HARRY RICKER MONTAGUE

HARRY RICKER - MONTAGUE - June 13, 1929 - Dec. 25, 2014 - BURLINGTON - Last Thursday, on the day we celebrate the Birth of Christ, God called Harry to his side. He drew his last breaths while at home as he wanted it, with wife, Ann, by his side as she has been for the last 55 years. Born and raised in Burlington, he spent many happy summers on his uncle's farm in Newport, where he found a love of animals, farming, and developed a strong work ethic. He graduated from Kimball Union Academy High School in 1947. He went on to the University of Vermont where he studied pre-med and economics. Harry served his country in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. He then joined IBM, where he met and soon married the love of his life, Ann. He worked for IBM for 31-plus years, before retiring to work the land he loved in Westford and operate his gun business. Harry was a Mason of the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., lodge for 54 years; joining in October 1960. He cared deeply in the Masonic mission. He was an avid sportsman and loved to hunt and fish, but his true love was target shooting. He competed at the highest levels in both pistol and trapshooting. He was a great storyteller and had a relevant life experience to go with nearly every discussion. He loved to reminisce of times past. He held memberships in several sportsmen's clubs though out the state. He served on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs for 47 years, holding nearly every position at least once. He served as president three times for multiple terms each time. He loved the Federation and what it stands for and was passionate that the future of the Federation be secure and protected. Harry is survived by wife, Ann; two sons, Kevin Montague and Darryl Montague; daughter, Cynthia Whalen; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family would like to give special acknowledgement to the team members of the Essex Rescue Squad and the nursing staff of the cardiac unit on McClure 5 of UVM Medical Center. Their abilities and professionalism on Harry's numerous hospitalizations over the past several years are second to none. Services and a Celebration of a Life Well Lived will be held on Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015, at the Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction. Visiting hours will be held from 12 to 2 p.m., with services starting at 2 p.m. A reception will follow immediately after the ceremony at "THE BARN" at Lang Farm on Route 15 in Essex Junction, just south of the intersection of I-289. Interment services will be at the Brookside Cemetery in Westford in the spring, date yet to be determine. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Fund for Conservation and Training; or to the Essex Rescue Service.