College news
• Christiana Marie Strysko of Wilmington was named to the spring 2017 President's List for outstanding academic performance at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.
Transitions
• Steven R. Gordon, President and CEO of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH), has been appointed as a state delegate and member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Regional Policy Board. On Jan. 1, Gordon will begin his two-year term as a delegate to Regional Policy Board 1, which represents the New England region. Delegates to the AHA Regional Policy Boards meet to discuss local hospital policy issues and alternatives; their recommendations and analyses are then used by the AHA Board in its policy deliberations. Gordon has served as President and CEO of BMH since 2011.
• Dr. Allan Shirks of Townshend has joined the Senior Solutions Board of Directors. He has more than 35 years experience as a board-certified psychiatrist with stints at The Dartmouth Institute, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Brattleboro Retreat, Rutland Regional Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Texas. He also serves on the Grace Cottage Hospital Board of Trustees. Serving 46 communities in Windsor and Windham counties, Senior Solutions is one of five Area Agencies on Aging in Vermont. Formerly known as the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont, Senior Solutions has provided services to seniors, their caregivers and families for more than 40 years.
Obituaries
• Catherine Nichols “Cathy” Bailey, 72, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 2 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Born in Brattleboro on Jan. 17, 1945, the daughter of Leo and Nellie (Snow) Nichols, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro and attended Brattleboro public schools. She was a weaver at Basketville in Putney, from which she retired following many years of faithful service. More recently, she worked as a housekeeper. She loved to crochet and make blankets for her family members. She also enjoyed coloring and puzzles. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and cackling laugh which will be missed terribly. In 1965, she was married to Dennis Bailey, who predeceased her in 2004. Survivors include a daughter, Lynda Myers of Brattleboro; three sisters, Marie Albright, Nellie Frost, and Patricia Nichols; and a brother, Raymond Nichols. Additionally, she leaves Linda Waite and husband, Bradley; Richard Bailey and wife, Penny; Arnold Bailey and wife, Tina; brothers and sisters-in-law Jerry Bailey and wife, Janice; Philip Bailey and wife, Joann; Wayne Bailey and his wife Dixie; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Henry, Harold and Donald Nichols; two sisters, Carol Nichols and Pauline Nichols and her beloved in-laws, Arnold and Lillian Bailey. Memorial information: A memorial gathering will be held in the springtime at a date and place to be announced. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jay Anthony Canedy, 71, of Wilmington. Died Dec. 4 at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington. Born in Brattleboro on Dec. 30, 1945, the son of the late Jean and Mary Jane (Stewart) Canedy, he graduated from Wilmington High School. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War; he was a scout in Vietnam and also spent time in Germany. After the Army, he was a small engine repairman for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved hunting and fishing, and was member of the NRA. He learned photography in New Jersey, and had a collection of cameras and Civil War books. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in New Mexico and dancing to his favorite music, classic rock and roll. He is survived by his sister, Deborah Canedy, of Wilmington; nephews Mark Wetherby of Knoxville, Tenn., and Ethan Wetherby of Vernon; and aunts, uncles. and cousins. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services with military honors, were held Dec. 9 at Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donation to the Vermont Veterans Home Activities Fund, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Gladys C. (Carey) Coburn, 93, of Springfield, Vt. Died Dec. 2 at Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Rockingham, the daughter of Clarence A. and Gertrude (Nichols) Carey. She graduated in 1943 from Bellows Falls High School. In 1951, she married Wendell Coburn in Springfield. He died in 2011. Mrs. Coburn was employed as an insurance underwriter at Lawrence & Wheeler Insurance in Springfield for 40 years.She was a member of United Methodist Church in Springfield, Vermont Sunshine Society, and served on the Council on Aging. She was a blood donor and volunteer for the American Red Cross. Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by eight siblings, Marion Cutler, Mable Goings, Rachel Abott, Leslie, Robert, Bernard, Herbert and Floyd Carey. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Dec. 9 at United Methodist Church in Springfield, with burial in Forest Hills Cemetery in Charlestown. Donations to a charity of one's choice.
