DEATHS

Platt Rugar Powell, M.D. - Shelburne
Dr. Platt Rugar Powell, 97, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and skilled surgeon, died peacefully in the presence of his devoted wife of 69 years and loving daughter on Aug. 9, at The Arbors in Shelburne. Platt was born to Maude Rugar and Homer L. Powell on Oct. 9, 1912 in Milton. He and his brother, Homer, grew up in Milton, where they helped at their father's grocery store. Platt received the degrees of Bachelor of Science in 1936 and Doctor of Medicine in 1939 from U.V.M. After interning at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Philadelphia, Platt was appointed to a Teaching Fellowship in Pathology at the University of Vermont. On May 3, 1941 Platt married Marion Hilland, and in 1942, he was called to duty serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Captain/Major Chief of Urology 39th Station Hospital in England, returning home in 1945. Platt settled in Burlington and began his urology residency. In 1952 he was certified in urology by the American Board of Urology. Platt's teaching appointments at the College of Medicine began in 1950 as instructor in urology and was appointed Professor of Clinical Urology, dividing his time between teaching, clinical research, and practice until 1977. A memorial service will be held at the College Street Congregational Church in Burlington at 10 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 9, on Platt's 98th birthday. Platt and Marion would be honored by any donation made in his name to the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

Dykes L. Pruitt
Dykes L. Pruitt passed away in his sleep on the night of Aug. 11 at his home in Pine Level, Ala. He was the fourth eldest son of Jess F. and Mary Pruitt of Cleveland, Tenn. He was born on Feb. 24, 1928, near Vilonia, Ark. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Eloise Kinser Pruitt, their son Lynn of Shelburne, Vt., and his wife Nancy; along with son Kevin Michael, and daughters Linda Kinser Borden, Karen Patrice, and Connie Suzann Mundinger, as well as numerous grandchildren including Benjamin and Annie Pruitt. He resided in Cleveland and Chattanooga, Tenn. for many years before moving to Pine Level, Ala., near his daughter Linda.

There will not be a funeral but a memorial service will be conducted at a later time, to be announced.

Kay Hubbard - Shelburne
Kay Hubbard, of Shelburne, died Thursday July 8, 2010 surrounded by her family at the Fletcher Allen Health Care.
She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Bell) Guy. In 1945, Kay married Llewellyn Hubbard in Scotland. Mr. Hubbard predeceased her in 1994. For 26 years, she was a college advisor, assistant to the headmaster at The Roxbury Latin School in Massachusetts, and a mentor and friend to all.

Kay was a tour guide at Shelburne Farms and had volunteered for many years at Fletcher Allen Health Care. She enjoyed her flower gardens, traveling, especially back to Scotland, spending time with her grandchildren, and entertaining her family and friends.

Kay is survived by daughters, Deborah H. Minkler and her husband, Lee, and their children, Sarah and Marissa, all of Charlotte; Judith Bowen and her children, Gardiner and Coleman, all of Dartmouth, Mass.; one sister, Ann Cameron Mowat of Prestwick, Scotland, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Isabel Austin and a brother, Joseph Guy.
Private services will be held at the home of her family. Burial will be in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kay Hubbard Memorial Education Fund, c/o Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, Vt. 05482 ATTN: Nia
To send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com

Mildred (Milly) Wright Auclair - South Burlington

Mildred (Wright) Auclair, 88, passed away on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at home, surrounded by family. Mildred was born Sept. 28, 1921 to Daniel Wright Sr. and Ethel (Machia) Wright. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1939, and was active in all sports during her time at Cathedral. She worked at the Gear Shaper in Springfield during World War II. In 1946, she married Ernest (Tony) Auclair, a dairy farmer, and was married for 63 years. In 1967 she and her husband started Auclair Riding Ranch and Tony's Tack Shop and the Star Thru Ranch where they taught and performed square dancing and had many parties and weddings, a good many catered by Milly. In 1997 Milly sold the business and retired. Among her survivors is a granddaughter Heather Auclair of Shelburne.

Doris Wehrle Maeck, a longtime resident of Shelburne died at her home, as she wished, on June 10, 2010. Doris was born Dec. 28, 1914 in Lynn, Mass., the youngest daughter of Ernest Joseph and Mary Ruf Wehrle. She and her two sisters were raised in Schenectady, N.Y. She was a 1936 graduate of the University of Vermont. Doris was married to John Van Sicklen Maeck M.D. for 48 years prior to his death in 1988. She leaves her two children, Sarah Maeck of Methuen, Mass., and Steven and his wife, Karleen Strand Maeck, of Floral City, Fla. She also leaves two grandchildren, Christopher Williams and Michele Williams Hudson, and their respective families including five great-grandchildren. Doris was a vivacious and gregarious woman, who treated everyone she met with dignity and respect. In the mid 1980s, John and Doris started the South Forty Nursery in Charlotte. After John's death, Doris took great pride and joy in continuing to husband the land and create a large and successful nursery, which she made a considerable effort to visit only days before her death. We hope her numerous friends will join our family in the Nursery to share quips, quotes and memories of Doris on Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Doris requested that donations be made to The Charlotte Land Trust, PO BOX 43, Charlotte, Vt., 05445.

Beatriz Pino Cespedes - San Jose, Costa Rica

Beatriz Pino Cespedes passed away on May 16, 2010 in San José, Costa Rica at the age of 15 of leukemia. In Jan. 2009, she was diagnosed with AML that was not treatable in her country. Subsequently, she came to Vermont where she received medical treatment from the Vermont Children's Hospital and much love and support from them and the community at large. Although her life was brief, she was a woman with no small ambitions. She was an accomplished ballerina, a straight-A student, a budding visual artist, Chinese language student, singer, and most of all a very happy, loving girl. Among her survivors are her Aunt Marcela Pino and Uncle Kevin Clayton of Shelburne. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Vermont Children's Hospital or to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont.

Irene (Kelley) Stermer - Boca Raton, Fla.

Irene (Kelley) Stermer, 83, of Boca Raton, Fla., passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 16, 2010. She is survived by her husband, Tom Stermer of Boca Raton, Fla.; and her sons, Bruce Kelley of Milton and Kevin Kelley of Shelburne. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 19 at 11 a.m. in Holy Cross Catholic Church in Malletts Bay. Graveside services will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. There will be a family gathering and reception after the graveside service at the Holy Cross Parish Hall. Everyone is invited to come and share their stories of Irene to celebrate her life and the wonderful memories that she has blessed us with. Arrangements are with LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 132 Main St., Winooski, Vt.