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.
• Nancy Atkins Aldrich, 59, of Westminster West. Died Nov. 14 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Daughter of Ralph and the late Mary “Kay” Hamil Atkins. Wife of Donald Aldrich for 35 years. Mother of Stephen Aldrich and his wife, Rosalie, of Terre Haute, Ind.; Jonathan Aldrich and Chelsey St. Martin of Belmont, Mass.; and Zachary Aldrich and Emily Aldrich of Westminster West. Graduated from Wells College in 1973, where she met her husband. Worked at Little Brown & Company, before moving to Westminster West in 1987. A lifelong educator, she taught her three oldest children at home before working at Newsbank, Inc. in Chester. Building on her desire to help children with special needs, she began teaching in 2001 at Bellows Falls Middle School while pursuing a M.S. degree in special education from Simmons College in 2003. Was a teacher at Winhall Elementary School, Townshend Elementary School, and the Spark Teacher Education Institute at Marlboro College. Founder of Educational Praxis, Inc., a nonprofit organization originally established to help the Bapagrama School in Bangalore, India, that now facilitates the exchange of local and global knowledge and skills. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Nov. 20 at Westminster West Congregational Church. Donations to Educational Praxis, Inc. at www.educationalpraxis.org.
• Daniel Dix, 49, of Readsboro. Died Nov. 19 at his home. Son of the late David Jasper Dix, Jr., and Joyce Birch. Brother of David Jasper Dix, III, and his wife, Wanda, of Whitingham; Jody Berard-Kemp and her husband, Les, of Readsboro; and Penny Dix of Whitingham. Born in North Adams, Mass., grew up in Readsboro and graduated from Whitingham High School. Worked in the yard at Sawyer-Bentwood for many years and also tended bar. Enjoyed playing pool at the Depot, creating picture puzzles, following NASCAR, and playing pitch. He was an avid collector of Ford vehicles, especially trucks. He loved riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and spending time at the pond and the Depot. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 23 at Covey & Allen Funeral Home in Wilmington. Donations to the Readsboro Baptist Church, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Joyce E. Dunklee, 83, of Vernon. Died Nov. 17 at the Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of the late Courtland Dunklee for 59 years. Mother of Patricia Putnam and her husband, Paul, of Dummerston, Steve Dunklee and his wife, Sue, of Vernon, William Dunklee and his wife, Lynn, of Barnet, and Darlene Polhemus and her husband, James, of Goshen, Ind. Sister of Alton Cutler and Richard Cutler of Vernon; Robert Cutler of Columbus Grove, Ohio; Barbara Cutler of Vernon; Sadie Shippa of Northfield, Mass.; and Shirley Cutler of Brattleboro. Predeceased by sisters Phyllis Holmes and Madelin Aldrich. Was active in the Vernon Advent Christian Church, the PTA at the Vernon Elementary School, and the Home Dem Extension Program. She was known for her cake making and made wedding cakes for her children. She was a hardworking farmer's wife and also worked at the Vernon Green Nursing Home for 25 years. She loved her family and lived out her faith in a practical way through her willingness to always help a friend or neighbor in need. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 20 at the Vernon Advent Christian Church, with burial in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to the Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Dr., Vernon, VT 05354. Condolences may be sent to www.kidderfuneralhome.com.
• Harriette Camp Reeves-Forsythe, 85, of Putney, Died Nov. 15 at home. Wife of the late Davis Forsythe and John Reeves. Mother of Julie Forsythe and her husband Tom Hoskins; Carol Forsythe and her husband Bruce Coggeshall; Ellen Forsythe and her husband Alan Blood, and Molly Forsythe and her husband Bill Cameron. Sister of Charles Camp and the late Gilbert Camp. Born in Reading, Mass., she attended Oberlin College and became a Quaker committed to peace, believing that people needed to talk to resolve issues. With her first husband, she ran a daily farm in southern New Jersey. She was also a first-grade schoolteacher whose bestowed a careful loving focus on each student. Moved to Putney in 1987 and was active in many organizations such as YWCA, 4-H, Fortnightly, Putney Family Services mentoring program, reading in Putney Central School, Putney Cares, Putney Co-op Board, and the Reparative Justice Board. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Jan. 1, at 2 p.m., in Putney. Donations to Amercan Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or http://ASFC.org/gifts.
