, 80, died in the loving care of his family at his home in Craftsbury on Monday, October 18, 2010. He was born December 11, 1929, in Bradwell, Saskachewan, Canada, a son of Gordon and Ethel Pearl (Howard) Griggs. The family moved to Vermont in his early years, and he attended graded school in Eden. Mr. Griggs served his country in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1951, stationed with the Arctic Test Branch in Big Delta, Alaska. At the time of his discharge, he was in a training unit of the Massachusetts National Guard which was called to go to Korea. He was a member of the American Legion Post #7 in Hardwick. On June 29, 1955, he married Glenna Brown in East Craftsbury. They made their home in Craftsbury where they raised their family. Mr. Griggs was proud to have earned his GED in his later years. His life was his family and music as well as deer hunting and fishing. Those who remember the Craftsbury fiddlers' contests will remember him with his fiddle and then the Craftsbury Banjo Contest with his banjo. Of the two instruments, his favorite was the banjo. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Glenna, of Craftsbury; two sons, Terrance (Terry) of Craftsbury, and Lawrence (Larry) of Eden; a daughter Colleen and her husband, Jubal Durivage, of Eden; three brothers: Reginald Griggs and his wife, Eleanor, of Craftsbury, Donald Griggs and his wife, Violet, of Eden and Harold Griggs of Eden; three sisters: Lillian Fay Waterhouse, Dorothy (Dottie) and her husband, Eugene Marckres, and Norma Waterhouse, all of Craftsbury; grandchildren Jamie Griggs of Craftsbury, Amy Griggs of Elmore, Brad and Bryant Griggs of North Hyde Park, Sarah Griggs of Burlington, Mindy Griggs of Georgia, Donald Griggs of Springfield, Erin Durivage of Essex, Owen Durivage of Eden, and Loren and Lindsay Cochran of Johnson; great-grandchildren Lenny, Ethan, Matthew, Daniel and Amber; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, infanta Kenneth and Alfred, a sister Geraldine Brown, as well as other family members. A funeral service was held October 22 at the United Church of Craftsbury with the Reverend Alan Parker officiating. Interment will be in the Branch Cemetery in Craftsbury.

, 75, a well-known Newport businessman and the beloved husband of Christina (Curtis) Hilliker, died on October 24, 2010, in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was born December 26, 1934, in Riverside, California, a son of Alva Stanley Hilliker and Marion Janet (Miner) Hilliker. On June 24, 1967, he married Christina Curtis who survives him. He graduated from Newport High School in 1953 and attended Burdett Business College in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1953 and 1954. He entered the U.S. Air Force where he served his country from 1954 to 1958. He graduated from the Wilfred Academy Beauty School in Boston in 1959. 1n 1962, he became employed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad as a car checker and clerk. He retired in 1998. Mr. Hilliker was owner and operator of Stanley's Beauty Shop in Newport from 1959 to the present time. His interests were watching television, motorcycling, traveling with his motor home to Florida, and spending time with his grandson Dakota. He and his wife went on a cruise this past March while they were staying at the condo in Ormond Beach, Florida, where he loved being on the beach. He held memberships with the American Legion Post #21 and the Newport Elks Club #2155. He is survived by his wife, Christina Hilliker, of Newport; by three children: Scott Hilliker and his wife, Peggy, of Endicott, New York, Tammy Hilliker and her boyfriend, Jed Bingham, of Williamsville, and Shelley Navari and her husband, Brent, of Colchester; and by his grandchildren: Samantha and Tiffany Hilliker, Victoria Hilliker, Justin Morgan, Dakota Hunter, and Gunnar and Aspen Navari. He was predeceased by his son Richard M. Hilliker in 2004 and by his sister Sheryl Hilliker in 1960. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Memorial Chapel at 37 Lake Road in Newport with the Reverend Martha Peck officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2 p.m. until the hour of the funeral. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery with military honors. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 89, of Derby, beloved husband of Violet Rice, died peacefully on October 23, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 8, 1921, in Island Pond, a son of Harry and Bessie (Tatro) Rice. He graduated from Brighton High School, class of 1939. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army from 1942 through 1946 in the medical corps. On September 5, 1942, he married Violet J. Alexander who survives him. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting. He liked to stay home and work around his home. Mr. Rice was a former member of the Island Pond Masonic Lodge #44 F&AM, and the Newport Elks Club #2155. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Violet Rice, of Derby; by his daughter Wendy Corkins and her husband, Robert, of Derby; by granddaughters Shari L. Hancock and her husband, Randy, of Coventry and Jennifer Jean Daigle and her husband, Rene, of Troy; by two great-grandchildren Travis R. Letourneau and Ashley T. Daigle; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother and sister Clarence and Edna Rice. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport with the Reverend John Genco officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on October 27 from 1 p.m. until the hour of the funeral. Interment will follow at the Derby Line cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 84, beloved husband of Ruth Stone of Troy, died on Friday October 22, 2010, in Burlington with many family members present. He was born on December 10, 1925, in North Troy, a son of Perley and Agnes (Lahue) Stone. Mr. Stone was a Navy veteran of World War II. He delivered fuel oil for F.P. Davis for over 20 years before going to work as a truck driver for the Vermont Highway Department for 15 years prior to his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Stone loved to travel. They liked to trade cars. Mr. Stone enjoyed good food especially when it was prepared by his wife. He loved his family and enjoyed their visits. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Stone, of Troy; his children Elizabeth (Skip) Wright and her husband, James, of Bay City, Texas, and Paul Stone Jr. and his wife, Gaetane, of Newport Center; by eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; by two great-great-grandchildren; and by his dogs Max and Rosita who gave him many hours of enjoyment. He was predeceased by a sister Shirley. Funeral services were held on October 26 with the Reverend Richard Whitehill officiating. Interment followed in the Newport Center cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 88, of Glover, formerly of Newport, died on October 25, 2010, in Newport. She was born June 16, 1922, in Barton, a daughter of George and Florence (Edwards) Laythe. In 1947 she married Walter Varney who predeceased her. Mrs. Varney moved to Vermont from California in the early 1990s to be near family. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers and sisters: Clifton Laythe, Emerson Laythe, Beatrice Hamond, and Irene Beaudry. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport with the Reverend Nathan Strong officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2 p.m. until the hour of the funeral. Interment will follow in the Newport Center cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 37 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

