, of Franconia, N.H., formerly of Littleton, N.H., passed away at the Lafayette Center Feb. 19, 2004. Anita was born a daughter to Narcisse J. and Lydia E. (Painchaud) Renaud in Lebanon, N.H. She moved to Littleton as a young child. She graduated from Littleton High School and attended Hesser Business College in Manchester, N.H. She retired from the Social Security Office after having been employed for 20 years. Anita was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of America 1208 in Littleton, and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees 1776. Surviving family members include one sister, Cecile A. Renaud of Portland, Maine; one sister-in-law, Jane Renaud of Littleton, N.H.; and a dear friend, Rolande Fortin of Littleton, N.H. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at St. Rose of Lima Church, at 2:30 p.m., with the Rev. Tetu as celebrant. Burial will be in the St. Rose Cemetery.

89, of Brattleboro, formerly of Melrose Terrace, and a longtime resident of Green Street, died peacefully Thursday morning, Feb. 19, 2004, at Vernon Green Nursing Home in Vernon. Mrs. Chapman was born in Putney Aug. 21, 1914, the daughter of Roy and Irene (Walker) Pierce. She was raised and educated in Hinsdale and was a graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 1933. She worked over 40 years on Main Street in Brattleboro, first for W.T. Grant and then for F.W. Woolworth. She later was employed at Baker's Bookstore as a sales clerk for approximately 20 years. Mrs. Chapman loved people and was very well-known for her spirit of kindness and her generosity. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagle's Auxiliary, Brattleboro Aerie 2445, of which she held many offices and chairs, was a member of the former Dennis Rebekah Lodge 1 in Brattleboro, and the Pocohontas Council No. 4 of the Improved Order of Red Men. Her life centered around her family and she especially enjoyed time shared with her grandchildren. Of her other hobbies and interests, she enjoyed playing bingo and travel. On March 24, 1934, she married Glenn Harold Chapman, who predeceased her in 1956. She is survived by five sons, James H. Chapman and Robert G. Chapman, both of Brattleboro, Roy C. Chapman of Orland, Calif., Russell A. Chapman of Lyndonville, and Ronald E. Chapman of Orlando, Fla.; four daughters, Marilyn J. Best of Hinsdale, Betty J. Weatherhead of Guilford, Irene E. Miller of Vernon, and Kim M. Leiterman of Norwood, N.Y.; 27 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by one brother, Earl Pierce; one sister, Marion Pierce Rexford; and a grandson, Gregory Bover. A service to celebrate her life will be conducted Monday, with the Rev. Bill Steele officiating, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Town Crier Drive. Friends are invited to call at the church for a one hour visitation, from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service. Burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery will be conducted in the springtime. A reception will follow the church service, to be held at the Eagles Home on Chickering Drive, at which time the members of the Eagles Auxiliary will conduct their memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mrs. Chapman's name may be made to Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, Brattleboro Aerie 2445, Chickering Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301; or to the Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT, 05354.

, 6, of 433 French Road, Dalton, N.H., passed away Feb. 17, 2004, at his home in a tragic fire along with his father, Greg Shepard and his brother, Zachary, 4. He was born in Littleton, N.H., and had been a lifelong resident of New England. He attended the Dalton Elementary School. He is survived by his mother, Amy Leigh Christiaansen of Kenai, Alaska; an uncle, Shawn Kleinschmidt of Kenai; a sister, Maria, 11; his paternal grandparents, Gregory and Susan Shepard of Dalton; and his maternal grandmother, Kathleen Moyer of Kenai. A memorial service for Greg and his two sons, Jesse and Zachary, will be held Friday, Feb. 20, at noon, at the Dalton Congregational Church. Friends and family will gather following the service at the Dalton Fire Station. Those who wish may make donations to the Shepard Family Memorial, in care of Lancaster National Bank, Whitefield Branch, 20 Jefferson Road, Whitefield, N.H.

