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Continuing not to let life pass her by, she started sending email just prior to her 90th birthday. Music was a big part of her life, playing the harmonica and piano by ear, many times playing both at the same time. She was a member of the "Has-Beens," a senior band that played in Hardwick and the surrounding area. She also enjoyed playing for anyone who would ask, sharing joy from her playing and love for music, especially her grandchildren whom she loved so dearly. Louise is survived by her children, Lawrence Hale and wife, Carolyn, of Morrisville; David Hale of Loveland, Colo.; Thomas Hale and wife, Clare of Johnson; and Rosalie Hale Richardson and husband, Donald, of Augusta, Mainw; a daughter-in-law, Eva Hale of Walden; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters, Rachel Bailey of Louisville, Ky., and Beverly Cook of Zephyrhills, Fla. She was predeceased by her first husband, Clarence Hale and second husband, Raymond Salls; two sons, Bert and Roger Hale; two grandsons, Stephen and Jeffrey Hale; two brothers and three sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 at 1 p.m., at St. Norbert's Church in Hardwick. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the des Groseilliers Funeral Home in Hardwick. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Hardwick.

, 101, died peacefully Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at Greensboro Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 25, 1907, in Brompton, Quebec, the daughter of Henri and Marie Louise Dufresne Meurnier. Rosa was a homemaker and raised 16 children along with her husband on the family farm. Her family was the center of her life and she truly enjoyed the time she spent with them. She loved to make bread, braid rugs and make blankets. She continued gardening up to the age of 92. She was a member of the Vermont Council of the Arts and Catholic Daughters Group, Court St. Veronica's, #1273. She is survived by daughters, Marguerite LaBree of Lyndonville, Angeline Deschamps (Louis) of Hardwick, Theresa Rayta (Donald) of N. Hyde Park, Lucile Keene of Hardwick, and Denise Adams (Wendell) of Canaan, N.H.; sons, Clement Patoine of Sutton, Leo Patoine (Jeanette) of Lyndonville, Normand Patoine (Winnie) of Woodsville, N.H., Bernard Patoine (Cecile) of St. Johnsbury Center, Fernand Patoine of Hardwick, Frank Patoine (Elsie) of Walden, Lawrence Patoine (Evelyn Perry) of Hardwick, Victor Patoine (Kathryn) of Wolcott, Guy Patoine (Rolanda ) of Hardwick, and Andre Patoine of Sutton; 55 grandchildren; 82 great-grandchildren; and 32 great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry J. Patoine; a son, Henry E. Patoine; grandson, Phillip Patoine; granddaughters, Doris Boulay and Katherine Patoine; son-in-law, Raymond LaBree; daughters-in-law, Donna Patoine, Marguerite Patoine, and Therese Patoine; and several siblings. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. Norbert's Church in Hardwick. Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the des Groseilliers Funeral Home, 97 Church St., Hardwick. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery. Contributions in Rosa's memory may be made to St. Norbert's Church, P.O. Box 496, Hardwick, VT 05843.

, age 76, a Lyndonville resident, passed away, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. A complete notice will appear in the Thursday edition of the paper.

, 64, of South Lunenburg, Road, died suddenly near his home, Monday evening, Sept. 14, 2009. Mr. Roy was born in Lunenburg on Jan. 17, 1945, the son of Ovila N. and Mabel H. (Blood) Roy. Norman was a lifetime resident of Lunenburg and graduate of Concord High School. For 23 years he was employed with Campbell Envelope and Stationery and later worked another 10 years at Burndy in Littleton, N.H. For a short time he was employed at Lydall, St. Johnsbury. He enjoyed many things in life including motorcycle riding, deep-sea fishing, snowmobiling, four wheeling, and card games like poker and blackjack. His greatest enjoyment was traveling which took him to many US states and various countries of the world. Family members include four brothers, George Roy, Clayton Roy both of Lunenburg, Ernest Roy of Maidstone, and Albert Roy of Lunenburg; six sisters, Yvonne Henderson of Lunenburg, Jeannette Thompson of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Florence Colby of Lunenburg, Irene Chase of Littleton, Vernabelle Ingerson of Lisbon, and Arlene Baird of Tucson, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews. There are no visiting hours. A graveside service will be held Monday morning, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m.. in Riverside Cemetery, S. Lunenburg.

