Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Daniel G. Blake Sr., 68, of Westfield, N.Y. Died May 16 after a lengthy illness. Husband of Catherine Blake. Former husband of Donna Caoette of Hinsdale, N.H. Father of Daniel Blake, Jr. and his wife Rebecca of Brattleboro; Steven Blake and his fiancee, Jana, of Swanzey, N.H.; and Sheri West and her husband, Donald, of Guilford. Stepfather of Stephanie Rumming, Beau Gonzales, and Tabatha Molina. Brother of Norman and Vera Blake of Ipswich, Mass., and Donald and Sondra of Swanzey, N.H. Predeceased by a sister, Sharlene Patnaude. Born in Springfield, the son of the late George and Fredricka Blake, he graduated from Springfield High School in 1960 and served in the Vermont National Guard. His love of the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and talking about hunting and fishing, were his favorite pastimes. His knowledge of wildlife and their habits were a common bond with his family. Over his career as a long distance trucker, he traveled millions of miles delivering goods across the United States and had the distinction of delivering the granite from his beloved Vermont to the Statue of Liberty during its renovations. During his travels, his other passion shined through, as he was an accomplished wordsmith and poet with impeccable penmanship. His poetry and writings have been published all over the country under his pen name and handle, “Diesel Dan.” Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 10. Contact Steven Blake at sblake_06@yahoo.com for more information.
• Emma Lenora (Tudor) Brown, 94, of Newfane. Died May 28 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Clarence Brown Sr. for 53 years. Mother of Priscilla Brown Fitzpatrick and husband, Willard, of Wardsboro; Clarence Brown Jr. and wife, Patricia, of Newfane; Stephen Brown and wife, Diane, of South Newfane; Audrey Brown Beaudoin and husband Gerald of Mattapoisett, Mass.; the late Sheila Brown; Douglas Brown and wife, Charlene, of Wardsboro; and Edward Brown and wife, Sherry, of Townshend. Also survived by 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great grandchildren. Born in Wardsboro, the daughter of the late George and Lidie (Allen) Tudor, she was an avid reader and loved flowers and working in her gardens. She landscaped her home and yard from seedlings and seeds. When she was able, she loved to take walks after dinner, especially if there was a snow storm. She loved her home and lived there with her animals until she was 93. She loved cooking for family and friends. Memorial information: A memorial service was held June 2 at Ker Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with burial in the West Wardsboro Cemetery.
• Lois Mitchell Copping, 94, of Bellows Falls. Died May 28. Wife of the late Wilfred Copping for 58 years. Mother of Michael and his wife, Christine, and Steven and his wife Judi, both of Chester. Sister of Gordon and Victor Mitchell of Toronto, Canada, and the late Douglas and Norman Mitchell.Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, the daughter of the late Frank and Margaret (Crowe) Mitchell, she attended schools in Sherbrooke and Montreal, graduating from O'Sullivan Business College. She also attended Sir George Williams College in Montreal where she studied marketing and merchandising. After emigrating to the United States, she worked in the publishing and advertising industries, and for a time was in charge of consumer information for the Celanese Corporation of America. Later in life, she began her career in the hotel industry, starting with Deer Hill Inn, a family business in Chester. She also worked as a sales representative for the Sheraton-Boston Hotel and then for the Statler Hilton Hotel in Dallas, Texas. For many years, she was the Innkeeper at The Old Tavern in Grafton, with her husband. She retired from there in 1985 as vice president and general manager, and said her years at The Tavern were among her happiest. She greatly cherished the many friends and co-workers she met while there. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Vermont Hospitality and Travel Association, and co-authored The Country Innkeepers Cookbook with her husband. Memorial information: A celebration of her life is planned for a later date. Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
• Gloria J. Ellis, 64, of Brattleboro. Died May 27 at Grace Cottage Hospital. Wife of Carroll G. Ellis Jr. for 43 years. Mother of Christopher D. and Timothy G. Ellis. Sister of David Laramee and his wife, Kathy; Mary Barrett; Adrian Laramee; Linda Laramee; Eric Laramee and his wife, Nette; Steven Laramee; Brenda Seaman and her husband, John; and sister-in-law Patricia Doolittle and her husband George. Born in Burlington, the daughter of the late Leo and Evelyn Laramee, she was retired and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Although she worked many years outside the home, her true joy was taking care of her home and family. Memorial information: According to her wishes, there will be no services at this time. Donations can be sent to Grace Cottage Hospital (Hospice Room) 185 Grafton Rd. Townshend, VT 05353.
