Dexter Lee Willson

St. Johnsbury, VT: Dexter Lee Willson, age 88, of High Street, passed peacefully at his home in St. Johnsbury surrounded by his beloved family, Friday, September 19, 2025.

He was born in St. Johnsbury, on July 25, 1937, son to the late Donald O. and Bernice (Wheeler) Willson, growing up in Danville, attending Morses Mills School, and graduating from Danville High in the Class of 1955. He matriculated to Lyndon Teacher’s College graduating in 1959 and later returned for his Master’s which he received in 1979. On June 15, 1963, he married Lucille Jarry, sharing 62 years.

Dexter grew up and loved working on his family’s farm. He spent summers haying for both family and friends. After attending college, he worked as a teacher for a total of 36 years at Hardwick High School, North Danville School and Barnet School. He also worked as principal for a short time and drove a school bus alongside his wife for many years at Barnet. He enjoyed retirement while driving delivery trucks for Morrison’s Custom Feeds and later the bus for the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.

In his childhood Dexter enjoyed participating in 4H and Boy Scouts and later enjoyed being a group leader in both. He joined the VT Army National Guard in 1954 and retired from the Reserves as a Captain in 1978. He went on to be a Driver’s Education instructor at Hardwick High School, basketball coach at Barnet School, a president and lifetime member of VAST, as well as instructing snowmobile safety courses, and AARP drivers’ safety courses. He was also an active part of the Kiwanis club as both a member and president in 2009 and 2013. On Sundays he could be found at the St. Johns Catholic Church for Mass and coffee hour.

Dexter lived his life to help others. He was a teacher to many and always had a soft spot for kids and dogs. In 1967 he began building a camp with both family and friends help on Shadow Lake in Concord, VT. In his later years he enjoyed taking swimming lessons from his granddaughter at the same camp.

Throughout his life he found pleasure in many hunting and fishing trips, including his long-time goal of harvesting a moose in 2011. He enjoyed attending local fairs with his family and would always stop to “Ring the Bell” to win a prize for his wife, daughter, or granddaughter. He also found community in playing in a men’s softball league and later bowling with many of his family members. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and daughter over the summers, and later with his wife and granddaughter. Wherever he traveled he always met a friend or ran into family. He loved to travel far distances, but he also loved joyriding on dirt roads and would occasionally entertain his passengers with songs such as “You Are My Sunshine” and “Scarlet Ribbon”. He also enjoyed singing hymns at church. Dexter loved music and had always wanted to learn how to play guitar, but he never quite got the hang of it. He spent some of his rare free time playing Solitaire, taking cat naps and stocking up on Readers Digest jokes. Dexter loved life, his community, his friends, and especially his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Lucille J. Willson of St. Johnsbury, daughter: Diana L. Brill and husband, Stuart, of Danville, 1 granddaughter: Heather Brill and partner, Christopher Stokes, 4 siblings: Dale Willson and wife, Harriet, of S. Windson, CT, Edith Chase of Danville, Karlene Stoddard of Newport, NH, and Douglas Willson and wife, Carolyn, of Danville, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and friends who are dearly loved.

He was predeceased by his sister Elaine Harvey and her husband, Lloyd, his 2 brothers-in-law: Ronald Stoddard and Roy Chase and 2 infant sisters: Eunice & Gloria.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Lance Harlow at 10AM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Winter Street in St. Johnsbury.

Friends may call on the family from 6-8PM Friday evening the 26th at the Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury, VT.

Burial with Military Honors will be held at 2PM on Tuesday, September 30th at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Johns Street in St. Johnsbury.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in honor of Dexter Willson to: St. Johnsbury Kiwanis Club, PO Box 204, St. Johnsbury VT 05819.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.saylesfh.com