Clarence W. Tanguay

Clarence W. Tanguay

Hawley, MA - Clarence "Buster" W. Tanguay Jr., 81, a lifelong resident of Hawley, MA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at his daughter's home in Halifax, VT, where he had spent the last seven months of his life.

Buster was born in Greenfield, MA, to the late Avis (Coleman) and Clarence W. Tanguay Sr. He was a proud graduate of Arms Academy, Class of 1962. Immediately following graduation, he embarked on a life of hard work, a strong ethic he instilled in all his children.

A dedicated logger and woodsman throughout his life, Buster also worked for many years as a crane operator at General Electric in Pittsfield, MA. When his children were young, he worked at Berkshire East, fostering a shared family passion for skiing and outdoor adventures. He also dedicated several years of service as a volunteer for the Hawley Fire Department.

Buster was a true lover of all things nature. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, the beauty of foliage season and photography. He found simple joys in feeding the birds and driving back roads, particularly during the holiday season in search of Christmas lights. He was also a skilled pool player, competing in many local tournaments over the years, and a talented mechanic and fabricator who eagerly helped his son David prepare his demolition derby cars each year during fair season.

Always willing to lend a hand but seldom one to ask for help, Buster had a soft spot for stray animals, and countless critters found their way into his heart and home over the years. While he was proud of so many things, his skidder, the wood boiler, his cats tame and wild, by far what he was most proud of was his family.

Buster is predeceased by his parents, his step father Ernest Hitchcock, his firstborn daughter Tammy May, and his partner of 30 years, Rose Kaiser.

He is survived by his four children: David (Sadie), Kim (Dave), JJ (Kristan), and Jodi (Neil); his former wife, Carol (Dickinson) of Palmetto, FL; his four step-children from his relationship with Rose Kaiser: Lynn, John, Hank, and Amy; and many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Shelburne Falls, are incomplete at this time, but a celebration of Buster's life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Westfield Homeless Cat Project.