Wade Dexter Chaffee

Wade Dexter Chaffee, Sr. of Morrisville, Vermont passed away at home in the early morning hours on December 24, 2025 with his daughter, Cindy by his side.
Wade was born on June 16, 1937 in Morristown, Vermont, the son of Roy and Mildred (Beardsley) Chaffee. He was one of eight children, 2 boys and 6 girls. The family was raised as farmers.
Wade went to school through the 8th grade in the one room School House in Morristown Corners.
On December 16, 1958 he married Marilyn Rae Towne. They had eight children, 14 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
Wade spent most of his working career as a truck driver driving logging trucks, milk trucks and dump trucks, but what he is most remembered as is the owner/operator of Chaffee's Rubbish Service. With all of us kids he was never short on having someone working with him, and when the boys were old enough, Wade Jr and Scott both worked for him. It truly was a family business.
Wade loved to go camping, go to casinos and to bingo. He loved Thursday nights when we would go to Lowell to the Lion's Club Bingo. He really loved that they had corn chowder almost every week and if they had any leftover they would send it home with him.
Everyone who knew Wade knew that he was the best hugger, but on the flip side, he also loved picking on people to see if he could get a rise out of them.
Wade loved when November rolled around and he started getting ready for deer camp. The camp that he once owned with his brother and brothers in-law is now owned by his sons and grandsons. He had many wonderful memories from camp.
In his later years he also loved the month of June when our community held the Lamoille Area Cancer Network's yearly fundraiser, where teams collected money and the members walked as many laps as they could around the People's Academy track. Our team was called Chaffee Cancer Crusaders, and we gathered with family and friends for this all day late into the night event.
Wade is survived by his children, Linda (Earle A. Sr.) Demar of Orlando, Florida, Wade Chaffee Jr. and his partner, Gretchen Burmiester of Hyde Park, Cindy Chaffee of Hyde Park, Scott and Kathy Chaffee of Morrisville, Lori and Fred Hart of Eden, Lisa Chaffee and her partner, Christian Borg of Morrisville; Wade's fiancee, Diana Bettis of Morrisville; his son in-law, Raymond Bradshaw and his sister, Eleanor Sweeney. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Marilyn; his daughters, Cheryl Camley and Nancy Bradshaw; his parents, Roy and Mildred Chaffee; and his siblings, Raymond (Barbara) Chaffee, Ethel (Charlie) Cookson, Barbara (Harold) Bowen, Doris (Lawrence) Stancliffe, Ramona (Roland) Bouchard and Agnes (Durrell) Stancliffe; his son in-law, Earle A.Demar, Sr.; his grandson, Earle Demar, Jr., and many friends.
We will hold a Celebration of Life on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at noon at the Morrisville VFW. A private burial will be held this summer at the Mountain View Cemetery.
Donations in Wade's memory can be made to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 828, Morrisville, Vermont 05661 or at 802-661-8732. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wade, please visit our floral store.