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Obituaries 04-06-10

Naomi M. Norton

Addison- Naomi M. Norton, 93, died Sunday, March 28, 2010, at Birchwood Terrace Healthcare after a brief illness.

    Born in Addison on September 22, 1916, she was the daughter of William and Herrika (Miller) Lattrell.  Mrs. Norton was a resident of Addison for most of her life.

    She owned and operated a dairy farm along with her husband, Wilbur, until 1958.  She then crop farmed until she retired in 1981.  She loved all animals and birds, especially her beloved Smoky and Petey, and beautiful flowers.

    She was a member of the Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses in Middlebury.

    Mrs. Norton is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Lorenzo (Dorothy) Sanchez of San Antonio, TX, Mrs. Allen(Shirley) Shangraw of Georgia, VT, Mrs. John (June) Campbell of Addison, and Mrs. David (Patricia) Adams of Harrisburg, NC; a son Roger A. Norton and his wife Beverly of Vergennes; two brothers, Arnold Lattrell and Robert Lattrell and his wife Norene all of Vergennes; 12 grandchildren: Bill, Phil, Chris, Wendy, Cindy, Roger, David, Eric, Elton, Brian, Kevin, Roger and 4 step grandchilden. 40 great grandchildren; 24 great great grandchildren; 5 great great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

    Mrs. Norton was predeceased by her husband Wilbur in 1991, her brother Raymond Lattrell in 1993, and her sister Shirley Neger in 2006.

    Services were held Saturday, April 3rd at 2 p.m. in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses in Middlebury.  Interment was in  Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes.      Contributions may be made to Addison County Home Health, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753 or Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, PO Box 11, Vergennes, VT 05491.

Betsy Woltjen

Monkton- Betsy Woltjen died peacefully on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at home with her husband and daughters at her side after a 19 year battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer at the age of 57.

    Born in Providence, RI, January 28, 1953 the youngest child of Norman and Ruth Tierney of Cranston, RI.

    Betsy enjoyed watching her girls grow up, traveling, and gardening.

    Betsy met her future husband in 1967 and they were married June 25, 1983.

    Betsy is survived by her husband William Woltjen, their daughters Whitney Woltjen and Abby Woltjen, her brother Norman (Doug) Tierney and his wife and daughters of RI, her sister Marcia Caplette and her husband and sons of RI, her sister Sue Gorrie and her husband and son of RI.

    She was preceded in death by their daughter Wendy Woltjen and her parents.

    If you knew Betsy you were one of the lucky ones.  She was the kindest and bravest person in the world.  She always looked on the bright side no matter how bad it got.  Betsy would set little goals from seeing her girls go through nursery school to watching them compete in figure skating.  When one goal was met she would have another.  Her last goal was to see their youngest daughter graduate college May 9th of this year.

    A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 3rd, at 11 a.m. at the Monkton Friends Methodist Church.  Friends may call on the family on Friday, April 2nd, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol

    Please make donations to the Floor Covering Industry Foundation, 2211 E. Howell Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806 or Addison County Home Health & Hospice, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Ronald Arthur Selleck

MIddlebury - Ronald Arthur Selleck, age 72, died Monday, March 29, 2010, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, from a severe attack of Pancreatitis.  He was surrounded by his loving family.

    Mr. Selleck was born in Middlebury on February 19, 1938. He was the son of Arthur and Clara (Hope) Selleck. He received his education in local Middlebury schools. In 1972 he purchased Selleck’s Electrical, Plumbing and Heating business from his father. He has been the chairman of the Middlebury Cemetery Association for over 30 years. He was an active member of his community. In his earlier years he was a member of the Middlebury Fire Department and more recently dispatcher for the fire department. He served in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1962, as a sergeant. Ron was a family man who enjoyed gathering with his family and friends. All who knew him will miss his social qualities and gentle and friendly manner. He belonged to Middlebury American Legion Post #27. He was a communicant at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury.