, 65, of Newport died peacefully at the home of her mother, Blanche Monfette, in Newport on October 17, 2010. She was born on January 15, 1945, in Newport, a daughter of Blanche (Farrar) and the late Alfred Monfette. She worked at various companies over the years including Columbia Forest Products in Newport, but she devoted the last five years of her life to taking care of her mother. Ms. Wheeler is survived by her beloved son Jeff Wheeler; by a granddaughter Zoe; by her brothers and sisters Alfred E. Monfette and his wife, Maria, of Mims, Florida, Craig Monfette and his wife, Susan, of Newport, Dian Macintosh and her husband, Don, of Manassas, Virginia, and Darleen Grenier and her husband, Albert, of Newport; and by several nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. She was predeceased by her father, Alfred Monfette, and a brother Gary Monfette. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Should friends desire, contributions in Ms. Wheeler's memory may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research, New England Division, 30 Speen Street, P.O. Box 9376, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701.

, 74, of North Troy, died on October 12, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 27, 1935, in Albany, a son of William and Augusta (Peters) Blanchard. On January 21, 1947, he married Shirley Longey who predeceased him on September 2, 2010. Mr. Blanchard enjoyed tinkering on things and helping people. He enjoyed fishing, family reunions, birdwatching, and wrestling. He worked for the Jim Hubbard Farm and also for Ethan Allen Manufacturing in Orleans and the Old Mill in North Troy. He is survived by his children: Julie Pion and her husband, Jeremy, of Lowell, Roland Blanchard Jr. of Lowell, Kenricka (Kricket) Blanchard and her companion, Joe Rollo, of North Troy, and Roxanne Major and her husband, Gary, of Lowell; by the following grandchildren: Ryan Folgherait and Ally, Amber Folgherait, Kaitlynn King, Danielle King and Rob, Ashley Blanchard, Kayla Blanchard, Kelsey Blanchard-Rollo and Bryant, and Nicholas Hunt, Kristi Farrar; by two great-granddaughters Jade Marie Tuttle and Emiley Farrar; by a brother Steven Blanchard of Enosburg; and a sister Polly Sweet of Enosburg. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Blanchard; a son Daniel Blanchard in 1972; a brother Larry Blanchard; and sisters Bea Spencer and Barb Gerrow. A graveside service was held at the Albany Village Cemetery on October 16 with the Reverend Nathan Strong officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the North Troy Senior Meals Site, care of Nancy Allen, P.O. Box 368, North Troy, Vermont 05859.

