Milestones

Births

• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dart­mouth- Hitchcock Medical Cen­ter), May 28, 2013, a son, Julian Atwood Lillis, to Emily Brago­nier and Timothy Lillis of Bel­lows Falls.

College news

• The following local students were among the 548 students awarded a degree at St. Lawrence University's Commencement ceremony, held May 19 in Canton, N.Y.: Landen T. Elliott-Knaggs of Brattleboro graduated cum laude and was awarded a degree in history and Emma L. Gaskill of Brattleboro graduated cum laude and was awarded a degree in neuroscience.

• Sarah Bemis, a member of the Class of 2016 from Brattleboro, was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Conn.

• Jonah Stoller of Brattleboro and Megan Young of Guilford, both members of the Class of 2015, were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at Beloit College in Beloit, Wis.

• Ashley Morgan of West Townshend was awarded a B.S. degree in chemical engineering with high distinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute on May 11.

• The following local students recently received their Nonprofit Management Certificates from Marlboro College Graduate School: Elizabeth Bennett of Brattleboro, Lucie Fortier of Guilford, Lachlan Francis of Putney, Kathleen Gurney of Brattleboro, Alison Levy of Brattleboro, James MacDonald of Brattleboro, Audrey McLaughlin of Newfane, Melissa Mroz-Gaskill of Brattleboro, Karen Peterson of Newfane, Shea Witzberger of Guilford, and Michelle Wruck of Marlboro.

• Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, held its annual Honors Day ceremony on May 8. The following area students were recognized for their achievements: Eliza Warren-Shriner, a member of the Class of 2013 from Brattleboro, was awarded the Raimondi Prize in Italian and Luke Drabyn, a member of the Class of 2015 from Grafton, was awarded the Russian Prize.

• Debra Forrett of West Dummerston received a Master of Health Sciences degree at the 162nd Commencement exercises held at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. on May 5.

School news

• Anna Pettee of Guilford, daughter of Arthur Pettee and Joan Peters, has graduated Cum Laude, Class of 2013 from Deerfield (Mass.) Academy. She will attend Georgetown University in the fall.

• The Bellows Falls Union High School Jesse A. Judd-Marilee B. Huntoon Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 13 new members in an induction ceremony recently - Tim Jones, Jonah Bolotin, Racheal Sylvester, Lauren Punger, Emily Dufault, Jamie Moore, Brennan Douglass, Sam Empey, Adaline Dailey, Ashley Palmisano, Chapin Reis, Bridget Johnson, and Kayla Gilchrist.

Transitions

• Barkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realty has added two new agents. Chris Helmstetter will join their West Dover office, while Bill Hickok joins the Brattleboro office. A real estate agent for 11 years, Hickok has been a builder and contractor, and a lifelong outdoorsman. Helmstetter has been in the real estate industry since 1980, including experience in construction management and purchasing for national developers in Florida.

• Donnette Hill was recently promoted to Consumer Loan Underwriter at River Valley Credit Union in Brattleboro. Hill has been with River Valley for 12 years, and previously served as a branch manager at two of the credit union's offices.

Obituaries

• Nancy Alfaro, 70, of Dummerston. Died April 26 after a long battle with cancer. She was co-owner of the Outer Limits Health Club in Brattleboro, and touched many lives during her time there. She was always ready to jump in and help where needed. Memorial information: This year's Brattleboro Country Club Women's Invitational Golf Tournament on July 27, which raises money for local cancer programs at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Grace Cottage Hospital, has been dedicated in her memory. Memorial donations may be made to BCC Women's Golf Invitational, in care of Barbara Henry, 105 Green Meadow Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301.

• Donna I. Ayers, 56, of Wardsboro. Died May 31 at home. Wife of Ralph Ayers. Mother of William P. Ayers of Wardsboro; Liberty A. Borek and her husband, Louis, of Maryland; Celina G. Ayers of West Town­shend; and Amber A. Ayers and her significant other, William J. Ahearn, also of West Townshend. Sister of William Rice, and his wife, Cill, of Bennington; Janice Knapp of Wilmington; and the late Gloria Reiger. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Philip and Louise (Forrest) Rice, she had been a Wardsboro resident for 35 years, previously residing in Wilmington. She graduated from Wilmington High School, and after graduation, she worked at several local stores and restaurants. She en­joyed interacting with people. Recently, her days have been filled with watching the birds and wildlife off her deck with her fam­ily and dog Cocoa. Her greatest and proudest achievement in life was her four children, with whom she loved spending time. Memorial information: A funeral service was held June 8 at the South Wardsboro First Congregational Church, with burial at the South Wardsboro Cem­etery.