• Norman L. Glover, 70, of Spofford, N.H. Died on May 29 at his home. Husband of Helen (Sanville) Glover for nearly 52 years. Father of Mark Glover and his wife, Connie, of Charlottesville, Va.; Wayne Glover and his wife, Janet, of Jacksonville, Fla.; and the late Steven Glover. Brother of Sheila Glover, of Houston, Texas; Theresa Sargent, of Keene; and Susan Harrison and her husband, Dan, of Marlborough, N.H. Born in Keene, N.H., the son of the late Lloyd Glover and Vivian (Howe) Glover, he was active in sports and the outdoors his entire life. He was a member of Brattleboro's first Little League team, and went on to play football for Brattleboro Union High School, where he graduated in 1959. His other interests included hunting, fishing, skiing, and ski jumping. He was an avid golfer, was an active member of Pine Grove Country Club in Spofford. He also flew remote control model airplanes with the Abanaki Flyers. He was also known for his talent at woodworking. He built furniture, remodeled two homes, built two homes, and helped his friend build a log cabin home. He was employed for over 47 years at Kingsbury Machine Tool Corp. in Keene, first as a service technician and finally as service manager, where he spent the majority of his career. He also enjoyed membership with the Keene Elks. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held June 6 at St. Margaret Mary Church in Keene, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations to a charity of one's choice.
• Christine “Chrissy” M. Good, 57, of Wilmington. Died May 11. Sister of Randy, of Weymouth, Mass.; Mark, of Canton, Mass.; Kathy, of South Carolina; Alan, of Oklahoma; and Craig, of Nevada. Born in Milton, Mass., the daughter of Mary E. (Byrnes) and Edward F. Good, she was raised in Canton, Mass., and graduated from Canton High School, Class of 1971. She worked as a bartender at various places in Vermont and in St. Thomas. She was known as the best bartender in Vermont, and for her love of her Harley Davidson motorcycle. She loved gardening, the beach, and was described by her friends as honest, caring, a good listener, and adventurous and she was said to have a “heart of gold” who would do anything to help someone. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of her life on June 8 at the Last Chair on Route 100 in West Dover, starting at 1 p.m. until last memory is shared, with live entertainment, appetizers and food all afternoon.
• John C. Lingley, 91, of Windham. Died May 27. Memorial information: A reception to celebrate his life will be held at Tater Hill Golf Club in Windham on Saturday, July 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. RSVPs appreciated at 802-874-4959.