• Theodore “Ted” Nicholas George, 85, of Vernon. Died Nov. 30 at his beloved mountaintop home. Born in Boston to Victoria and Nicholas George on Oct. 19, 1932, his family moved to Brattleboro in the early 1940s, which would serve as the headquarters for 50 years for N. George & Sons Fruit and Produce Company. He attended Brattleboro's Green Street Elementary, Brattleboro High School, and Boston University where he was a member of the BU Wrestling Team. While in college, he would drive between Brattleboro and Boston in his Ford Model A, which prompted his longtime interest of automobiles and the open road. He crossed the United States by automobile more than 20 times. In 1953, he enlisted in the Air Force. Stationed at Stead Air Force Base outside of Reno, Nev., where he was one of the armed services' first survival instructors, teaching survival techniques that are still used and taught today. He is a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and also served in the 3635th Air Police Squadron. He had an enduring love for the West, particularly Lake Tahoe, where he lived while being the regional manager for a national food company before ultimately returning to his beloved Vermont. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and a lifetime member of Masonic Pyramid Lodge No. 43 F & AM of Nevada and Brattleboro Lodge No.102 Free & Accepted Masons; and was a member of the Cairo Shriners International, Brattleboro Chapter of Rutland; Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, RenoLodge 597; and Now and Then Vehicles Club of Brattleboro. He is survived by his loving and devoted companion of 25 years, Anne Marie Koski of Vernon; two daughters, Marilyn L. George of San Deigo, Calif.; and Deborah M George of Pacific Palisades, Calif; adopted children, Russell Bundy George of Brattleboro and Christine Bundy George of Manchester, N.H.; three grandchildren; close friends Alan Carpenter of Hinsdale, N.H., Donny Dompier of Brattleboro, and Justin Ruskowski of Ashuelot, N.H.; former wife Eileen George Barker of Palm Springs, Calif.; Jan Peduzzi of Vernon; neighbor Barbara Evans of Vernon; Mary and Lance Delpriore; and countless lifelong friends throughout Vermont. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Judith Bundy George; his brother, Eli N. George; and his parents. Memorial information: According to his wishes, a graveside service at Meeting House Hill Cemetery will be held in early Spring. Donations to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Walter R. Lackey, 81, of Wilmington. Died Dec. 1. He was born in Brattleboro to the late Raymond and Maxine (Smith) Lackey on Jan. 12, 1936. He graduated from Wilmington High School in 1953, and attended Northampton (Mass.) Commercial College for two years. He enlisted in the Army in 1958 and was stationed at Fort Dix, N.J. He married the former Priscilla Lumbra in 1959. He worked as a bookkeeper and parts counter clerk at various automobile dealerships in the area, and retired from Auto Mall in Brattleboro in 1992. He was an outdoorsman and especially loved hunting and fishing. In his later years, he enjoyed playing cards, improvising music on his guitar, doing crossword puzzles, and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Priscilla Lackey; three children, Douglas Lackey of Wardsboro, Diane Marchionna of Spofford, N.H., and Donna Lackey of Wilmington; and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Patricia, who died in infancy. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m., at Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to Deerfield Valley Rescue or the Guy Hawkins Cancer Fund, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Gene Carl Krisher, 86, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 4, following a long illness. Born on Oct. 26, 1931, the son of Clarence and Lillian Krisher in Pontiac, Mich., he proudly served his country as a medic in the Air Force from 1948 to 1952. In 1950, he married Phyllis Castle, and they enjoyed 67 years of marriage. She predeceased him on July 21, 2017. He was a former employee of the Book Press and Brattleboro Reformer. He was a volunteer fire fighter, co-founder of Rescue, Inc., member of the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, past Winter Carnival President, and a 60-year member of the Brattleboro Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his children, Karleen Hayden (John) of East Greenbush, N.Y., and John of Putney. He is also survived by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial information: Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations to Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• William Russell LaCour, 63, of Westminster. Died Nov. 30 at home. He was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on March 26, 1954, to William and Verna (Williams) LaCour. He loved traveling and hiking. He loved singing gospel music, playing guitar, cooking, and spending time with his family and friends. He became expert in a wide range of interests, including dressage and training horses, watercolor painting, rock-hounding, and birding. As he shared his journey through cancer, he became a writer and poet, writing extensively about his experience for himself and others. Over the course of his professional life, he worked at GS Precision, was a senior account manager at Sovernet, and a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Windham County. He is survived by his beloved wife, Alicia Law LaCour, whom he married in 2006. In addition, he is survived by his stepdaughter, Kira Law Sullivan and her spouse, Chuck; his stepson, Alex Law and spouse, Meghan; siblings Joanne LaCour, Susanne Smith and John LaCour, four step-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Sienna. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held after the new year at a date to be shared. Donations to the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association, Westminster Cares, or Brattleboro Area Hospice.
