Laurie Ann Stratton
Laurie Ann Stratton, 61, of Morgan, died on July 16, 2024, with her loving mother by her side. Laurie was born September 15, 1962, to Robert and Barbara (Farrell) Stratton.
Laurie loved animals and she was happiest working outside, loved mowing the lawn, gardening, and adored her chickens.
She had a special spot she loved on the land where she found peace, it was her happy place.
She is survived by her mother, Barbara Stratton; brother Reginald Stratton and his wife, Andrea, and their family; uncle Mike and Sue Judd; extended family Jeff and Mary Price, Jacquelyn Prue and Dennis Whitter, Addy Cook, Hunter Prue, Jason and Kim Prue, Jennifer and Brian Cook, and Jeremy Prue.
She was predeceased by her father, Robert Stratton; brother David Stratton; and aunt Shirley Harkins.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, at Derby Center Cemetery with Reverend Alan Magoon officiating. If friends desire, memorial contributions in Laurie’s name may be made to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1073 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com.
David Mayhew
David Mayhew, also known to many as “Hoof Doc,” died at 64 on July 13, 2024, at 2:13 p.m. surrounded by his wife and loving family. He was born on May 16, 1960, in Newport, to Gordon and Therese Mayhew.
On December 9, 1978, he married the love of his life, Debra Matten. From this union came 11 very loved and wanted children. His pride and joys: John and his wife, Trish; Joseph and his wife, Jessica; Jeremie (who predeceased him in 2001); Jason and his wife; Christle (aka Little Critter) and her husband, Jamie; Jay and his wife, Jessica; Melody and her fiancée, Miranda; Teala and her husband, James; James Robert and his partner, Cera Jo; and the two baby girls Darcy Mae and KayLee Joyce.
He is also survived by his grandchildren who meant more to him than he even had words to say: John Jr. and Emily, Trisha (aka Peanut), Emma (aka Doo), Jordon, Brylee (aka Brian), Willow, JoAnna, Zack, Gordon, Zoria, Jeramiah, AJ, Baby Abe, Clara; by his step-grandchildren: Nicky, Dakota, Delilah (aka Lulu Bug), Ashara Lynne, Jayden, Zendaya, and Gallia; great-granddaughter Alexandra; step-great-granddaughter Arabella; and all of his fur babies: Habeebee, M.O.E., Phoenix and Punkin, and grand fur babies. They all held a special place in his heart.
Dave attended North Troy Elementary and North Country Union High School where he met his wife the end of his freshman year. He held various farming jobs from 1978 to 1993 working for some of the best men he could have ever met, moving his growing family around the Northeast Kingdom until he met Rudy Goodall where he rooted for seven years. He loved that man like a father and he is the one who let him pursue his career as the “Hoof Doc.” When things would get rough, he would always take a second job milking cows, selling hay, cattle, sawdust, or just helping a farmer in need. In the last few years, he loved helping his friend Steve Longe on his cattle truck. He had many passions, such as being an avid gardener. He loved to can and freeze his veggies for the winter, feed his birds, helping children with their never-ending projects, and hunting. His door was never locked and there was always food on his table.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at noon at the American Legion Post 28 Hall, 254 Dominion Avenue, North Troy. Online condolences welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Christopher John Karlen
Christopher John Karlen, 43, of Barton, died unexpectedly on July 7, 2024. He was born on August 21, 1980, in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to Katherine (Wright) and Wayne Karlen, of Brownington, who survive him. Chris was a single father of two and is also survived by his sons Cody Larocque, 18, and Nicholas Karlen, 11; by his two dogs Dante and Bella; by his two younger sisters Lindsy Edwards and Abbygale Karlen; by his brother-in-law Alex Edwards; by his niece Addision Edwards; and many loving extended family and friends.
Chris attended Lake Region Union High School and continued his career learning and mastering multiple trades. He enjoyed the simple things in life, rebuilding and fixing anything mechanical, spending time outdoors with his family and close friends, fishing, boating, playing games, sporting activities, sitting by a campfire, and living life to the fullest. Chris also enjoyed returning to his roots in Massachusetts, savoring his favorite foods, visiting his favorite places, being by the ocean, exploring, going down river, and spending time with those he loved. Chris had a big heart, a fun-loving personality, and it was often said that he was a big teddy bear.
