College news
• Allison V. Stamler of Brattleboro has been selected for membership in Gamma Sigma Alpha, the national academic Greek honorary society, at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.. Stamler is a member of the Class of 2020 and is majoring in English.
Obituaries
• Joan E. Gray, 72, of Brattleboro. Died April 28, 2019 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness. Born in Hartford, Conn., on April 1, 1947, the daughter of Kenneth and Norma (McGrath) Ashley, she was raised and educated in Hartford and was a graduate of Buckley High School. Following her graduation, Joan married Theodore Gray. They resided in Hartford, where they raised their three children - Ted, Tim, and Tami. Although they remained friends, the marriage ended in a divorce. Later in life, she met and fell in love with Richard McCarthy, with whom they had Thereasa. A resident of Brattleboro since 1969, she worked for 15 years as an Accounts Payable clerk at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Brattleboro, which she retired from in 2002. Previously, she worked for the Edge Company and several Brattleboro downtown restaurants that included Mike's, Alice's, and Ray's, all located on Elliot Street, and The Lions Den, later known as Green Door on upper Canal Street. Her position at the restaurants ranged from serving as a manager, bartender, waitress, and cook. Joan enjoyed playing cribbage and dice, listening to Country & Western music, and traveling the countryside, which she did with her companion of more than 40 years, Richard. She loved time shared with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. Survivors include: her partner, Richard McCarthy of Melbourne, Fla.; two sons, Theodore A. Gray Jr. of Brattleboro and Timothy A. Gray Sr. and his wife, Sheila, of Perkinsville; two daughters, Tami Lee Gray of Brattleboro and Thereasa McCarthy Clark and her husband, Wayne, of Springfield, Vt.; one sister, Nancy Gosselin and her husband, Robert, of East Hartford, Conn.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Carol Kleina, and a nephew, Joseph “Joey” Kleina. Memorial information: In honor of Joan's final wishes, there are no formal funeral services scheduled. A memorial gathering may be held at a later date. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 953, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Arnice Mitchell Long, 75, of Colchester, formerly of Saxtons River. Died April 28, 2019. Arnice was born on July 29, 1943 in Burlington to Shirley Neveau, and adopted soon after by her parents, Shirley and Albert Mitchell. She met Joel Long in early 1962 and married later that year. She worked at the Saxtons River Elementary School for more than 28 years as the secretary (a.k.a., nurse/guidance and family counselor/chief financial officer/boss lady) until her retirement in 2006. In 1984, she started the Winter Sports program at the elementary school. She was active in the Saxtons River community as a member of Saxtons River Rescue, the Women's Fellowship at Christ's Church, Saxtons River Nature Club, the Bell Choir, and the Grafton Community Band. Arnice is survived by her husband, Joel Long of Colchester; her three children and their families: Katrina Ouellette (Alan) of Stowe, Melody McWherter (Karl) of Boyertown, Pa., and Aaron Long (Rebecca) of Parkdale, Ore.; her half-siblings, Linda Smith of North Carolina, Mark Winslow of South Carolina, and Karen Sweet of Sheldon Springs; and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents and biological mother. Memorial information: A memorial service was held May 5 at Christ's Church in Saxtons River. Donations to Saxtons River Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 62, Saxtons River, VT, 05154, or the American Parkinson's Disease Association, Vermont Chapter, Department of Neurology, 1 South Prospect St., Arnold 2, Burlington, VT 05401.
• Bruce James Parliman, 72, of Jamaica. Died April 22, 2019. He was born March 20, 1947 in Hartford, Conn., son of Jane and Jim Parliman. He graduated from Simsbury (Conn.) High School in 1965, the University of New Hampshire in 1970, and received a Ph.D. in Horticulture in 1976 from the University of Minnesota. Throughout his life, Bruce loved, grew, and studied plants. He taught others about plants in his years with the University of Minnesota, Clemson University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in his gardens at home. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Mary Page Parliman, and his son Collin James Parliman, both of Jamaica. He is also survived by his three siblings, Deb Parliman and her husband, Phil, of Boise, Idaho; Peter Parliman and his wife, Lynn, from Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; and Sarah Wilson and her husband, Andy, from Nelson, N.H. Memorial information: A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family at the Willard Cemetery in Chesham, N.H.
• Tammy Lynn Tracey, 48, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly May 1, 2019 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Born in Methuen, Mass., on Sept. 25, 1970, the daughter of Maxwell Elmer and Betty Jean (Dwyer) Tracey, she attended Brattleboro public schools and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1988. She went on to attend Community College of Vermont, where she received her associate's degree. She was self-employed for many years as a housekeeper for several client families in the greater Brattleboro area and previously had been employed at Bridgeport Metal Goods in Hinsdale, N.H. Tammy enjoyed attending tag sales, always on the lookout for a bargain. She also cherished time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. Survivors include her father of Punta Gorda, Fla.; three sons, Tyler Hamilton of Rochester, N.H., and Cody Hamilton and Nathaniel Tracey, both of Brattleboro; two brothers, Brian Tracey of Vernon and Maxwell Tracey, Jr. of Powder Springs, Ga., one sister, Melissa Thurber of Spofford, N.H., and her three grandchildren, Wyatt, Sophia, and Ryan Hamilton. Additionally, she leaves several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held at First Congregational Church on Western Avenue on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest next to her mother in Woodland Cemetery in Keene, N.H. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• A funeral Mass for Mary Catherine McAlister will be held Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m., at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with burial to follow in Locust Ridge Cemetery. Following the committal rites, a reception will be held at Brigid's Kitchen on Walnut Street. Mrs. McAlister, 80, of Brattleboro, died March 14, 2019. To view her full obituary, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Graveside committal services for Mitchell P. “Pete” Karpinski will be conducted Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m., in Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro. Mr. Karpinski, 72, of Brattleboro, died Feb. 4, 2019 at Baystate Medical Center, in Springfield, Mass. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.