Sumner J. Southworth

Sumner "Jay" SouthworthPost Mills, VT - Sumner "Jay" Southworth, 86, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.Husband of 67 years to Barbara "Bobbie" Jean Southworth and local resident for all his life, Jay leaves behind a vast family and community legacy. Born on his family's farm in West Fairlee, VT on January 14, 1929 to Dewitt Southworth and Violet (Sumner) Southworth, Jay was one of 6 children. Jay attended West Fairleeschools while working at the West FairleeCreamery and picking up other jobs along the way to help support his family.In the summers, Jay worked with his grandfather, Tim Southworth, on their farm. He met wife Bobbie at the age of 19and they were married on July 1, 1948. The couple had three children, started three successful businesses together and possessed a treasured bond that served as an example of profound partnership for their family and friends. A purposeful and dedicated worker, Jay grew up logging with his father in the summers and cutting and selling ice blocks out of Lake Fairlee in the winters. The family owned a pair of oxen and a team of workhorses whom Jay loved,and he spent many hours training and farming with them.Jay was later employed as a driller at the Elizabeth Copper Mine in South Strafford, VT, where he often worked double shifts. After the mines closed, Jay formed a logging company partnership with Arlo Morse of Hanover. One of their largest projects was logging the Bear Notch Valley Property in West Fairlee. It was during this job that Jay met Allen Britton, who became a life long friend. Jay went on to work for Allen for many years at both Britton Lumber Company and Connval Building Materials in Ely, VT, serving as a forklift operator and truck delivery driver.Jay credited Allen with helping him start his own private company, Jay's Septic Tank Cleaning, when Allen allowed Jay to receive phone calls for the fledgling company in the Britton Lumber office. Working in partnership with wife Bobbie, Jay's Septic went on to see success and remains in family hands today. Ever the entrepreneurs, Jay and Bobbie went on to start two more companies together,Jay's Portable Toilets and Thetford Auto Service. Always one to enjoy a good tale, Jaycontinued to meetannually with Allen at the site of the former Bear Notch Lumber Mill to reminisce about the old mill and all the lively characters who worked there. Their favorite anecdote involved one winter in which the snow was so deep that they had to shovel over 60 inches of snow at the base of each and every tree before they could cut them. In his personal life, Jay was a true outdoorsman. He spent many a frigid winter day up on his mountain property in Post Mills deer hunting with his son, son-in-laws and grandsons. A skill he acquired from his family, Jay was an accomplished hunter and shot many a trophy buck over the years.Jay was known for his dry, thoughtful wit, his take no nonsense candor and his firm belief in hard work, fairness and honesty. While strong in character and physical stamina, he was warm and kind to all he met, and rarely seen without a smile. His family fondly recalls that he would always whistle the same tune when puttering happily around his home and yard. At every place he ever worked or organization in which he joined, Jay formed solid, lasting friendships. Once you were a friend of Jay's, you were a friend for life.He seldom spoke about himself, instead encouraging others to hold the spotlight. He greatly enjoyed sharing stories with friends about West Fairlee"back in the day" and the many good-natured shenanigans that they got into over the years.Possessing a deep sense of pride and love for his small community, he spent many hours working with Russell Coburn of the West Fairlee Historical Society, filling in details on West Fairlee's history. A member of the Post Mills Congregational Church for all his life, he frequented the building so often that he possessed his own key. He served on the church's Board of Property for many years, as well as the Post Mills Cemetery's Board of Property.Jay retired from business in 1994, enjoying the next 21 years with the love of his life, wife Bobbie. His steadfast affection and devotion to Bobbie was readily apparent throughout their nearly seven decades together. The couple went out to dinner most evenings, each time hoping to see a friend and inquire how they were doing. They were infamous for their lengthy, daily walks to Lake Fairlee together, chatting and collecting rocks as they went.A devoted family man, Jay telephoned or visited his three grown children each night to inquire about their day. He and Bobbie attended every sporting event, home or away, in which his eight grandchildren participated. No matter the miles apart or the time between visits, his loved ones were never far from his mind. He and Bobbie traveled to the weddings of each of their grandchildren and long into adulthood, continued to send each one a card and check for their birthday. Visits with his great-grandchildren, of which there are many, always sparked a wide smile and a chuckle from Jay. In his later years, Jay was usually found on his front porch, alongside Bobbie, looking down their meadow. He would extend a wave to nearly every person who passed by, all of whom waved or honked their horns in knowing greeting.Jay is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara (Bobbie) MacFarlane Southworth, his son, Brenton (wife Mary), daughter Melanie Hart (husband Larry), daughter Roxanne Ward (husband Chet), all of Thetford, VT; eight grandchildren, Shannon Hart, Shelly Huber, Caleb Ward, Alissa Southworth Elder, Joshua Ward, Varina Southworth, Elizabeth O'Donnell and Marlena Southworth; ten great grandchildren, Brady and Marissa Hart, Kate, Owen and Adam Huber, Finn, Zoey and Camilla O'Donnell, Hadrian and Avalise Elder; two brothers, Howard and Wayne Southworth; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Richard and Roy, and his sister, Mary Clark.The family will host a celebration of Jay's life in the spring. The Hale Funeral Homes and Cremation Care of Bradford, VT are handling arrangements.In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Post Mills Congregational Church at: P.O. Box 14, Post Mills, VT 05058.To view an online guestbook, please go to www.halefuneralhomes.com . 01/14/19

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