Obituaries
• Franklin J. “Frank” Bell, 61, a longtime resident of Green River in Guilford and, recently, of West Brattleboro. Died Aug. 1, 2019, after being stricken earlier at his home. He was born on June 19, 1958 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital to Benjamin Bell Sr. and Frances (Rowe) Bell, who have predeceased him. He was the second eldest of six brothers; Benjamin D. Bell Jr. (Tammi) of Guilford, Alexander D. Bell and his significant other Amy Hoyt of Guilford, Graham E. Bell (Kelley) of Henderson, N.C., Justin E. Bell of Jacksonville, Fla., and Scott Bell (Crystal) of Rutland. Frank never had any children of his own, yet assisted in the upbringing and provided a positive influence to many young people. Surviving also are many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and his former wife and longtime friend Leona Holcomb. Frank is also survived by his special fur baby, “Shaggy,” whom he loved dearly. Over the years, Frank owned a variety of animals: from massive horses to tiny kissing parakeets and everything in between. He certainly was devoted to all of them. Frank previously co-owned Gillies, a popular eatery and bar. Frank remained friends with many patrons after it closed. After his retirement, Frank discovered that he had inherited the same “green thumb” that his father had. He started and grew many plants from mere seeds that he had saved and dried from vegetables he had eaten. After starting his plants in small peat pots under grow lights, he would carefully transfer them into bigger containers as they grew. He freely shared his garden's bounty with friends and neighbors and often shared pictures of the harvest for everyone to see. He was quite proud each time. Frank helped many people. He cared for and loved them, and only wanted the same in return. A good friend to many, Frank was the kind of guy who would not hesitate to give you the shirt off his back. He was loved and will be missed dearly. Memorial information: A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m., at the Community Bible Chapel in Brattleboro (located behind BUHS). Donations to the Franklin Bell Memorial Fund at Brattleboro Savings & Loan.
• Phyllis Clark, 99, of South Londonderry. Died Aug. 12, 2019 at Springfield Health and Rehabilitation, with family at her side. Phyllis was born in South Londonderry on Nov. 28, 1919, the daughter of the late Curtis and Irene Prouty Shattuck and attended local schools. Phyllis first started working as a waitress for Stone Steps Restaurant and then, for more than 20 years, at the Stratton Mountain Inn. She enjoyed reading and, in her later years, loved working with her companion Robert Twitchell making all kinds of maple products. Phyllis is survived by her son Vincent Clark and his wife Pamela of Londonderry, sisters Lucille Prouty of South Londonderry and Mildred Crowninshield of Brattleboro, her grandchildren Vaughn and Benjamin Clark, and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Lloyd Clark, whom she married in August 1941, and her son Vaughn Clark. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 17 at the South Londonderry First Baptist Church, followed by interment in the family lot in Glebeview Cemetery. Donations to the South Londonderry First Baptist Church, in care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
• Lois J. Igoe, 93, of Townshend. Died Aug. 11, 2019 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Lois was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on March 1, 1926, the daughter of Harry and Hazel (Hill) Deegan. She worked as a claims adjuster for Liberty Mutual Insurance. In 1947, she married Harold Igoe, who predeceased her. Surviving is her sister-in-law Dorothy Muller and her husband, Burke, of New Hartford, N.Y., and their daughter Cathy Albert and her husband, John, of Deposit, N.Y. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Aug. 20 in Houghtonville Cemetery in Grafton. Arrangements were in the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.