    Surviving is his wife Sally, whom he married in Middlebury on August 12, 1961, his son Myron and his wife Connie, all of Middlebury, his brother James and his wife Janet of Salisbury, a sister Alice and her husband Francis Sumner of Bristol, his grandson Scott and his fiancé Kayla Anderson, granddaughter Torri and her fiancé Will Strong, granddaughter Heather and great granddaughter Kaylie and his sister-in-law Greta Selleck of Weybridge. He was predeceased by a brother William Selleck.

    A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, April 3, 2010,  at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury. The Rev. William Beaudin, pastor was the celebrant. The graveside committal service and burial, with military honors, will take place, at a later date, in Middlebury Cemetery.

    The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at FAHC Medical ICU, for all that they did.

    Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made, in his memory to; The Battell Hose Company, 5 Seymour St, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Benjamin “Chuck” “Chubby” Donnelly

No. Ferrisburgh - Benjamin "Chuck" "Chubby" Donnelly — went to be with his Lord today, March 28, 2010. Born May 22, 1930, the son of Geneva (Janet) Donnelly Guerrette. He was originally from the old north end of Burlington where he spent his early years.

    His love of music, playing guitar and singing in several local bands for dances and to give people a good time lead him to joining Don Fields & The Pony Boys of Waterbury, VT in the late 40's and early 50's. That band broadcast on WDEV radio every day and "Chuck" had his own "Chuck" Donnelly show Saturday mornings. He played at many barn dances including Hart's Barn in Williston, VT.

    In 1953 Chuck moved to Connecticut and worked as a machinist. Having met and married Joyce Yandow of North Ferrisburgh they were happy to move there in 1956 when he went to work for Yandow Sales & Service. During this time he and his wife started "Chuck Donnelly's Orchestra" and played together for weddings, anniversaries and many restaurants, Inns and local functions.

    In 1971, Chuck went to work for Garden Way Manufacturing Co., opened and managed The Garden Way Living Center in So. Burlington, and was later promoted to operations manager of all five Garden Way stores in the United States.

    In 1981, he saw his dream of owning his own business, realized with the help and support of his dear wife and children "Chuck's Country Deli" opened in No. Ferrisburgh. He ran a very successful business until his health problems forced him to sell it in 1990 and retire.

    Later in his retirement years, Chuck joined his daughter, Lynn and son in law Jeff at their business The Dock Doctors, in Ferrisburgh, where he worked part time for several years performing payroll and administrative duties. He worked as a part time mail carrier for the towns of Ferrisburgh and Charlotte also during his retirement years.

    Chuck has been a member of The Ferrisburgh Volunteer Fire Dept. since 1956 and was awarded a "Lifetime Membership", January, 1993. He also received "Life Membership" into the Addison County Firefighters Association, January, 2000.

    He loved fishing, hunting, bingo, playing cards with friends and being at camp with family and the "guys" along with occasional trips to the track and casino in Saratoga, NY.
He was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Vergennes, VT where he was a Eucharistic minister and worked on church bingo for many years.

    Chuck leaves his loving wife, Joyce, who was his guiding light through over 55 years together, truly "The Wind Beneath His Wings", always at his side no matter what. "Only through her were his life's desires fulfilled." He was so proud of his children and their accomplishments and so thankful they chose to spend their lives nearby so we could be together often. He leaves behind his son Michael and his wife Lynn along with their extended family, his son Brian and his companion Jodi Rotax, his daughter Sharon Kent and her husband Loudon and their extended family and his daughter Lynn Provost with her husband Jeffrey, all of whom meant the world to him and his beloved wife Joyce. He also leaves behind his grandchildren who called him "Papa" Justin, Adam, Sara Donnelly, Ryan and Nicholas Donnelly, Brittney and Benjamin Kent — what a joy they all brought to their Papa in their own ways.

    He also leaves a son, Robert Donnelly of Witchita, Kansas and a daughter Pamela Tweedy of Schenectady, NY from a previous, brief marriage along with a step-father and friend, Louis Guerrette of Sarasota, FL.

    He was predeceased by his grandmother, Julia Lasalle in 1963, his beloved son, Matthew in 1971 and his mother, Geneva (Janet) Guerrette in 1992.

     In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ferrisburgh Fire Dept. in care of David Grippin, P.O. Box 25, No. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 or St. Peter’s Restoration Fund, 85 So. Maple St., Vergennes, VT 05491.