• Gail P. Healy, 65, of Marlborough, N.H. Died June 2, follow­ing a long struggle with debilitating ailments and declining health. Wife of Michael Healy for 45 years. Mother of Mat­thew Healy of Lowell, Mass., and Mi­chelle Hautanen and her husband Brent, of Peterborough, N.H. Sister of Gary Arceci and his wife, Vicki, of Jaffrey, N.H., and Chris Frost and his wife, Andrea, of Brattleboro. Born in Fitchburg, Mass., the daughter of Dom­nick and the late Rachel (Girouard) Arceci, she grew up in Jaffrey and graduated from Conant High School in 1965. She continued her education, graduating from Nursing School and becoming an LPN. On what can only be described as a destined en­counter, she met her future husband while vacationing in Florida with her grandmother af­ter losing her much beloved grandfa­ther. They married in 1968, and then relo­cated her husband's home in Montreal. In 1972, missing the close connection with family and friends she cherished all her life, she returned to Jaffrey to remain in the Monadnock Region. This devo­tion to family led her to leave nurs­ing in 1976 in search of a more structured schedule. In 1978, she took a job at NH Ball Bearings, and worked there until her retirement in 2008. Though a different field from nursing, she val­ued the camaraderie of the group she worked with and fondly remi­nisced of her time there. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held June 6 at St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey. Donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.

• Maurice J. Kelly, Jr., 82, of Bellows Falls. Died June 2. Husband of the late Loretta Brooks. Father of Patrick and Brian Kelly, both of Bellows Falls, and Kathleen Neathawk of Bellows Falls. Brother of Francis Kelly of Rockingham and Patricia Ray of Jacksonville, Fla. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of the late Maurice and Hortense (Baraby) Kelly, he attended St. Charles School and was a 1949 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. He served in the Na­vy during the Korean Conflict and worked for the Boston & Maine Railroad and the Town of Rockingham and Vil­lage of Bellows Falls. He was a member of the American Legion and the Polish American Club. He enjoyed many trips to Ireland to visit friends and relatives. Mr. Kelly was also a proud member of St. Charles Church. Memorial information: There will be calling hours on Tuesday, June 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, at St. Charles Church with burial to follow in the St. Charles Ceme­tery.

• Barbara Beatrice LaFarr, 73, of Brattleboro. Died May 28 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of the late George LaFarr. Mother of Timothy LaFarr, Bradley LaFarr, and Ardell LaFarr and his wife, Tina, all of Brattleboro. Sister of Donald Carleton of Brattleboro and Terry Carleton and his wife, Diane, of Somers, Conn. Born in Guilford, the daughter of the late Theodore and Dorothy (Eddy) Carleton, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1960. She had been employed at G.S. Precision, the former AMP Keyboard Co. and, during the 1970s, worked at the former Adams Donut Shop. She was an avid NASCAR fan, enjoyed crocheting and time spent with her family. Memorial information: In accordance with her final wishes, there are no formal funeral services. Burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery will be private. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Atamaniuk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

• Lisa Mayer, 100, formerly of Newfane. Died April 16 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Leba­non, N.H. Wife of the late Eric T. Mayer. Mother of Dr. Tom Mayer and his wife, Holly. Born in Munich, Germany, her love of music was her sustaining passion throughout her life. She studied at the Munich Conservatory and became a con­cert pianist in her early teens. She continued to perform for more than 90 years. In 1937, she married her child­hood best friend, Eric, who was a jurist and cel­list. The couple emi­grated from Germany to New York a week later. She was an advo­cate for others and worked to bring refugee families to America during and after World War II. Her 30-year professional career was in publishing. She worked at Har­court Brace Jovanovich and, when they purchased a German publish­ing company and moved it to New York, she became the primary as­sistant to Helen and Kurt Wolfe, who ran the boutique publishing house named after them. The elite publishing house included writers like Franz Kafka, Anne Mor­row Lindbergh, Anais Nin, Amos Oz, and many illustrious European authors. The Mayers retired in 1976 and moved to Newfane, where she was able to devote herself fully to music - playing chamber mu­sic, concertizing, singing in a choir, and volunteering for the Brattle­boro Music Center. She also worked for many years as an ad­ministrative assistant to Rudolf Serkin in his position as director of Marlboro Music. Her other passion was her love of the outdoors. She hiked, skied, and loved to teach others about the beauty of New England and her native Alps, to which she frequently returned. She moved to Kendal at Hanover, N.H. in 1991 as one of the earliest residents. There, she had many friends in a com­munity that shared her passions. She volunteered with the Webster Committee in various positions, en­tertaining and bringing classical music performers to Kendal. She was devoted to her family. Her son was a dear friend whom she spoke to daily. She spent summ­ers educating her grandchildren about conservation and gardening, while guiding them on many trips abroad. She remained an attrac­tive, graceful, physically active and mentally astute women over her century of living. Her secret for lon­gevity, when asked, was “eat healthy, stay out of the sun and al­ways lie about your age.” Memorial information: Donations to Kendal at Hano­ver's Webster Music Fund, Kendal at Hanover, 80 Lyme Rd., Hano­ver, NH 03755, Attention: Anne Rogers; or to the Brattleboro Music Center, c/o Pam Lierle, 38 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.

