Emery E. Wisell Sr.

SHARON — Emery E. Wisell Sr., 86, of Lincoln, Vt., and formerly of Sharon, died peacefully on Oct. 1, 2015, at the Helen Porter Extended Care Facility in Middlebury, Vt.

Emery was born on Oct. 11, 1928, in Middlebury and grew up in Bristol, Vt., the oldest child of Sarah (Halnon) and Emery E.E. Wisell.

At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served proudly in the Army Corps of Engineers, stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. After his four years of service he returned to complete his education at Bristol High School. It was there that he met and fell in love with Betty Jane Kilburn, whom he married in 1950. They spent the next 65 years together

Emery and Betty moved to New York with their young family, to the towns of Verbank, Copake and Ancram, before settling in Sharon in May 1967. He worked as a dairy herd manager for Eldrid Hamlin. 

Going the way of many small farms at that time, eventually the herd was dispersed and Emery took a job in plant maintenance at Tri-Wall Containers, a Weyerhauser subsidiary in Wassaic. 

Emery and Betty moved the family to the Sharon valley, where they spent many memorable years before they both retired and returned home to Vermont in 1990.

 Emery was an avid fisherman, who counted among his most fond memories his annual salmon fishing trips to Pulaski, N.Y. He was a game hunter and gardener, whose vegetable gardens were noteworthy in size and scope. 

 In his earlier years, Emery was an accomplished horseman, competing successfully in gymkhana events hosted by the Bit and Spur Horse Club in Amenia. Emery was also known for his quick wit and fun-loving personality.

 Emery is survived by his wife, Betty, who continues to reside in Lincoln; his son, Emery and his wife, Pam, of West Cornwall; a son, Richard, and his wife, Debbie, of Hinesburg, Vt.; a daughter, Kathi Waid, of Circle Pines, Minn.; a son, Howard, of North Canaan; his brothers, Bill and Peter, of Bristol; his sisters, Mary Brassard of Hinesburg, Vt., and Sally Mastreani of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nearly 30 nieces and nephews. 

 He was predeceased by his brother, Don; and his sister, Pat Lathrop.

 A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ambrose Church in Bristol on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be held immediately afterward at Maple Cemetery in Lincoln. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln Fire Department, Attn: D. Harrison, 34 Grove Hill Road, Lincoln, VT 05443; or Addison County Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

 Arrangements are under the care of the Brown-Mcclay Funeral Homes in Vergennes, Vt.

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