, 61, of 15 Mt. Gardner Road, Bath, N.H., died Feb. 21, 2004 at his family homestead. He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Burlington, Vt., the son of Walter and Winona (Hill) Douglas. David served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He worked as a herdsman for Hatchland Dairy in North Haverhill, N.H., since 1995. Dave was an outdoorsman who loved to work in his vegetable garden, fish, hunt, raise pigs and chickens, cut firewood, collect power tools, and spend time with his children and grandchildren. Dave Douglas looked forward to contributing vegetables from his harvest every fall to the church supper. David will be dearly missed by his survivors, a son, Vance D. Douglas of Malone, N.Y., and two daughters, Veronica J. Saffo of Benton, N.H., and Monica A. Douglas of Woodsville, N.H.; eight grandchildren; one sister, Sylvia Greene of Connecticut; his former wife, Irene and her husband (David's friend) Joby Breault; and several nieces and cousins. There will be no calling hours. The funeral service will be held at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch St. Woodsville, N.H., on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Vadia Boudreau, United Methodist Church, Woodsville, will officiate. It is requested by the family that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Bath Congregational Church, Bath, NH 03740; or to the Bath Fire Department, in care of Chief Donald Locke, Bath, NH 03740. His family will be forever indebted to all the volunteer firefighters for their valiant efforts.

, 80, of Gale Chandler Rd., Landaff, N.H., passed away at her home Feb. 22, 2004. Beth was born in Hudson, N.H., Dec. 31, 1923, a daughter to Howard and Phoebe (Tyler) Legallee. Beth graduated from Nashua High School in 1942. Beth was employed in the Londonderry School kitchen for many years, picked apples for Mack's Apple Orchard, and was a homemaker. She had a great love for cats, chickens, gardening, berry picking, baking and making wreaths. Surviving family members include one daughter, Kitty Greeley of Landaff; two sons, Allen Greeley of Worcester, Mass., and Carl Greeley of Warren, N.H.; two sisters, Shirley T. Legallee of Littleton, N.H., and Fransis Barnes of Raymond, N.H.; and one granddaughter, Katie L. Greeley. She was predeceased by her husband, Earle Verne Greeley, Seaman First Class; a son, Verne Milton Greeley, Private First Class, who gave his life in Vietnam; as well as a grandson, Kevin Verne Greeley. The family will receive friends Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, from 10-11 a.m., at the Pillsbury Funeral Home, Lisbon Chapel, 77 South Main St., Lisbon, N.H. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Lyn O. McIntosh officiating. Burial will be in the Glenwood Cemetery in Londonderry, N.H., at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Landaff Fast Squad, Landaff, NH 03585.

, 82, of Elm Street, Lancaster, N.H., died Monday morning Feb. 23, 2004, at the Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield. Mr. Merrow was born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 30, 1921, the son of Harry and Marion (Wark) Merrow. Roy was a lifetime resident of Lancaster. He attended schools there and went on to serve with the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II. He married Virginia "Bea" Porter Oct. 27, 1946. For 37 years he was employed with Connecticut Valley Dairy, Lancaster, and then worked several years for the White Mountain School District. Retiring in 1987 he then drove school buses for Bruce Transportation, Lancaster, until 2001. He was also a volunteer at Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster, and custodian of Weeks Memorial Library for 17 years. His hobbies included woodworking. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lancaster, the American Legion, and a former Odd Fellow. Family members include a daughter, Marilyn Malasky and her husband Michael of Newmarket, N.H.; two sons, Walter Merrow and his wife Donna of Barre, Vt., and Scott Merrow and his wife Karen of Groveton, N.H.; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Allan Merrow of Groveton; one sister, Betty Rideout of S. Hadley, Mass.; and nine nieces and nephews. His wife Bea predeceased him last month, Jan. 13, 2004. A brother, John Merrow, and a sister, Mary Thibodeau, also predeceased him. There are no visiting hours. A memorial service celebrating Roy and Bea's life will be held in the spring. An announcement will be made at that time. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in his memory to Weeks Memorial Library, 128 Main St., Lancaster, NH 03584.