Chris was a hard worker and handyman that you would often find tinkering, making many gadgets come back to life. He was a loving father, son, brother, and friend to many and he will be deeply missed. Chris was full of life and had so much more life to live. The family asks to continue to spread kindness and love through thoughts and actions to others in remembrance of him.
Family and friends are invited to Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home, 12 Elm Street, in Barton, on August 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. to pay their respects to the family and honor his life. Should family and friends desire, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Community National Bank, Christopher Karlen memorial fund, or mailed to Katherine Karlen, 185 Hunt Hill Road, Brownington, Vermont 05860, to help support his two children. Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Pamela Ruth Helenek
Pamela Ruth Helenek died on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at her home in West Charleston surrounded by her family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She recently turned 75 years old on July 8. Pamela was the daughter of Luther and Lois Farley, born in Middletown, Connecticut.
Pamela was a very kind soul with many talents. At the young ages of 22 and 25, she and her husband, Raymond Helenek, moved up to Vermont from Connecticut with their one-year-old son Christopher and purchased a farm in West Charleston with dreams of owning and operating a dairy farm.
In 1972, they purchased their first Jersey dairy heifer calves from Rupert and Muriel Chamberlin and Arthur Button. They then had their second child, a daughter they named Colleen. Pamela and Raymond grew the herd into a 20-25 Jersey cow dairy farm known as “Helenek’s Jerseys” where they would operate for the next 50 years, even breeding a state champion Jersey cow named Victoria that their daughter Colleen showed at the fairs. Pamela was so proud of her beautiful cows.
Pamela was the face of Helenek’s Jerseys, and she was known as the “farmer” as she managed the herd health and production, financial records, genetics, and breeding, and was the milker. She helped with all aspects of haying while Raymond worked full-time for the phone company.
While being a full-time dairy farmer and raising her children, Pamela was very active in the farming community such as bringing her kids to numerous 4-H club meetings and activities that she often assisted with, promoting farm safety at events, participating in the Orleans County Farm women’s group, supporting and assisting her daughter’s participation in many dairy shows, being part of a committee to raise funds to build the Orleans County 4-H youth center building, and traveling to the Netherlands with her daughter and other Orleans County dairy farmers to learn about their agricultural industry as part of the Ben and Jerry’s Dairy Stewardship Alliance program.
Pamela was recognized as the Orleans County Farm Woman of the Year in 1994 and received a Dairy of Distinction in 2012. She was a very skilled baker and quilter, winning blue ribbons at fairs and even won Best Yeast Bread of Show at the Barre Farm Show. After retiring from milking cows Pamela made many beautiful quilts for family and friends.
Pamela was an exceptionally strong and resilient woman who was involved in two very serious accidents over her lifetime, and she still met life with grace and a smile, always encouraging and supporting her children. She was a very social soul who cherished her close-knit circle of farm women and quilting friends.
Pamela is survived by her husband of almost 55 years, Raymond Helenek; her son Christopher Helenek and her grandchildren Andrew and Tyler Helenek of Attleboro, Massachusetts; her daughter and son-in-law Colleen and Jonathan Leonard of Sutton; and her step-grandchildren Heather Leonard and Jeremiah Leonard, both of St. Johnsbury; and Richie Hackett of Sharon and their family members, including five step-great-grandchildren. She is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Karen Robillard and husband, John, of Kewaunee, Wisconsin; LaVerne Roberts and her husband, Rick, of Berlin, Connecticut; and Luther “Rusty” Farley and his wife, Lisa, of Brownsville, Maine. She is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. A private burial will take place with family members. A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date this summer. Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Muriel Mary Elliott
Muriel Mary Elliott, 82, died peacefully on July 15, 2024, at The Manor in Morrisville, surrounded by her family.
She was born in 1941 to Maurice and Yvonne Racicot, one of six siblings. Most of her youth was spent growing up on the family farm in Westmore, near Willoughby Lake, where she helped with the family chores. In 1959, she graduated from Barton Academy. After high school, she worked at St. Johnsbury Trucking, and then met her husband, Ralph, starting a loving relationship for the next 63 years.
