Lawrence R. Sumner Jr.

MORETOWN - Lawrence Ralph Sumner Jr. passed away at home with his family by his side on March 12, 2017.
Lawrence was born Nov. 6, 1939, to Lawrence Sumner Sr. and Leona Sumner in Randolph, Vermont. He attended the Northfield school system and then joined the Army. He served in the 101st Airborne Division for three years. After his honorable discharge from the military, he married Gabrielle Groleau, of Worcester, Massachusetts. He moved his family from Oxford, Massachusetts, to his Vermont homestead in Moretown, where he and Gabrielle raised their five children.
Lawrence's favorite activity was hunting with his son, Larry, and his grandsons. He also enjoyed fishing, horseback riding, picking strawberries and raspberries, and raising livestock and honey bees. He was an incredible gardener and he and his family grew many large and bountiful gardens together. He also enjoyed hikes and bike rides with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some of his best memories were hiking Mount Mansfield and biking the Northeast Kingdom. Hawaii, California and Florida were his favorite vacation spots but he had many more places he wanted to visit.
Earlier in life, he worked as a carpenter and a painter. Later on, he was a much loved and respected custodian for the Northfield school system He was also a security guard until his retirement. Lawrence took great pleasure in learning and devouring information. He was an independent and strong-willed Vermonter. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh.
Lawrence left behind his ex-wife, Gabrielle, and their five children (and their significant others), Jacqueline Jameson, Lawrence Sumner III, Terry Kirkpatrick, Sherry Sumner and Caroline Watson. He also left behind his 13 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Chelsea, Christopher, Tyler, Kayleigh, Lauren, Morgan, Sierra, Kevin, Daniel, Skyler, Gunnar and Brooke; and four great-grandchildren, Ella, Annabelle, Sterling and Kai.
Lawrence was predeceased by his father, Lawrence Sumner Sr.; his mother, Leona Sumner; his sister, Linda Sweet; his best friend and cousin, Albert Therrien; and his good friend, Paul Daigneault; and many nieces and nephews.
We will all miss him terribly and we will never forget him.
Please join us for a graveside memorial service with military honors on Monday, May 1, 2017, at 3 p.m. in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Northfield, VT.
All inquiries can be made with the Kingston Funeral Home in Northfield.