, of Island Pond, died unexpectedly Feb. 25, 2004, in Lebanon, N.H. He was born July 13, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of William and Alice (Guest) Graden. On Aug. 20, 1956, he married Sabra Carpenter, who survives him. He graduated from Palmyra High School in Palmyra, N.J. He later graduated from the University of Missouri and Penn State University with a degree in petroleum engineering. He also attended Saint Michael's College in Winooski, Vt., and other area schools to become a deacon. Bill was a petroleum engineer for TOPCO in Long Beach, Calif., for 35 years. The Rev. William Graden served as a deacon for St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Island Pond and St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Norton for six years. He was financial secretary and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2495 of Island Pond and spiritual adviser for the Vermont Chapter Cursillo Team. He is survived by his wife Sabra (Carpenter) Graden of 47 years; by a sister, Susan Danner of California; and his stepmother, Dorothy Graden of California. He is survived by two sons and two daughters, Mark Graden of Island Pond, Timothy Graden of Lyndonville, Jennifer Snyder of Lyndonville, and Rebecca Watkins of Lyndonville. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Matthew Graden. Bill was greatly loved by his family and parishioners as he shared the love of Christ with everyone his life touched. Friends may call from 3-6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 29, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Island Pond, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday March 1, with the Rev. William Morgan celebrating a Mass of Christian burial. Spring interment in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Norton. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the School for Special Children or Special Olympics, in care of Sabra Graden, P.O. Box 122, Island Pond, VT 05846.

, 95, of 3417 North Citrus Circle, Zellwood, Fla., formerly of St. Johnsbury and Burlington, Vt., passed away at his home Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004. After retiring in 1969, he and his wife spent their summers at camp on Willoughby Lake and winters in Zellwood. He was born Jan. 30, 1909, in Westminster, Vt., the son of the late John R. and Anna (Bundy) Miller. He was married Feb. 22, 1942, to Claire Trefren, who predeceased him in 1990. He served in the Army during World War II. He worked for Mobil Oil Company for 40 years and retired in 1969. He was a member of the Elks Club of Burlington, Vt., the Moose Lodge 766 in Apopka, Fla., and the 25 Golf Association and the Red Caps of Florida. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 1, at 11 a.m., at the funeral home with John Sleeper officiating. Burial will be later in the spring in Lyndon Center Cemetery.

, 88, of North Main Street, Fall River, Mass., formerly of Somerset, Mass., died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, in Sarah Brayton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Fall River, after a long illness. She was the wife of the late John Beattie Driscoll. Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late John J. Bailey and the late Anna (Kane) Bailey, she spent her youth in Fall River, and lived in Somerset for over 50 years. Mrs. Driscoll worked for the former RA McWhirr Company in Fall River for many years, and later worked for Lockhart Insurance Company in Somerset. She was a graduate of BMC Durfee High School, Class of 1931, and the former Thibodeau Business School in Fall River. Mrs. Driscoll was a communicant of St. Thomas More Church, and a former member of its Catholic Women's Club. She was also a member of the Somerset Women's Club, P.M. division. She is survived by three sons, John T. "Jack" Driscoll of Waterford, Vt., David A. Driscoll of Taunton, Mass., and Timothy J. Driscoll of Mendon, Vt.; one daughter, Carol Ann Collins of Dighton, Mass.; one sister, Anne Connearney of Somerset, Mass.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Michael J. Driscoll; and two brothers, John J. "Jack" Bailey, and David A. Bailey. Her funeral will be held March 1, at 9 a.m., from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Rose E. Sullivan, 866 County St., Somerset, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m., in St. Thomas More Church, Luther Avenue, Somerset. Visiting hours will be Sunday, Feb. 29, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Fall River. Memorial contributions may be made to Sarah S. Brayton Nursing Care Center, Activities Fund, in care of Julie Oliver, 4901 No. Main St., Fall River, MA 02720.

, 94, of Church Street, Franconia, N.H., went home to be with the Lord Thursday. Feb., 26, 2004, while at the Lafayette Health Care Center. She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kellogg) Gutenkauf, Oct. 30, 1909. She attended the Mt. Mercy Academy in Cedar Rapids, and graduated from Central High School in St. Paul, Minn. She was a graduate of Rasmussen Business College in St. Paul, and was a legal secretary to attorney Humphrey Barton until her marriage to Hamilton Ford in 1934. They had five children before becoming innkeepers in Franconia in 1946, where their last two children were born. She was predeceased by a son, Robert, in 1942. She helped her husband establish Franconia Hardware, Franconia Gas Services, Franconia Bus Services, Copper Cannon Fresh Air Camp and Ford Family Ventures. She was active in politics and served as president of the Greenleaf Civics Club, a local; Republican Women's Club. She was a successful contester, winning substantial prizes including a race horse which she named and a trip to the Kentucky Derby. Other interests included gardening, ceramics, stenciling, painting, dancing, sewing, designing costumes, playing piano and organ, and attending a women's ecumenical Christian prayer group. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Snows Church in Franconia. She is survived by her husband, Hamilton Ford of Franconia; four sons, Thomas Ford of Waldoboro, Maine, and Kenneth Ford, Dennis Ford and Michael Ford, all of Franconia; two daughters, Donna Whipple of Tamworth, N.H., and Linda Audet of Franconia; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Carol Wermus and Helen Lunzer, both of St. Paul, Minn., and Bernadette Meemkin of St. Cloud, Minn. There will be no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, Franconia, Sunday, Feb. 29, at 2 p.m. Burial will take place in the spring in the Elmwood Cemetery, Franconia. A reception will immediately follow the service in the church social hall. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to the Copper Cannon Corporation, P.O. Box 124, Franconia, NH 03580.

