BRENT HOUGHTON

BRENT HOUGHTON - NAPA, Calif. - Brent Clifton Houghton, beloved son, brother and father, was taken from us too soon on April 12, 2011, after a brief illness. Brent was born Sept. 25, 1961, in Burlington, to Clifton and Claire Robarge Houghton. He was little brother to Brian. He attended Charlotte Central School with his older brother, where their father taught school. His dad was a coach, so both boys became active in all sports and excelled in them. Brent attended Rice High School with his brother and played basketball and hockey. He loved football and Sunday afternoons were meant to watch the games. In his junior year of high school he represented his school at Boy's State. At an early age he worked with his mother in the restaurant business, as a dishwasher, bus boy, waiter and bartender. After high school, Brent worked in Bolton Valley, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Catalina Island, Calif. where he met Karen, his future wife. Upon arriving in Napa, Brent and Karen began building their family. He worked at several places in Napa including Tom Foolery, River City, and Compadres. He will be remembered by many friends from Napa and the Charlotte, Vt. area. Brent is survived by his cherished children, Eric and Ashley; Karen, the mother of his children; Karen's parents, Bill and Ardell Doroughty of Napa; mother, Claire; older brother and best friend, Brian, and his partner, Nancy Steady, of Charlotte; aunts, Cecily Robarge Powers and her husband, Wendell, and Shirley Houghton Day of Morrisville; uncle, Raymond Houghton; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Clifton Houghton; grandparents, Cecil and Gladys Robarge, Ralph and Ortha Houghton; and uncle, Harold Houghton. Brent was loved unconditionally by his dog, Shasta and cat, Monty. Some of his favorite words of wisdom were, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "If you try and don't succeed the first time, it doesn't mean you are a failure unless you don't try again." Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 2894 Spear St., East Charlotte, with a luncheon reception following in the Church's hall.