• John Stephen Murtha, 98, of Bloomfield, Conn. Died May 26. Husband of the late Winifred Garvan for more than 67 years. Father of J. Garvan Murtha and his wife, Nicole Y. Murtha, of Brattleboro; Leslie M. Reed and her husband, David L. Reed, of Newport, R.I.; and Brenda M. Croke and her husband, James P. Croke, of Medfield, Mass. Also survived by 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by siblings Joseph J. Murtha, Mary M. Stearns, and Anne M. Moses, and a son who died in infancy. Born in Hartford, Conn., the son of the late John J. Murtha and Agnes Hennessey Murtha, he graduated from the Loomis-Chaffee School, Yale College and Yale Law School. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1946 as the commanding officer of an infantry landing craft in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and of an LCT (landing craft, tank) in the Pacific Theater. His long and distinguished legal career began in 1938 upon joining the Hartford law firm Hewes, Prettyman and Awalt. After World War II, he became an assistant State's Attorney for Hartford County until 1951, when he rejoined the Hewes firm. In 1968, the firm became Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney, eventually becoming Murtha Cullina LLP. He was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and retired from the practice of law in 1989. Besides his unflagging devotion to family, he gave tirelessly to the community, including service to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (Chairman); the United Way of Greater Hartford (President and General Campaign Chairman); the American Red Cross, Greater Hartford Chapter (Director and Vice Chairman); The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation (Director); The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford (Director); The Hartford, St. Francis and Mt. Sinai Hospitals (Corporator and Director); The Loomis-Chaffee School (Trustee); The Ethel Walker School (Trustee); The Oxford School (President); Saint Joseph College (Trustee); St. Thomas More Center at Yale (Trustee); The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (Chairman); The Yale Club of Hartford (President); The Hartford Rehabilitation Center (Trustee); and Church of St. Ann in Avon (First President Council). In addition, he served as director of several corporations, including the United Bank and Trust Co., the Mechanics Savings Bank, Security Insurance Co., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut and Kaman Corporation. He also served as director and president of the Hartford Golf Club. He was honored by the Catholic Church as a Knight of St. Gregory; by Yale College, as recipient of the Nathan Hale Award; by the United Way, as recipient of the Community Service Award; and by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, as recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Citation. His pastimes included golf, skiing, and gardening. His greatest wish was the hope that “all our children may be able to live in a world of peace.” Memorial information: Funeral services were held June 3 at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in West Hartford, Conn, with burial in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. Donations to The Hartford Seventh Day Adventist Area School, 474 Woodland St. Hartford, CT 06112, or The Open Hearth Association of Hartford, 437 Sheldon St. Hartford, CT 06105-1939.
• Helen H. White, 85, of Bellows Falls. Died May 29 at her home in the care of her niece, Jane Capron. Wife of the late Robert Wood and the late David White Sister of Ruth Wright and Marion Fornier, both of Springfield; Jean St. Lawrence of Swanson; George Hurlburt of Walpole, N.H.; and the late Fred Hurlbert. Born in Bellows Falls, daughter of Charles N. and Ruth (Strong) Hurlburt, she was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School and worked for Model Press and the Bellows Falls Times. She was a member of the United Church of Bellows Falls and the Jamaica Congregational Church. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service was held June 2 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 29, 2011, a son, Clenn Erich Frost, to Andrea (Hoyer) Conkling-Frost and Christopher C. Frost of Brattleboro; grandson to Erich and Mary Hoyer and Domnick and Joyce Frost Arceci, all of Brattleboro; Mary Frost of Bennington, and the late Clenn A. Frost; great-grandson to Eileen Daniels, Ann Filion and Winifred Duby, all of Brattleboro.
• In Columbus, Ohio, (Ohio State University Medical Center), May 26, 2011, a son, Oliver Gabriel Timney, to Christine (Gindy) and Todd Timney of Columbus; grandson to Fran and Sue Timney of Brattleboro and Anne Bishara of Iowa City, Iowa; great-grandson to Mildred Timney of Vernon.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 24, 2011, a daughter, Gracia Lenois, to Brandy Wisell and Darren Lenois of Putney; granddaughter to Dody Carrier of Readsboro, James Wisell of Gilford, N.H., Louise Lenois of Guilford, and the late Sonny Lenois.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), April 30, 2011, a daughter, Tyley Eva McClelland, to Dana and Ryan McClelland of Vernon; granddaughter to Doreen and Gary Lincoln and Steve and Heidi McClelland, all of Brattleboro.
College news
• Leland Hayford of Wilmington, a sophomore at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y., has been named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester.
• Ashley Morgan of West Townshend, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, was named to the university's Dean's List for academic excellence for the spring 2011 semester at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
• Caleb E. Wiley of South Londonderry, a junior Early Childhood Education and Special Education major, was named to the spring 2011 Dean's list at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa.
• Kelly M. Skinner, of Londonderry, and Audrey F. Wallace, of West Dover, were awarded degrees at St. Lawrence University's Commencement ceremony on May 22 in Canton, N.Y. Skinner, who graduated from Stratton Mountain School, and received a degree (magna cum laude) in Fine Arts and Sociology, while Wallace, who graduated from Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn., and received a degree (cum laude) in Performance & Communication Arts and minored in Sociology.