Harvey H. Devost

HARVEY H. DEVOST SOUTH BURLINGTON -– Harvey H. Devost, 95, died on Feb. 7, 2009, in Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford, Maine after a brief illness. Harvey was born in Norton, Vt., on Jan. 6, 1914, the son of Theophile and Marie (Allaire) Devost. He spent his childhood in Norton where he attended school. He was the youngest of 15 children and developed a deep commitment to family from a very early age. He enjoyed playing baseball on the town team and volunteered for community projects from his teens. He met his wife, Mary (Coulombe) and was married on Sept. 14, 1936. They raised their five children in Norton and were always very involved in their local church, St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He owned and operated a successful dairy farm in Norton where he earned numerous awards for excellence in agricultural practices. His devoted service to the community included being the chairman of the board of selectmen, chairman of the school board, overseer of the poor, as well as fire marshall and numerous other volunteer projects. He and the family moved to Burlington in 1958. He was employed at the University of Vermont for 17 years until his retirement on January of 1976. After retirement he pursued his interests in woodworking and maintained his lifelong role of serving others by helping his neighbors and family with building and maintenance projects. He was a member of St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church for 40 years. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Allenwood Senior Living in South Burlington in 1997. He cherished and appreciated the loving care of the staff and the friendship of the other residents at Allenwood where he lived until last December. At that time he moved to Lyman, Maine to live with his daughter Mabel and her husband Rick where he maintained his independent living style in a separate apartment. He is survived by his son Donald Devost and his wife Larisa of Caracas, Venezuela; his three daughters, Mabel Many and her husband Andre Richard of Lyman, Maine, Carol Hennessy and her husband David of Brandon, Iowa, and Linda Wiest and her husband Peter of Shaker Heights, Ohio; 11 beloved grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews and three stepchildren and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Mary, last February; his daughter Jane, last August; and an infant daughter, Martha. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at 11 a.m., in St. Marks Roman Catholic Church in Burlington, followed by a reception at St. Marks Family Center. Burial will be scheduled at a future date in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Norton. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., in the Ready Funeral Services North Chapel, 934 North Avenue, Burlington. Donations in Harvey's memory may be made to an animal welfare organization of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. For directions or to send online condolences please visit www.readyfuner al.com .