65, of Lyndonville, died Thursday morning, Feb. 26, 2004, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a brief illness. He was born June 15, 1938 in Lyndonville, the son of the late Elvin and and Ethelyn (Gaskin) Switser. He was a graduate of Lyndon Institute, Class of 1957. He then joined the National Guards in Lyndonville, where he served for several years. On Feb. 2, 1962, he married Lois E. Patridge. They lived and raised their family in East Burke for 30 years. Arnie worked for Vermont American in Lyndonville and later in Greenville, N.C., for 40 years, as a fabricator in the production of tools, retiring in 2000. Upon retirement, he and Lois returned to Lyndonville. He truly enjoyed his work, family functions, trips to Stanley's camp, four-wheeling, playing cards, hunting, fishing and spending time in the woods. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Lois P. Switser of Lyndonville; their two children, Neil E. Switser and his wife Jean of Wheelock, and Donna Switser of St. Johnsbury; four grandchildren, Heather, Erika, Devon and Curtis; two brothers and their wives, Robert and Kay Switser of West Burke, and Stanley and Debra Switser of Lyndonville; his in-laws, Patricia Switser of Lyndonville, Winona Masure of St. Johnsbury, Solon Patridge and his wife Polly of Lyndonville, Beverly Masure of Fairlee, Howard Patridge and his wife Barbara of Concord, Bernice Allard and her husband Wendell of Danville, and Emily Roy of Fairlee; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his four-legged buddy "JJ." He was predeceased by his parents; his stepfather, Arthur Bean; two brothers, Reginald and his wife Fargo, and Dean Switser; his mother- and father-in-law, Solon and Bertha Patridge; and two brothers-in-law, Frank and Wendel Patridge. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 3, at 11 a.m., at the funeral home with the Rev. Barbara Dwyer officiating. Spring burial will be in the Woodmont Cemetery in East Burke. Friends may call on the family Tuesday evening from 6-8 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Arnie's memory may be directed to CALEX Ambulance, P.O. Box 570, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.

, 76, of St. Johnsbury, passed away peacefully at home with her family, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004. She was born in Jefferson, N.H., April 3, 1927, the daughter of the late Milo and Helen (Davis) Persons Sr. Clara had worked for Hitchiner Shoe for many years and later for Connors and Hoffman, lacing shoes at home. A member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary, she enjoyed her family and loved growing roses in her garden. On Nov. 28, 1947, she married Donald Ray Young Sr., who passed away Aug. 12, 1991. Survivors include her children, Donald and his wife Sandra Young of St. Johnsbury, Robert and his wife Gloria Young Sr., of St. Johnsbury, Roger Young Sr. of Tennessee, Leland and his wife Debra Young of Albany, Stanley Young Sr. of Tennessee, Rodney and his wife Kim Young of Bradford, Lois Young and friend Walter Seligman of St. Johnsbury, and Louise Young and friend John Priest of St. Johnsbury; brothers and sisters, Mary Wentzell of New Hampshire, Lucy Elliott of Connecticut, John Persons of Waterbury, Vt., Dewey Persons, Delano Persons and Truman Persons, all of St. Johnsbury, and Beverly Richardson of South Burlington, Vt., 36 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two children, Linda and Joseph Young; a brother, Milo Jr.; sisters, Edith Checote, Margaret Knott, Marion Gillader and Priscilla Paquin. Graveside services will be held at the Concord Cemetery, May 26, 2004, at 11 a.m. Friends are invited to meet the family at Sayles Funeral Home, Sunday, from 2-4 p.m. Contributions in her memory may be made to Caledonia Home Health Care Agency, P.O. Box 383, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.