• Frank Edwin Morse, 49, of Vernon. Died June 1 in the hospice room at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Husband of Michelle Measeck for nine years. Father of William L. and Elle S. Morse. Brother of Peggy Nadeau, Monika Woodard, and Stephen Morse. Stepbrother of Diane Valliere,William Morse, David Morse, Mark Morse, and Robert Morse. Born in Brattleboro, the son of William and Charlotte (Parris) Morse, he attended Saint Mi­chael's School and was a member of Boy Scout Troop 413. He was a grad­uate of Brattle­boro Union High School, Class of 1982. He worked most of his career as a painter for Brown Brothers, based in Westfield, Mass. He enjoyed hunt­ing, fishing, four-wheeling, and time shared with his family. He was a communicant of Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Memorial information: Graveside committal rites were held June 6 in Saint Michael's Parish Cemetery in Brattleboro. A special education fund has been established for his two children. Donations made be made payable to the Frank Morse Memorial Scholarship Account, in care of Brattleboro Savings & Loan, P.O. Box 1010, Brattleboro, VT 05302, attn: Donna Rathbun. Arrangements are under the di­rection of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• Barbara L. Pike, 58, of Townshend. Died June 3 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Daughter of Norma (Ecklund) Pike of Great Falls, Va., and the late Laurence B. Pike. Sister of William Pike and his wife, Lory, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; Jeffery Pike an his wife, Nelly, of Great Falls, Va.; and Alan Pike of Ossining, N.Y. Born in New York City, she raised in Scars­dale, N.Y., and, after graduating from Scarsdale High School, moved upstate to Penn Yan, N.Y., to pursue her studies in nursing. She left her upstate friends to return to her paternal home in Brattleboro and worked at a number of local nursing homes. Desiring more adventure in her life, she headed out on the road and worked as a long-haul truck driver until her health kept her off the road. In her remaining years, she enjoyed reading, embroidery, spoiling her many pets, and help­ing others in need. She was al­ways willing to help out a down­trodden friend or take in a stray animal until they could get back on their feet. Memorial information: A grave­side service was held June 8 at Meet­inghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattle­boro. Donations to the Windham County Humane So­ciety, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or Rescue Inc., 541 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Services are under the directions of Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home.

• Ronald E. “Ronnie” Smith, 65, of Vernon, Died May 30. Survived by his children, Ron Smith of Dummerston, Kim (Smith) Hier of Putney, and Shawn Smith of Brattleboro. Brother of Connie Howe of Vernon. Predeceased by Linda Gouger of Florida, Carol Trux of South Caroli­na, and Larry Smith of Brattleboro. He loved fishing, animals, hunting and will be so missed by many for his witty humor and the twinkle in his eye. Memorial information: There are no calling hours. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date at South Pond. Details will be published when arrangments are finalized.

• Douglas U. Wilson, 88, of Brat­tleboro. Died June 1 at Brattleboro Memorial Hos­pital. Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Ammann) Wilson. Father of Paul U. Wilson and his wife, Rebecca Chalmers, of Rockingham and Leila C. Bate and her husband, Dylan, of Grafton. Brother of Leonard Wil­son and his wife, Priscilla, of East Montpelier, and the late Lee and Roger Wil­son. Born in Brookline, Mas­s., the son of the late Grafton L. Wilson and Dorothy (Usher) Bliss Wilson, he had diverse interests including Jungian philosophy, the writings of George Santayana, birds, ferns, conservation, Democratic politics, art and music, swimming and cross country skiing, and he was a good cook. He loved to read and to talk and tell stories. He was a longtime Brattle­boro resident. He served as a ser­geant in the Army during World War II, where, in addition to doing his duties, he coached a box­ing team and operated a semi­functional Coca-Cola machine. While returning from Europe follow­ing the end of the war, he happi­ly used the opportunity to bird from ship-top, despite the 30-foot waves. He studied art history at Williams College, completing two years in one, and then graduated from Harvard University. On the GI Bill, he attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He received his J.D. from Boston University Law School. He met his wife while both worked at the Brattleboro Retreat during the 1960s. He worked as an attor­ney with Weber, Perra, and Wilson in Brattleboro for many years until his retirement in 1995. He was very active within the Brattleboro community. He was a former Brat­tleboro Town Meeting Representative, as well as the head of the local Demo­cratic Party. He served as a long­time president of both the South­eastern Vermont Audubon society and the Putney Mountain Associa­tion. Memorial information: There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brat­tleboro. Burial at Middletown Ceme­tery in Grafton will be at a later date. Donations to United Way of Windham County, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or the Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 27 State St., Montpelier, VT 05602, Ker-Westerlund Fu­neral Home in Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.