, 89, of Route 3, North Stratford, N.H., died suddenly at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. Born Feb. 12, 1920, in East Hereford, P.Q., a daughter of George E. and Victoria Ann (Pariseau) Bissonnette she moved to Barre, Vt., in 1948 from Coaticook, P.Q., and then to North Stratford, N.H., in 1950 were she has been a resident since. Beatrice was a member of St. Marguerite d'Youville Parish, Sacred Heart Church. She taught herself the English language, was a Boston Celtics fan and loved to watch FOX News. She was a great and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family. Beatrice is survived by her children Marcel Marier and wife Ruth, Real Marier and wife Rose, Frank Marier, Aline Shallow and Cecile Canton, all of North Stratford, N.H.; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters Elizabeth Adams of Berlin, N.H., and Jeanne Wade of Newport, Vt.; one sister-in-law Louise Bissonnette of Colebrook, N.H., and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Roger Marier in 1988; a daughter Pauline Hurlbert and granddaughter Michelle Hurlbert in 1993; grandson Real "Buzz" Marier, Jr.; three sons-in-law Richard Shallow in 2001 and Ronald Canton in 2009; John Hurlbert; one daughter-in-law Penny Marier; four brothers Albert Bissonnette, Edward Bissonnette, Alphonse Bissonette and Louis Bissonnette; six sisters (Baby) Alice Bissonnette, Marie Rose Bissonnette, Bernadette Gillis, Yvonne Thibault, Gabrielle Brissette, and Theresa Labreque. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Armstrong-Charron Funeral Home in Groveton, N.H. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in North Stratford with Fr. Daniel Deveau, pastor officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Marguerite d'Youville Parish, Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box C, North Stratford, NH 03590.

, age 76, a Lyndonville resident, passed away, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Clayton was born in Lyndon on Nov. 17, 1932, the son of Claude B. and Gladys I. (Gadapee) Rexford. Following the 8th grade in 1948 he left school to work in the woods. In 1952 he moved to Connecticut and worked for Page Express, an outfit which delivered whiskey, booze, etc. In 1953 he was drafted into the Army, serving in the 201st Heavy Artillery Division. He was their #1 man, firing Howitzers. He was stationed in Dachau, Germany, during the Korean War. He met and later married Joyce A. Dexter on July 15, 1955, in Newark. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage prior to her passing on April 20, 2009. He also worked for a Shoe Shop in Lyndonville during that year. In 1956 he worked for U.S. Bobbing Co. at Willoughby, and in 1957 was a winder at Flexible Tubing for Lamp Arms earning $1.57 per hour on Park Street, Lyndonville. For the next 28 years he worked as a machinist for Tap & Die, and later for Northeast Tool. Bean enjoyed spending time at Shadow Lake at a camp they rented for $16 per week, and riding around listening to 8-tracks in his '55 Chevrolet, 396 - 4 on the floor Chevy Super Sport. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, hanging out at Tom's Hall, the VFW and American Legion. Clayton is survived by three children, Beverly Pavlikowski and fiancée Patrick Jarvis of Lyndon, Sheila Rexford, Theresa Thomas married to Neal Thomas, all of St. Johnsbury; son-in-law Jeffrey Houde and wife Valerie of East Burke; two brothers, Leslie Rexford and Kenny Rexford; 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Graveside service with military honors will be at Hillside Cemetery in West Burke on Monday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m. with Rev. Lynn Burgess officiating.

, age 78, a Lyndonville resident passed away Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at The Pines Health & Rehab Center. The daughter of Earl and Madeline (Willey) Miles, she was born May 28, 1931 in Sheffield. She married Leslie B. Rexford in 1953 in Lyndonville. Prior to her marriage she worked as a stitcher at a local dress factory. She and Leslie quilted together, and she enjoyed snowmobiling. Betty is survived by her husband of 57 years, Leslie of Lyndonville; a son, Wayne Rexford of Sutton; a sister, Shirley Allard of Florida; several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at the Hillside Cemetery in West Burke on Monday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m., with the Rev. Barbara A. Dwyer, officiant.

