Obituaries
• Winona S. Courcelle, 101, of Vernon. Died peacefully on May 27, 2025, at Vernon Green Nursing Home. She was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, on Sept. 15, 1923, the daughter of Carl and Beatrice (Willard) Scherlin. She was raised and educated in Vernon and graduated from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1941. Winona had been employed as an office clerk at the Holstein Association in Brattleboro, which she retired from in December 1986 following 38 faithful years with the company. She enjoyed the simple things in life. She liked reading, taking nature walks, and time spent with her family. During her earlier years, she attended Vernon Advent Christian Church in South Vernon. Winona was first married to James Clark and later to Willis Coller; both husbands predeceased her. She later married Raymond Courcelle, who also is deceased. Survivors include one son, Darrell Clark (Joanne) of Vernon; a stepdaughter, Carolyn Brown of Vernon; three stepsons, Andre, Raymond, and Maurice Courcelle, all of the Rutland area; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Winona was also predeceased by one brother, Leslie Scherlin; a sister, Doris Potter; and a stepson, Wayne Coller. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held on June 3 in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Charles Douglas "Charlie" Larabee, 75, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on May 26, 2025, at his home. Charlie was born in Brattleboro on Nov. 8, 1949, the son of Charles H. and Margarite (Cooley) Larabee. A lifelong resident of the area, he was raised in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where he attended public schools, including Hinsdale High School. He worked as a machine mechanic at The Book Press in Brattleboro for 41 dedicated years up until the company closed in 1996. He later worked at Putney Paper, which he retired from in 2015. A quiet, unassuming man, Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, puttering around the house, and trips to York Beach, Maine. For many years, he was active in the King's Candlepin Bowling League. On Aug. 9, 1969, at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, he was married to Judith A. "Judy" Leclaire, who survives. Besides his faithful and devoted wife of 55 years, he leaves one daughter, Lori Vaness and her partner, Tom Slate, of Westminster; one brother, David Rose of Tampa, Florida; two sisters, Carol Hughson and her husband, Conrad, of Putney; and Donna Caouette of Hinsdale; one aunt, Betty Larabee of Massachusetts; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and several cousins. Charlie was predeceased by one son, Scott Larabee, who died on June 10, 2020. Memorial information: Graveside services in Meeting House Hill Cemetery will be private for the immediate family only. Donations to the Marine Corps League, Brattleboro Detachment 798, P.O. Box 1942, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Rodney James Kelley III, 78, of West Hartford, Connecticut, and Florida. Died on Dec. 17, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, after a brief illness. Rodney was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on Nov. 18, 1946, the only child of Rodney and Bertha McCullough Kelley. He and his family moved to Putney, and he attended Putney Central School. Upon moving to Brattleboro, he attended St. Michael's Catholic School for seventh and eighth grades, then attended and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1964. He received his B.S. in business administration in 1970 from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He went on to attend the University of Hartford, but did not finish his graduate degree as he met his future wife in June 1973. Rodney met Barbara Ann Thies of Brattleboro, BUHS Class of 1969, while both were working on their separate class floats for the Alumni/Graduation parade in June 1973. Rodney and Barbara were married on Nov. 24, 1973, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Rodney was an insurance agent. Here are some of the most memorable parts of Rodney's life. In the summer of 1987, Rodney and his son, Rod IV, left Connecticut in a van and embarked on a month long cross- country trip to California and down to Tijuana, Mexico. Rodney wrote a legal case and drove to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., to file and deliver it in person. Rodney helped Rod IV get admitted to a summer session at Harvard University. Rodney never ate vegetables. Besides his wife, Rodney leaves his son, Rod IV of Florida, daughter-in-law Ashley, grandson Jacob Hunter, sister-in-law Mary Sorensen, and brother-in-law Richard Sorensen of Arizona, brother-in-law Carl Thies and sister-in-law Hope Thies of New York, and many nephews and nieces. Memorial information: Funeral arrangements were private.
• Edward Cooney-Moore, 83, of Bellows Falls. Died of Alzheimer's disease on May 16, 2025, at Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, Massachusetts. He was a longtime resident of Vermont. As a young man, he ran his own floor sanding business in the Northeast Kingdom. Then, he worked for various nonprofits in central Vermont, and served two years in Americorps before moving to Brattleboro, and then Bellows Falls. He is known by many in the Vermont Department of Corrections and the Vermont Judiciary for his years working in the Brattleboro and Springfield Probation and Parole offices before retiring in 2008. Years after retirement, he resumed his connection with Corrections by serving for several years as the director of the Community Justice Project in Bellows Falls. He leaves three children, Greg and his wife Jill, Marissa, and Nelson; his longtime partner, Susan; and numerous friends that he considered family. Memorial information: Donations in Edward's memory could be made to the Community Asylum Seekers Project of Vermont (caspvt.org). or the Bellows Falls Bike Project (bfbike.org).
• Mayah Anne Murchison, 25, of Brattleboro. Died at Fair Winds Farm in Brattleboro on May 29, 2025. She was born on June 12, 1999, and explored the world with curiosity and passion and led a vibrant, adventurous life. She attended the Vermont Wilderness School and was a 2015 graduate of Kroka Expeditions Vermont and Ecuador semester program. Mayah enjoyed traveling, reading, walking, and spending time with friends and family and her beloved dog, Cleo. She is survived by her parents Rebekah and Neal Perry of Brownington, and Todd Murchison and Coretta Bliss of Brattleboro; her brother and sister-in-law Evan and Kati Murchison of Carthage, North Carolina; siblings Mikaela, Spencer, Dawn, and Max Perry; grandparents Jay and Janet Bailey of Brattleboro and William and Caryl Murchison of Colorado; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins and friends. Many thanks to the Brattleboro Police and Fire Departments for their professional technical assistance. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 7, at 11 a.m. at Fair Winds Farm, 513 Upper Dummerston Rd., Brattleboro. All are welcome. A private burial will follow. Donations to Vermont Wilderness School, P.O. Box 2585, Brattleboro, VT 05303 or Kroka Expeditions, 767 NH 123, Marlow, NH 03456.
• Barbara Jean (Metcalf) Welker, 89, of Guilford. Died peacefully on March 6, 2025. She was born on Aug. 6, 1935, in Springfield, Vermont, to Gladys (Kendall) and Leon Metcalf. Barbara was predeceased by her beloved husband, Philip Welker, and her sisters Jane Fuller, Laurene Metcalf, Shirley Muther, and Joyce Metcalf. She is survived by her loving children: Joyce Morse (and husband Ed) of Vernon, Cindy Smart of Chester, and Robert Welker of Brattleboro. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren Alex and Jared Morse, and Corina Wood; and great-grandchildren Kiaya Wood-Waterman and Chandler Bernier. In addition, Barbara is lovingly remembered by her special niece Melissa (Metcalf) Harris and her husband Charlie of Webster, Florida, with whom she spent cherished time in her later years. Over the years, Barbara worked at Dwight Miller Orchard, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and Chomerics/Amp, before retiring from G.S. Precision in June 1999. She was known for her tireless work ethic, kind spirit, and the deep love she held for her family. Barbara was the thread that held her family together. She had a lifelong love for animals and wished for all of them to have safe, loving homes. She also enjoyed walking and exercising with friends, always finding joy in life's simple, meaningful moments. Barbara spent the final five months of her life in hospice care, where she was treated with exceptional kindness and compassion. Barbara will be remembered for her compassion, her strength, and the love she so freely gave to all around her. She will be deeply missed. Memorial information: In accordance with Barbara's wishes, there will be no services. Those who wish to honor her memory are encouraged to make a donation to an animal shelter of their choice.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.