• Michael Patrick Hanley, 76, of West Brattleboro. Died peacefully on Aug. 9, 2019 in his home, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Newark, N.J., on Sept. 28, 1942, the first child born to Lucille and Vance Hanley. He attended schools in New Jersey and later majored in history at the University of Tennessee during the Civil Rights Movement. He served in the Army during the Vietnam Era. Mike was a great athlete, and loved running, bicycling, and riding his Harley. He also had a talent for restoring motorcycles and a love for gardening. He really enjoyed his local watercolor art group and was a avid reader who loved books so much that he volunteered at Brooks Memorial Library for many years. He was a talented chef who loved to talk of food and recipes. He built his first home in Williamsville in the 1970s and also built his own wooden sailboat and joined the Windham Sailing Club. He could strike up a conversation with anyone. Mike had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was an awesome friend. He will surely be missed by many. Michael is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cindy Hanley of West Brattleboro; a son, Travis Hanley and his wife, Heather, of Colorado; a daughter, Daphanie and her husband, Carl, of Connecticut; a sister-in-law, Mary Carr of Boston; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Gary, and his son Timothy of Australia. Mike loved his good friends, Bobby Stack and Joe Leo, who visited him regularly during his illness. Memorial information: There will be no calling hours. Condolences may be offered by email at [email protected].
• Karen Gleason Reilly, 47, of Jamaica. Died unexpectedly Aug. 14, 2019 at Kent Hospital in Warwick, R.I., after being taken ill. Karen was born in Townshend on Feb. 6, 1972, the daughter of the late Katherine (Fletcher) and Arthur Gleason III. She was raised and educated in Jamaica and graduated from Leland & Gray High School with the Class of 1990. She went on to attend Whitman's Beauty & Hair Academy in Brattleboro, later working as a hair stylist at Ultimate Impressions. At the time of her death, Karen was employed at People's Bank, working in the Operations Center on Putney Road. Previously, she worked as a clerk at Brattleboro Mobil on Putney Road. Karen attended the Springfield (Vt.) Assembly of God Church and was a former member of the Jamaica Community Church. Her life centered around her family and she enjoyed time shared with them especially her four children. She also enjoyed travel. Survivors include her devoted companion, Mike Paul of Jamaica; two sons, Brandon and Caleb Reilly, both of West Townshend; two daughters, Emily Reilly of Townshend and Brianna Paul of Guilford; one brother, Arthur Gleason IV and his wife, Pamela, of Jamaica; and a sister, Lori Hughes and her companion Guy Caron of Lempster, N.H. Additionally, she leaves: two nieces, three nephews, and a large host of friends. Memorial information: Graveside committal services will be conducted Friday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. in East Jamaica Cemetery. A reception will follow the services to be held at her home on Turkey Mountain Road in Jamaica. Donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Joan Hersey Carr Shimer, 91, of Putney. Died Aug. 7, 2019. She was born on Nov. 29, 1927, the eldest of three children to Robert and Jean Hersey of Spuyten Duyvel, N.Y. She attended high school at the Putney School and Riverdale Country Day School, graduating from Mills College with a B.A. in dance, drama, and music. She lived in numerous places, including San Francisco, San Rafael, and Cupertino, Calif.; Putney and Hartford, Vt.; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; New Haven and Middletown, Conn.; Cambridge, Mass.; New York City; and Randolph, N.H. Her spiritual life was strongly guided by Anthroposophy; she hosted a group exploring the works of Rudolph Steiner, and was a member of the Guilford Community Church. Joan lived her life with purpose and grace, and had numerous interests. She was a gardener; a harpist, recorder player, and member of the Hallowell singers; and was executive secretary of the Country Dance and Song Society, directing Family Week at Pinewoods Dance and Music camp. She enjoyed painting watercolors and attending writing classes to better record impressions of her life. She was the executive secretary of the Teacher Training Institute for Waldorf Education, originally headquartered at Adelphi University. She worked in personnel at Digital Equipment Corp., and under Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak at Apple Computer in the 1980s. She studied Spacial Dynamics, receiving a teaching degree at age 70; and taught both “Body Recall” classes to adults, and movement games to pre-schoolers. With Valerie Baadh, she co-authored a book, Games Children Sing and Play. She was a founding member of the Inner Fire Community of Vermont. Joan was predeceased by her husband and love of her life, John Asa (Jack) Shimer. She is survived by her brother Robert Hersey and his wife Susan; her brother Tim Hersey and his wife, Jean; her son Jesse Carr and his partner, Kathy Mazziott; grandson Galen Carr and his wife Jennifer Allaire, great-grandchildren Miles and Zoe Carr; and her son Jeffrey Carr and his wife, Shari, and her grandson Zachary. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Aug. 17 at the Guilford Community Church. Donations to the Upper Valley Waldorf School, 80 Bluff Rd., Quechee, VT 05059. To view an online tribute, send a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.
