Norris Arthur Elliott

Norris Arthur Elliott

Elliott, Norris Arthur, of Lyndonville, VT passed away at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH on Saturday June 28, 2003

Norris was 72 years old. He was born in St. Johnsbury, VT on April 25, 1931, the son of Arthur & Cora Louise Elliott.

Norris enjoyed flying and at age 14 flew solo flights over their home in Bradford, VT. Later he had a senior pilot’s license and flew for a brief period out of Caledonia Airport.

After graduating from UVM he returned to Lyndon where he operated a small dairy farm, but soon became a biology and vocational tech teacher at Lyndon Institute. While teaching he also started a number of businesses including a poultry farm (1957), a summer catering service featuring chicken barbecues, and in 1964 a small greenhouse was erected at the current site of Elliott’s Greenhouses on Route 122.

His career changes after teaching included a position at Lyndon Institute and then a tricounty extension agent for UVM’s Extension Service. After earning his MBA from UVM he moved to Burlington to become the Vermont Small Business Development Center Director. His love of horticulture kept him busy. During this period he also built and operated a retail garden center on Rte 100 in Stowe. After retiring from UVM he built a greenhouse near Bradenton, Florida where he specialized in propagation of geraniums (the same crops his parent’s grew in the original greenhouse located on 170 Dandelion Lane in Lyndon). Last spring he grew over 50,000 geraniums for the Lyndon garden center.

Returning north every summer, Norris helped his son Steven and daughter-in-law Carolyn expand the garden center in Lyndon Center. They have extensive plans for continued growth and community service for their garden-center-to continue on in Norris’ tradition. Staff and customers always enjoyed seeing him there for his knowledge and keen wit.

Norris served on the Board of Director’s of the Northern Community Investment Corp. for years. Other local services included the Lyndon Outing Club, Future Farmer’s of America and Trustee of Lyndon Institute.

He is survived by two sons, Steven of Lyndon, and Richard of Fair Haven, Mass. Richard works in the U.S.C.G. Marine Safety Office in Newport, R.I. Daughters-in-law Carolyn and Ann Marie. Grandchildren Mickaela and Hillary (Steven & Carolyn) and Bryan and Kimberly (Richard & Ann Marie). Companion Karlene Smith of Glover, VT and Parrish, FL. Norris’ sister Connie Simpson predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Lyndon Institute for the Reconstruction and landscaping of the vocational campus. Please contact Steven Elliott @ 802-626-3634. As of this writing the family plans to have a memorial service at the family farm in Lyndon with reception following on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on July 55, 2003. Further details will follow in the Caledonian-Record or by calling the funeral home @ 802-626-5600.

Arrangements by Pearsons Funeral Service, 70 Church Street, Lyndonville, VT.