· Wednesday, May 15th 11:00 am Graveside service for Wayne Stoddard, Branch Cemetery
CRAFTSBURY: Wayne David Stoddard, 88, of Craftsbury died February 11, 2024, in the comfort of his home with his family at the side.
He was born August 12, 1935, in Elmore. The last of six sons born to the late Albin and Myrtle (Hall) Stoddard. During Wayne’s childhood years, his family moved a lot. They would go where work was available. Eventually they settled on a farm on Eden Mountain Road with the land in Eden and in Craftsbury. He spent the rest of his school years there and graduated from Craftsbury Academy. Following his education, he continued to work on the family farm, milking cows, logging with horses in the winter and sugaring in the spring with his father and his brother, Kenny. In 1958, his father decided to sell the farm and buy another one closer to town in Craftsbury. It broke his heart to leave his childhood home. Wayne, his father, and his mother moved to the new farm and began milking cows again.
On August 18,1962 he married Marjorie Lee Spear in Morrisville. She moved to the farm where they all lived and raised their three children.
Wayne was a true Vermonter. He worked tirelessly farming, tending his animals, and haying. He loved the old ways and was known to cut hay with his hand sickle and pick it up with a pitchfork and garden cart. He would rush to mow the roadsides before the State workers. He didn’t want to waste the hay. The rest of the hay was square bales. It seemed that he could hardly ever get any in the barn without it being washed by the rain at least once.
Wayne loved to be in the woods, cutting down dead trees for firewood, or fence posts. He always said that he had a favorite tree but hadn’t decided which one so he wouldn’t cut any live trees.
Wayne enjoyed sports, Boston Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. He would watch his teams on TV or listen to WDEV during his choirs. He also liked to listen to “Rock and Roll” The music he grew up with or something with an upbeat tune.
He liked to talk about sports, politics, religion, and farming. He also liked history and telling stories and wild tales to see how much people would believe, only he knew what parts were truthful, if any. When time allowed, he enjoyed rides along the Vermont country back roads, seeing where they went, looking for yard sales and cows along the way.
In 2019 the cows were sold, and the way of life ended. Wayne loved his cows so, to him they were family. Many a cow lived out their lives right there on the farm. He believed the cows gave as much as they could to care for us, and he wanted to give back to them as much as he could. A life of familiarity, grass, grain, peace, and love.
Even after he would wake smiling, he had been dreaming he was with his cows. Wayne would perk up and watch Green Acres almost every night. He was destined to be a farmer, from the beginning to the end. Wayne officially passed away the same day as his father over 40 years earlier.
Survivors include: his wife of 61 years, Marjorie of Craftsbury, three children, Marion Gillies, and her husband Lee, of Richmond, Jerry Stoddard, and Sandra Stoddard and her husband, Jasper Wright, all of Craftsbury; three grandchildren, Iva Wright and, Jesse Wight, of Craftsbury and Max Gillies of Richmond; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by all his siblings, a young brother, Earl Stoddard, Neil, Vernon, Clifton, and Kenneth Stoddard.
Graveside Services will be scheduled for May of 2024 in the Branch Cemetery in Craftsbury. A date and time will be announced.
In lieu of flowers, contributions, in his memory may be made to, Justice for Dogs, P. O. Box 1014, Wolcott, Vt. 05680.
Wayne’s family would like to extend a grateful thank you to EVNA for the wonderful care given to Wayne during his final days.
Arrangements are in the care of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick. Online condolences are welcomed at: northernvermontfuneralservice.com