, 75, died peacefully at North Country Hospital on October 11, 2010, surrounded by her family. She was born on January 24, 1935, in Derby, a daughter of Dorothy Blay. Ms. Blais lived with her guardian, Mary Sylvester, in Coventry. She loved spending time with Ms. Sylvester and her caregivers Crystal LeClerc and Nick Simpson. Her hobbies were coloring, shopping, going out to eat, doing crafts, and attending The Meeting Place in Newport three days a week. She is survived by her aunt Phyllis Merrill of North Troy, and many cousins throughout Vermont. She was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy Blay, in 1992, and a cousin Irving Sylvester Sr. in 2009. Funeral services were held on October 19 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home. Interment followed at the Derby Center Cemetery.

, died Friday afternoon, September 10, 2010, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire, gradually surrendering her tenacious grip on life. She now joins her beloved grandson Trace, whose death at 14 several years before, nearly crushed her and from which she never quite recovered. She leaves behind two much loved sons, Scott Barber of North Hyde Park, and Glen Barber of Englewood, Colorado; a sister Verne Nadeau of Florida; a brother Sheldon Locke and his wife, Maddy, of Quechee; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Chet Howland, and younger sister Almeda Bates, also of Florida. Funeral services were kept very simple. Visiting hours were at the Barton United Church on September 12, and burial was at the West Glover Cemetery near where she had lived for many years. Placed with her ashes was a book by one of her favorite authors, Della T. Lutes. A reception followed at the Barton United Church with food and service generously provided by former Candlepin crew members. Born Melba Elouise Locke on May 7, 1933, to Tessie and Vernon Locke of Barton, she was named for a famed opera singer, Melba, of Australia. Mrs. Howland progressed from the pocket-sized charmer and, oh, so cute little Barton Academy cheerleader, to a ten year tour of office work for the now defunct St. J. Trucking Company; to a loving, firm and protective mother; to an unsought position as the quintessential matriarch of a large extended family (lavish hostess, valued confidante, and all around little friend); and, finally to the senior lady of ready wit and hearty laugh holding court at the Candlepin. A Gee Whiz kid, she grew up in hard times, wanting to believe in that fairy tale world of white knights and little elves and happy endings. She had a huge, warm, and sunny heart, was sentimental, funny, and feisty (a careful male relative called her Mighty Mouse), and could be as stubborn as her Taurean birth sign. She was faithful to the core to those she trusted, and expected others to be the same. She liked to win arguments, no matter how long it took. A morning person, she'd awaken with a mischievous grin, glowing all over, ready for the world. Just as easily she could be reserved and guarding that secret inner core where few were allowed to go, that backbone of steel so tightly wrapped in all those insecurities. She went about her life with equal measures of quiet grace and infectious exuberance. While seldom petty, she delighted in bearing significant news. An insatiable and careful shopper, she loved the little stuff, anything small - books, drawings, decorations, and knickknacks of all kinds, filling her house to overflowing with every imaginable kind of keepsake. Most of all she loved being the Super Mom and grandmother, overindulging her precious sons and later grandson, and often any kid in sight with abundant love, carefully selected gifts, and entertaining, spontaneous stories. An excellent cook (though possessive of her recipes) and fastidious homemaker, she created warm and comfortable living spaces where she loved to gather with friends and family for most any occasion. At holidays those same folks would receive all kinds of goodies from Mrs. Howland's prolific kitchen, carefully wrapped and delivered in person. Modesty prevented her from seeing anything remarkable about her many talents: artist, poet, psychic, and a woman with a fertile imagination for drama and stories. Finding she was a published poet was a surprise to even close family members. A great reader who owned many books, she was also addicted to the afternoon soaps and would often invent scripts superior to those of the pro writers and could be critical of those writers' inability to see the possibilities in their own work. An accomplished artist, she produced quantities of little pen and ink drawings of old barns and nature studies. She would often predict mail arrival or visits of distant relatives. One occasion she surprised the family by answering a jeopardy question before it was even asked. Pages could be filled with strange and unexplainable but harmless happenings where she was involved. Mrs. Howland had an incredible eye, could see deer in the shadows half a mile away, or from her full self-proclaimed height of four feet, 11 and a half inches, could spot two or three, four-leafed clovers some distance away. Repeatedly told a couch would not fit where she wanted it in a space between a door and a corner, she triumphed at the exact fit and muttered, "Oh, you men, if it were left up to you, you would still be inside your mothers looking for a way out." She was a remarkable lady who seemed blissfully unaware of the considerable influence she had on her circle of friends and family, and her passing leaves a huge hole for those many folks. Knowing these few lines can never fully express our affection and admiration and deep sense of loss we can only say, "Goodbye Little Sunbeam, we loved you and we miss you_and always you have been so beautiful."-submitted by Ken Barber.