  A Funeral mass was held on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 85 So. Maple St., Vergennes, VT.

Elizabeth (Libby) Harriet Ladue Atkins

Lincoln - Elizabeth (Libby) Harriet Ladue Atkins, 93, died Thursday April 1st, 2010 at her home in Lincoln, VT. Born on December 3rd, 1916 in New Haven Mills, daughter of Fred and Ruiah (Richardson) Ladue.

    She attended Bristol Elementary and High School.

    After attending music school in Barre, she went on to teach music at local schools, churches and at her home where she was accomplished in playing many instruments.  Along with music family and friends were a big part of Libby’s llife.

    Elizabeth married Charles Danbrooke in 1932.  In 1946 she married Clark O. Atkins who predeceased her in 2006.

    She is survived by her daughters, Hazel Grace and her husband Lawrence, Deanna Steadman and her husband William; sons, Roger Atkins and his wife Beverly, Reginald Atkins, Jody Atkins and his wife Lori; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. Libby was also predeceased by her sister Gladys Haines and her 4 brothers, Walter, Glen, Arthur, and Laurentine (Bub) Ladue.

    Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, April 5th at the United Church of Lincoln.  Interment will be in Maple Cemetery.  Friends may call at the United Church of Lincoln on Monday from 10 a.m. up to the hour of service.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to United Church of Lincoln, 23 Quaker St., Lincoln, VT 05443.

Edward George Smith

Panton - Edward George Smith died on March 31, 2010 at home in Panton from a short illness of pancreatic cancer with his loving family by his side.

    Edward was born on April 29, 1940 in New Haven, VT to Burton and Betty (Woodard) Smith. Ed lived his entire life in the Vergennes/Panton area and graduated from Vergennes High School in 1958. He married his wife, Earlene Bessette on June 21, 1969 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Vergennes, VT.

    Ed served in the US Army 1958-1961 and the VT Army National Guard from 1974-1992. Ed was employed by First National Stores as Store Clerk and Produce Manager for 24 years. When the First National Store closed in October, 1984, he went to work as a mechanical assembler for Goodrich and remained there until his retirement in January, 2002. While working at Goodrich, he served on the Activity Committee. Ed was a very active member of the Vergennes Lions Club for 48 years and he served as their King Lion from 1974-1975. Ed began his affiliation with the Bixby Memorial Library when a committee was formed to make the library handicapped accessible. He later became a Board Member and served the Bixby Library for 12 years. He also was a member of Eagles 3801 and the American Legion Post 14 in Vergennes. Ed was a member of Spruce Lodge Association since 1987 and has served as their treasurer for many years.

    Ed's love of cooking started with being a Mess Sergeant for Battery B of the VT Army National Guard. Throughout his life, Ed and his best friend, Albert catered many barbecues for the Vergennes Lions Club, Spruce Lodge and the VT State Parks.

    He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate of 40 years, Earlene Smith, their two daughters and husbands, Angela and Chris Catterson of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Jolene and Dennis Newton of East Middlebury and three precious grandchildren, Liam and Ryanne Catterson and Brian Newton. He is also survived by his brother and fishing partner, Dale (Snuffy) Smith and his wife, Susie, two sisters: Nonie Gallant and Dianne Smith-Tucker and her husband Stephen. He leaves behind his father and mother-in-law, Earl and Raymonde Bessette, his sisters and brothers-in-law, Diane and Eugene Bolduc, Alan and Debbie Bessette, Denise and Ray Martin, Edward and Melanie Bessette, Laurie and Brad Vincent and Lisa Bessette, several nieces and nephews. Ed was predeceased by his father, Burton in 1978 and his mother, Betty in 1999.

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Bixby Memorial Library, 258 Main St. Vergennes, VT 05491 or to Addison County Home Health & Hospice, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

    The family wants to thank Dr. Thomas and the staff at Vermont Cancer Center for their care and support. We want to specially thank Ed's nurse, Phyllis whose gentle and calming presence has benefited Ed and his entire family during the past 4 months.

    There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church on South Maple Street, Vergennes, VT on Tuesday, April 6 at 1 p.m.. There will be military honors following the service at St. Peter's.

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