, 79, of Franconia, N.H., died Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, at his residence after a brief illness. Mr. Hickox was born on Nov. 23, 1929, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Howard and Frances (Pryor) Hickox. He moved to New Hampshire in his youth and was a graduate of Central High School. After school, he worked in various jobs including trucking in Maine and a General Motors Plant in Michigan. He moved back to New Hampshire where he met and married Clarice Racette and began working for his father in the family business. The family business began as tractor sales and progressed into Hickox Motor Sales. They became the first Volkswagen dealership of New England in the 1950s. Mr. Hickox worked tirelessly at the business doing whatever needed to be done to make the business run successfully. Mr. Hickox was co-owner and operator of Hickox Motor Sales until 1982 when the business was sold. After the sale of his business he moved to Franconia from Bedford, N.H. During his life, Mr. Hickox pursued his time in other interests such as hunting, boat racing, skiing, motorcycling, and shooting. He was recognized for his shooting talents by being rated #3 in the world in duck shooting and #1 in the country in the senior division of All American Sporting Clays. He was a member of the Merrimack Valley Trail Riders, and a lifelong NSSA Member. While living in Franconia he formed a bicycle group called the Tour De Franconia. Mr. Hickox was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Clarice Hickox in 1994, one brother and one sister. His family includes a son Bruce Hickox and his wife Dorothy of Deerfield, N.H., a son James Hickox and his wife Maureen of Hooksett; two granddaughters, Melissa and Amanda Hickox; and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, at the Goodwin Funeral Home, 607 Chestnut St., Manchester, N.H. The memorial service will be on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Funeral Home. The Rev. Nicholas Rogers will officiate. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Hickox's honor to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Financial Management Branch Building 31, Room 8A34 31 Center Drive, MSC 2540, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2540.

, 66, died peacefully with family and friends at her side on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 at her home in Somersworth, N.H., after a three year battle with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. Kathy is survived by her husband, Rev. Mr. William J Brown III whom she married Nov. 27, 1965. Kathy and Bill resided in the Holy Trinity Rectory Somersworth where Deacon Brown is the pastoral associate to the catholic community of Saint Ignatius Parish, Somersworth, N.H., and St. Mary Parish, Rollinsford, N.H. Kathy is also survived by their son Kevin P. Brown, his wife Christine Schlegel Brown, and their children Keagan, Connor, and Kellen reside in Tomahawk, Wis.; their daughter Kara Brown Quist, her husband Dr. Michael W. Quist, and their children Patrick, and AnnaRose reside in Concord, N.H. Kathy is also survived by two brothers, John "Jack" V. Sommer and his wife Judy Sommer of Beaver Falls, Pa., and Eugene "Gene" N. Sommer and his wife Barbara Sommer of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and a brother-in-law George E. Brown and his wife Cindy Brobeck Brown of Center Township, Monaca, Pa. Kathy also had great love for her nieces, nephews, extended family and countless friends. Kathy was born in Rochester, Pa., on Feb. 5, 1943, to the late John P Sommer and Rosaline (Vogel) Sommer of Beaver, Pa. She was a graduate of Beaver High School, 1961. Kathy attended The Pittsburgh Art Institute and DeSales Theological School, Washington, D.C. Kathy has resided in Beaver, Pa., Boca Raton, Fla., Gaithersburg, Md., and Gilman, Vt., before moving to Somersworth, N.H. She was employed at Westinghouse Electric, Beaver, Pa., when she married Bill. After Kevin and Kara were born, they moved to Boca Raton, Fla., then later to Maryland because of Bill's job. Kathy created Builders Phase I while in Maryland, a contractor's building permit and bonding service. While doing this, she completed her studies at DeSales Seminary and became Chaplain at Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, MD. During this time, she was the Social Minister at St Martin's Church as well. When Bill retired, they moved to Vermont where Kathy started another business, Redberry Specialty Foods. They moved again to Somersworth in 2006 where Bill continues his work as Pastoral Associate. While in Vermont, Kathy was President of the local Rotary Club in Lyndonville, Vt. She loved painting and began with oil colors in 1968, creating many works of art over the years. She also created some china painting which are on display in her home. She felt the need for a change and took up water colors in 2001. Here she did some of her finest work including a Koi Pond, a leaping trout and her American Eagle. Special thanks from the family to Maggie and Ray Roberge of Somersworth for all the love and assistance. Also thanks to Harry and Maria Paulin, Richard & Jakie Lewis, Lisa Burke of Westwind Gardens, and family and friends for their support and help. Thanks too to the doctors and staff at the Somersworth/Strafford County Dialysis Centers, Frisbie Memorial Hospital Oncology Center and Seacoast Hospice for their kindness and care giving. Contributions can be made to the National PKU Alliance in the name of her Grandsons, Connor and Kellen Brown, NPKUA, P.O. BOX 6324, Lancaster PA 17607-6324. Calling Hours will be Friday, Sept. 18, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 404 High St., Somersworth and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Fr. Michael Taylor the Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish as the presider.