• Albert Everett “Doc” Grass, DVM, 84, of West Brattleboro. Died Nov. 13. Husband of Deirdre Kelleher. Father of Linda Poling and her husband, Barclay, of Raleigh, N.C.; Dr. William Grass and his wife, Elizabeth, of Greenfield, Mass.; and Dr. Jeffrey Grass and his wife, Lorrie, of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Brother of Juna Grass Reid, of Bow, N.H., and Bertha Marcotte and her husband, Frank, of Summit, N.J. Was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, he served in the Army Air Force for one year prior to graduation. Went on to Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, earning the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Besides his veterinary practice of nearly 60 years, Dr. Grass raised, trained and raced standardbred horses, wintering them in Pinehurst, N.C., for many years and racing at harness tracks, including Hinsdale, N.H., and Saratoga, N.Y. Was a past president of the New England Veterinary Medical Association and the New England Sulky Championships, past national vice-president of Harness Horses International, and past president of the Western Northeastern Harness Association, and the Vermont Veterinary Association. Memorial information: Services will be private. Donations to the Nicholas Grass Scholarship Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Western Mass., P.O. Box 15769, Springfield, MA 01115, a charity of one's choice, or simply do something helpful for someone in need.
• Myrtle Luella McDermott, 82, of Brattleboro. Died Nov, 17 at her home. Wife of the late Norman A. McDermott. Mother of Sharon Otto and husband, Howard, of Titusville, Fla.; Julie McDermott of Brattleboro; and Michael McDermott and wife Amy of Portland Ore. Sister Jean Mayo and husband Harvey of St. Albans. Predeceased by siblings Philip Patch and Waneta Gates. Born in Bakersfield, Vt., she had been a resident of Brattleboro since 1969. Formerly employed at the operations center of Vermont National Bank, where she retired from in 1992 following 20 years of service. Previously, she had worked at the Brattleboro Retreat and at the former Howard Johnson restaurant. Was a member of First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro, where she was active with numerous church activities. Was well known in the community for her giving and generous spirit. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Nov. 19 at First United Methodist Church. Interment was private. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to First United Methodist Church 18 Town Crier Drive, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Ethel May Tanner, 90, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 18 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Wife of the late Richard Tanner for 60 years. Mother of Nancy Boyd and husband, Leon, of Brattleboro and Patricia Root of Newfane. Predeceased by a son, Robert Richard Tanner; a daughter, Barbara Ann Ronan; brothers Clarence, George and Vincent Fox; and sisters Elizabeth and Florence. Worked at the Plaid Stamp Store in Brattleboro while it was in operation, and had also been employed at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in the billing department. Was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose life revolved around her family. Enjoyed gardening, crocheting, travel and time shared with her family and friends. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Nov. 22 at St. Michael's Catholic Church with burial in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon where she was laid to rest next to her husband. Donations to St. Michael's School, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal. Messages of condolence may sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Nov. 8, 2010, a daughter, Bria Jean Unruh, to Josh and Chelsea (Mowrey) Unruh of Vernon; granddaughter to Kevin and Sandy Mowrey of Williamsville, and Steve and Pam Unruh Milford, Ind.; great-granddaughter to Howard and Clarice Short, and Elaine Touchette, all of Dummerston, and Frank and Violet Unruh Warsaw, Ind.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Oct. 16, 2010, a son, Theodore Louis Howe, to Christina (Vakaros) and Aaron Howe of Brattleboro; grandson to Linda and Frankie Vakaros, Rodney Howe and Jacquie Roby.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Sept. 24, 2010, a son, Thomas Clifton Nowers, to Jennifer A. Shepard and William L. Nowers of Westminster; grandson to Wayne Shepard, Lorraine Cotter and Wendy Toney, Heidi and Don Nowers Jr.; great-grandson to Maggie and Don Nowers Sr. and Simmone Cotter.