Lewis Merroll Corse

WHITINGHAM -- Lewis Merroll Corse, 75, a lifelong resident of Corse Road in Whitingham, died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Lewis was born in Readsboro on June 10, 1930, the son of Merroll Lester and Neva (Hayton) Corse. He received his education in Whitingham schools and then went to work on the Corse family farm in Whitingham, working alongside his father for more than 40 years. He married the former Elsie Purington of Halifax and formerly of Colrain, Mass., at the Red House on Corse Road on Aug. 16, 1952. Lewis and Elsie worked together on the Corse farm for more than 50 years.

Lewis was very active in local Whitingham politics. He was town selectman for nearly a quarter of a century and later served as lister. Lewis served as both cemetery commissioner and sexton for the town of Whitingham for many years. He could always be found working in the cemetery, hours on end, anytime of the year, taking pride in his work so that families in Whitingham could be served properly.

He was a founding member and past president of the Whitingham ambulance service and a longtime member of the Whitingham Fire Department. His passion was his family and tending to the family farm, where he particularly enjoyed maple sugaring. In 1982 he formed a partnership with his wife, Elsie, and two of his sons and their wives to ensure the continuation of the family business. He especially enjoyed square dancing with his wife and in his earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Lewis is survived by his wife, Elsie of Whitingham; three sons, Leon L. Corse and his wife, Linda, of Whitingham, Roy C. Corse and his wife, Vanessa, of Whitingham and Wayne C. Corse of Whitingham; two sisters, Pauline Boyajian and her husband, Oscar, of Chino Hills, Calif., and Charlotte Kennedy and her husband, Bill, of Coventry, Conn.; his aunt, Florence Hicks of Brattleboro; and four grandchildren, Abigail Mae Corse of Burlington, Caleb Leon Corse, a student at the University of Vermont, and Henry Michael and Molly Anne Corse, both students at Twin Valley High school in Wilmington; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Lewis will be held Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the Covey & Allen Funeral Home, located at 44 East Main St., Wilmington. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Vermont Chapter, the Southern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, Bennington, or the Whitingham Ladies Benevolent Society, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.

For directions or to send e-mail condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, 44 East Main St., Wilmington.