, beloved husband of D. Jeannine (Emerson) Gardner, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in Whitefield, N.H., following a long illness. Ronald was born on May 16, 1932, in Morgan, Vt., the son of Roy E. and Audrey H. (Powell) Gardner. He was educated in the Newport, Vt., public schools until his senior year in High school. He graduated from Owego Free Academy in Owego, N.Y. On April 8, 1951, he married Jeannine Emerson who survives him. Four children were born to them, three of whom survive, Dana R. (wife Karen) of Tiverton, R.I., Laurel Gardner of Tewksbury, Mass., and Glenn R. Gardner (wife Lori Jo) of Littleton, N.H. A daughter, Ronni Jean Fedele, pre-deceased Ronald in 2002. There are eight grandchildren, Heather, Andrea, Allison, Jacklyn, Aaron, Isaac, Cassady and Reannan; four great-grandchildren, Mia, Ronni Brynn, Brien and Aaden. Ron is also survived by his sister, Juanita Fugere of Newport, Vt., and many nieces and nephews. Four brothers and a sister predeceased him, Lyndon, Malcolm, Russell, Dorian (Huck) and Gwendolyn Mesler. Ronald was a member of the Vermont Army National Guard from 1950 to 1952. In 1956 he joined the U. S. Border Patrol, training at the Border Patrol Academy then located in El Paso, Texas. Upon graduation, he was stationed at Laredo, Texas, for three years. In 1959 he was transferred to Buffalo, N.Y., where he served as station Senior for eight years. In 1967 he transferred to the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and was station in Derby Line, Vt. He also served at the Beebe Plain, Vt., border station where he was well known and regarded, especially by the young people of the area who looked up to him and appreciated his interest in them as he counseled them to achieve their very best in life. In 1986 he was selected to be Area Port Director of Immigration at Stations Rout 91, Route 5 (Derby Line), Beebe Plain, Norton, and North Troy with his office at Route 91 Derby Line Port of entry. He served with distinction, receiving awards for outstanding service until his retirement in 1994. In 1992, he received the Commissioners Equal Employment Opportunity Award for encouraging and assisting employees to develop to their full potential as evidenced by integrating women and people with disabilities, successfully into the unit. He received this award at the Commissioners Annual Awards Ceremony in Phoenix, Ariz. He always did his best and encouraged others to achieve excellence in all their endeavors. He favorite admonition to others was to "Think, think, think: (before you act)." Ronald was a master carpenter having learned the trade as a teen-ager and young man helping his father build houses and barns in the Newport-Derby area. He built his own home and barn on the Beebe Road (now Darling Hill Road) in 1968. The family raised Angus beef cattle and boarded horses for several years. An accomplished horseman, Ron raised and trained his own registered Palomino and enjoyed hours riding him. He was an avid gardener, always having an enviable vegetable garden. His first gardening love, however, was his prize rose bushes, 20 to 30 of them at any given time. These and his vegetables he shared with many. A memorial service will be held at the Community Baptist Church, Whitefield, N.H., Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. Reverend Clifford Vendt, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at a later date in the Gardner Family plot in Derby Center Cemetery, Derby, Vt. Donations may be made in his memory to the Community Baptist Church Building Fund, Box 27, Whitefield, NH 03598.

, 87, of Monroe, N.H., died on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at the Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, N.H. Jack was born in Chatham, N.J., Jan. 26, 1922, the son of Burton and Rotha (Thomas) Shafer. He served with the U. S. Army from October 1942 to December 1945, during World War II. Jack married Jeanette A. Vanderhoff on Aug. 29, 1942. He worked most of his life as a telephone installer for New Jersey Bell. When Jack and Jeanette moved to Monroe, N.H., he worked locally for T. Borden Walker Enterprises in Woodsville, N.H. He also drove school bus for the Town of Monroe for several years. Jack was a life member of the Ammonoosuc Fish and Game Club in Swiftwater, where he taught hunter safety courses. He was a life member of the NRA. In addition to hunting, he was an avid fisherman. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Jeanette A. Shafer on February 8, 2001. Survivors include his two sons, John "Tom" Shafer of Derby Line, Vt., and Scott D. Shafer (Debra Brown) of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; a sister, Doris Coddington of Florida; a brother, David Shafer of Lancaster, Pa.; a grandson, Anthony Shafer of St. Johnsbury; four great grandchildren, Christian and Angelina Shafer of Littleton, N.H., and Daisy and Riley Shafer of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m., at the Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville, NH, with Rev. Dr. Donald Thomas from the Monroe Community Church in Monroe officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190.