They were married in 1961, lived on the Eagle Point Farm and Jordan Farm near Lake Seymour, then moved to Elm Street in Newport in 1965, where they lived in multiple locations for the next 50 years and raised three children.
Muriel chose to stay at home and raise her three kids: Wayne, Marsha, and Julie, and to help make ends meet, always had her own in-home day care. Once the kids were old enough, she started working in the library at the Hillside Elementary School in 1978 for the next 20 years. With her love of books, she enjoyed reading to the kids and interacting with the young students.
In 1990, they bought a summer camp on Shadow Lake in Glover, where they had many family and friends. This was the start of great family memories for their children, grandkids, and now great-grandkids.
In retirement, they bought a place in Haines City, Florida, in 2004 and enjoyed winters at the park with friends and family for the next 15 years.
Muriel was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004. She battled this disease as long as she could so that she could enjoy life. It became too much to handle with the extensive care, so in 2021, she moved to The Manor in Morrisville.
Per her wishes, no formal services will be held.
She is survived by her loving husband, Ralph Elliott; children: Wayne Elliott, and his wife, Linda, of South Burlington, Marsha Thompson and her husband, Bruce, of Flower Mound, Texas, and Julie Zinser and her husband, Erick, of Novi, Michigan. She is survived by her grandchildren: Whitney, Ryan, Brandon, Connor, Hannah, and Olivia; and great-grandchildren Aurora and Chase.
Muriel was predeceased by her parents, Maurice and Yvonne Racicot.
She is survived by her sister Jeanine of Saco, Maine; brother Maurice and his wife, Linda, of Medical Lake, Washington; her sister Pauli and her husband, Mike Hensen, of Wilmington, North Carolina; and her sister Susie Presley from Bartlett, Tennessee.
~~The family would like to thank The Manor staff, especially Nancy, and the nurses, for the excellent care Muriel received and for their unwavering support of Ralph. Also, the family would like to thank the Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, especially Amy, and the hospice nurses, and Danny for singing and playing music for Muriel and for their caring and emotional support during this difficult time.
Donations in Muriel’s memory can be provided to the The Manor, 577 Washington Highway, Morrisville, Vermont 05661, and Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, Vermont 05661.
Howard J. Cota
Howard J. Cota, of North Troy, died on July 17, 2024, at his home. He was born on June 13, 1932, in Jay, to the late Archie and Hazel (Morse) Cota.
He married Melba Willis on September 15, 1951. They had almost 73 years of a beautiful marriage.
Howard had many jobs including farming, many years at Jay Peak, and town manager of Troy. Later on in life he started and operated Cota Sanitation and Mini Mart.
Howard enjoyed playing many instruments, spending time with his family, and being on a bowling league. Howard enjoyed taking his 1977 Chevy Impala to car shows. He was a member of the Troy Masonic Lodge for over 60 years.
He is survived by his wife, Melba Cota, of North Troy; by his children: Stanley Cota and his wife, Anne, of Troy, Douglas Cota and his partner, Tina Willis, of Newport, Brian Cota and his wife, Terry, of Hardwick, Keith Cota of Troy, Peggy Richardson and her husband, Keith, of Lowell, and Janet Cota of Newport; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many relatives in Canada.
He was predeceased by his beloved daughter Kathy Cota; his parents, Archie Sr. and Hazel Cota; his brothers Arnold and Archie Cota; grandson Robert Cota; and great-grandchildren Nathaniel Cota and Aaliyah Descheneau.
Funeral services will be held July 27 at 10 a.m. at the Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport, with the Reverend David Lisner officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. until the hour of the funeral. If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Howard’s name to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1073 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com.
DEATH NOTICE
Lawrence Judd Sr.
Lawrence Judd Sr., of Holland, died on July 21, 2024, at his home. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at the Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby, where the funeral will also be held at 2 p.m. on Friday July 26, with Reverend Laurence Wall officiating.
Interment will follow at Mead Hill Cemetery in Holland. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com.