• Eric P. Streeter, 52, of Westminster. Died in Brattleboro on August 8, 2019, following injuries sustained in a construction accident at the Vermont Welcome Center in Guilford. He was born June 3, 1967 in Springfield, Vt., a son of the late Phillip and Janet (Anderson) Streeter. Eric grew up in North Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School, Class of 1985. He worked in various jobs after graduation before working for C&S in Brattleboro and, later, as a truck driver for Estes Transportation. He was working for Bazin Brothers in Westminster at the time of his death. Eric enjoyed working in his yard, especially anything he could do on his tractor. He also enjoyed being outdoors, camping and hunting, or sharing a beer with his friends while playing horseshoes or sitting around a fire. He is survived by his longtime companion, Sharron Waters of Westminster; a daughter, Amber Thomas of Idaho; sisters Debbie Knox and her husband, Mike, of Swanton: Lisa Callaghan and her husband, Mark, of Apache Jct., Ariz.: and Wendy Blish and her husband Mike of Phoenix, Ariz.; his stepmother Brenda Streeter and stepsister Marion Destallano, both of White River Junction, as well as several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Aug. 17 in Pine Grove Cemetery in North Springfield. Condolences to Eric's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.
• Nancy E. Yeaw, 86, of Guilford. Died unexpectedly on Aug. 6, 2019 in her home. She was born on the 4th of July in 1933 in Fair Haven to her parents Joseph Francis Topa and Hilda Nichols (Ketchum) Topa. Nancy proudly referred to her father Joe, as the son of a Polish immigrant who came to America on a boat. Nancy attended and graduated Keene (N.H.) High School in NH. As a child she loved ice skating, fishing, Fluffernutters, swimming in the Ashuelot River, and taking her younger br,other to a Saturday matinee for 10 cents. She worked at the Keene Ice Creamery from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., each day after school. Nancy married Merrill Fletcher straight out of high school at the age of 18. She had three sons with Merrill. In later years, Nancy worked at what was then the only Dunkin' Donuts in Brattleboro, located at the corner of High and Main streets. It was there that she met Bill Yeaw, her second husband. Bill introduced Nancy to RV camping, which she loved. Nancy never drove a car herself, despite the family's efforts. She loved to read, work outside in her garden, watch westerns on TV, and listen to George Strait's music. Nancy is survived by her three sons: Stephen and Peter of Guilford, and Joseph of St. Paul, Minn., and their families. She is also survived by Bill Yeaw's children: William Yeaw Jr. of Salado, Texas, and Charlene Muzzey of Pinellas Park, Fla. She also loved visits from her six grandchildren. Nancy is predeceased by her husband Bill (2004) and his son Blaine. Nancy liked to say she raised six children and two husbands. Nancy is also survived by her brothers: John Topa of Keene and Philip Topa of Virginia. She had three other siblings whoare predeceased: Barbara Huslander, Betty Renfret, and Norman Topa. Memorial information: It was Nancy's wish to keep her service simple. A small graveside service was held Aug. 10, with family and friends attending. Ker-Phaneuf Funeral Home and Crematorium assisted the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information, go to www.phaneuf.net.
Services
• A Celebration of Life service for Bonnie Darlene White of Townshend will be held on Saturday, Aug 24, at 11 a.m., at Calvary Chapel Church in West Townshend.