, 93, of Newport died on October 12, 2010, in Newport. He was born November 6, 1916, in Norton, a son of George and Lottie (Daniels) Ladd. He married Alberta Davio who predeceased him in 2001. Mr. Ladd worked for Butterfields as a thread grinder for over 40 years until he retired in 1981. He was instrumental in starting the union at Butterfields and was its first president. He enjoyed the outdoors and looking for wildlife in the woods. He and his wife, Alberta, roamed around Essex County looking for, and taking pictures of, moose. He derived great comfort from his dog Katrina for several years. He and his wife loved to dance and did so at all of the area dance halls during a period of over 30 years. Mr. Ladd is survived by his son Loren Ladd and his wife, Patrice, of Island Pond. He was predeceased by his wife and by a son, Gary Ladd, in 1966. A graveside service will be held at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport on Wednesday, October 20, at 1 p.m. with the Reverend Robert Cargill officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.

, 98, of Derby died on October 15, 2010, at his home with his beloved wife, Doris, by his side. He was born on August 2, 1912, in Morgan, a son of William and Margaret (Eley) Leavens. He was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, who have predeceased him. On November 16, 1935, he married Doris Bradford who survives him. Mr. Leavens was a lifelong farmer and carpenter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and his summers at Lake Salem. He is survived by wife of nearly 75 years, Doris Leavens, of Derby; by four children: June Selby and her husband, Orry, of Underhill, William Bradford Leavens Sr. and his companion, Gloria Moulton, of Derby, Sherry Ann Rangel and her husband, Uvaldo, of California, and James Clair Leavens and his partner, Eric Perkins, of Arizona; by five grandchildren; by several great-grandchildren; and by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate Inc., 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.

, 70, a lifetime resident of Barton, died suddenly at his home on October 10, 2010. He loved his Lord and savior and was dedicated to his Bible study. He enjoyed the company of his many dear relatives and friends. He was known for his warm smile, hearty laughter, and winning games at bingo. In his younger years, he traveled throughout the U.S. and had a story to share about all the places he visited. He is survived by his siblings: Pauline Nault and her husband, Ralph, of Barton, Roland Menard of Enfield, New Hampshire, Rita Benoit and her husband, Robert, of Barre, Patty Saum of Lake George, New York, Frank Menard and his wife, Sue, of Barton, Denise Wilkins and her husband, Paul, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Raymond Menard of Derby, Pierre Menard of Essex, and Carole Coggio and her husband, Michael, of Richmond; by his stepmother Simone Menard of Newport; sister-in-law Gloria Menard of Craftsbury; brother in law Steven Brown of Glover, VT. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Hervey and Simone Menard; by siblings Terri Cotton, Benjamin Menard, Isabelle Brown; by brother-in-law Harry Saum; sister-in-law Christina Menard and special friends Yvonne Bertolini and Madeline Freeheart. He was an uncle to Dee Dee Simmes, Debbie Bacon, Donnie Cotton, Michael Cotton, Jamie Cotton, Jackie Tremblay, Benjamin Menard Jr., Rene Menard, Michael Nault, Jean Agusto, Chris Nault, Diane Brown, Donna Brown-Perry (Mr. Menard's loving and dedicated caretaker), Lisa Brown, Ted Brown, Carmen Brown, Tony Menard, Tim Menard, Raechel McLeod, David Benoit, Michael Benoit, Daniel Benoit, Arawn Menard, Jon Menard, Nathan Menard, Chauntelle Powers, and Krystle Menard. He also had many grand-nieces and -nephews, and a special friend, Tami Stone. Funeral services were held at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Barton on October 16 with the Reverend Daniel Rupp officiating at a Mass. Interment followed at the St. Paul's Cemetery in Barton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in his memory be made to Saint Paul's Church in Barton.