• Myrtle Lorraine Pellerin, 85, of Charlestown, N.H. Died Dec. 3. Born in Westminster on March 13, 1932, the daughter of George and Doris (Matthews) Moore, she resided in Charlestown from 1994 to 2001 and previously lived in the Bellows Falls area. She was a graduate of Vilas High School in Alstead, N.H., Class of 1951. She worked for the Vermont & New Hampshire Visiting Nurses Alliance in Bellows Falls for 19 years and retired in 1997. She was a member of the Bellows Falls American Legion Post 37; Claremont Circle 8 Square Dance Club; the National Square Dance Club, and the Sunshine Chapter of Good Sam Campers Association. In 1950, she married John Albert Kane. Together they had seven children: Lorraine (Raine) Kane of Westminster, Kathy (Bill) Berg of Erie, Pa., Maureen Langley of White River Junction, John Kane (Liz Ayer) of Bernardston, Mass., Tom (Judy) Kane of Dunn, N.C., and Kaylee (Jeff) Armstrong of Hutch Kiss, Colo. In 1997, she married John Pellerin, who survives her, and five stepchildren, Carl (Vicky) Pellerin, Hector (Debbie) Pellerin, Susan Pellerin Adams, Karen Rumrill and Stephanie Pellerin. She also leaves 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren and 13 step-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Michelle Drumheller; two sisters, Grace and Harriet; four brothers, Ralph, Elmer, Albert, and Francis; and a stepdaughter, Coral Pellerin. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on Dec. 8 at Charlestown Memorial Chapel.
• Elizabeth J. “Betty” Webster, 101, of Hamburg, N.Y. Died Nov. 13 at her home. Born Sept. 9, 1916 in Eden Valley, N.Y., to Breta Royce and William J. Luxford, she lived her whole life in Hamburg. She graduated from Hamburg High School in 1935, and received a B.S. from Cornell in 1939. After graduation, she worked in the women's prison in Framingham MA, and followed that with a job at Prudential Life as a nutritionist. She met William “Bill” Webster in October 1942, and they were married in Hamburg on Dec. 26 of that year. They have held hands and shared their love for a great 75 years. They had four children, Jim, Kent, Sally, and Bill (Web), seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Their children experienced success in life's ways, and learned from her the qualities that Betty carried until her final days, including generosity, open mindedness, a positive attitude, a wide smile, and a great laugh. She made sure her children had practical skills, like how to sew on a button, how to set a table, and how to make a proper bed. She outfitted her family with homemade ski parkas, and kept everyone happily fed. In the early years, Betty ran a nursery school in the side yard of their Pierce Avenue home, and she supplied rackets and balls for the neighborhood kids to play tennis on the backyard court. Later, a group of close friends met weekly for Tuesday Talkers, where they discussed books they had read, and delved into other items of village life. She loved outdoor activities, hiking, skiing and, especially, tennis, which she played through her eighties. Friends dubbed her “Steady Betty” and at 85, she lamented that she could no longer serve overhand. All who knew her say they're fortunate and grateful to have had her in their lives. Memorial information: At her request, her body was donated to the University of Buffalo Pathology Department for research. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held next summer. Friends may call anytime at their Hamburg home.