Obituary: Donald J. Gregoire, 1948-2014, Williston 

Donald J. Gregoire, 65, of 121 Whitney Hill Road, passed away during the early afternoon hours on Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

Don was born on August 31, 1948 in Barre City to Roland and Beverly Parker Gregoire, joining his older brother, Roland Jr., to become the dynamic duo. Even though Don was small in stature, he didn’t back down from a fight or dare even when he went a bit too far and ended up being thrown in a pigpen by his older brother. Don attended grade school in Barre Town and Barre City and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1968. Don spent a couple of summers at Mt. Norris Scout Camp, where he became an Eagle Scout and continued to enjoy the outdoors.

Don attended O’Sullivan Business College in Sherbrooke before enlisting in the Vermont National Guard, completing basic training at Ft. Polk, La. and medical training at Fort Sam in Houston before returning to Vermont to complete his years of service. Don joined the family business and continued to work in the food-service field until he retired due to declining health.

Don was an avid fisherman in his younger years, taking particular pleasure in traveling to Polaski, N.Y., to fish for salmon with his fishing buddies. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, loved camping in Woodbury and enjoyed amazing luck almost every time he purchased a scratch ticket or lottery ticket. He is survived by his father, Roland, and step-mother Ann; older brother Roland Jr. and wife Jan; half-brother Kent and half-sister Kim; niece Michael Marie Heyman and husband Mickey and their two sons, Cole and Mathew; nephews Roland and companion Toni and Jason and wife Tanya and their two sons, Jacob and Thomas; and numerous cousins.

It was Don’s wish that no funeral service be held other than a committal service with family and friends to be held at Wilson Cemetery in Barre Town on Friday, July 25, at 11 a.m. Donations in Don’s memory may be made to Respite House in Williston, Vt.