Edward Louis Verge , 69, of Island Pond died peacefully on July 3, 2011, at North Country Hospital in Newport. Mr. Verge was born in St. Johnsbury on December 19, 1941, a son of Napoleon L. and Helen M. (Lavature) Verge. Mr. Verge attended St. Johnsbury schools and, upon graduating from St. Johnsbury Trade School in 1959, was awarded a job at General Electric. Several years later he accepted employment at Essex Arms in Island Pond where he developed excellent machine skills and attention to detail. Because of this he became known as an excellent gunsmith and for many years ran a gun business in Island Pond known as Lock, Stock and Barrel. Later Mr. Verge worked for the railroad but his one real love was repairing and customizing guns. Many of his friends can testify that he was an expert rifle and pistol shot and could tune a gun to shoot more accurately than it would from the factory. Mr. Verge's loves in life were family, friends, hunting, fishing and guns. He was proud of his Native American heritage which gave him great respect for all living things. Over the years he enjoyed tracing his heritage here in Vermont. His friends at Paul's camp can tell stories about his ability to get around the woods and his ability to locate wildlife. He loved children and enjoyed teaching them how to respect nature, safe gun handling, gun care, marksmanship and the simpler things in life such as gardening and making birdhouses. He is survived by his loving wife, Lorraine Glasson; his seven children: Edward Allen of Lyndonville, Todd and his wife, Gloria of Raleigh, North Carolina, Daniel of St. Johnsbury, Aaron and his wife, Billie, of Island Pond, Kimberly of Sutton, Adam and his wife, Michele, of Island Pond, Angelina Hobbowicz and her husband, George, of Montgomery, Texas; by Lorraine's three children: Danielle Hunt and her husband, David of Derby Line, Terri of Morrisville, and Diana Kapusta of Morrisville; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandson; his five siblings: David and his wife, Doris, of Danville, Poley and his wife, Cheryl, of Danville, Jaque Verge of Gilman, Donna and her husband, Fred Keenan, of Danville, and Paula Verge of Sandown, New Hampshire. He was predeceased by his parents and most recently his sister Genie of Littleton, New Hampshire. Mr. Verge will be deeply missed by his family and friends but his memory will always be carried in the hearts of those who knew him. Contributions in his memory may be sent to North Country Hospital, Oncology Unit, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855. Condolences may be sent to Lorraine Glasson, 336 Route 105, Island Pond, Vermont 05846.