Katherine M. Washburn

GRANITEVILLE – Katherine “Kay” M. Washburn, 88, of the Graniteville Road passed away on Monday, August 6, 2018 at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin with her loving family at her bedside.

Born November 17, 1929 in Burlington, she was the daughter of Ernest Lamson and Elsie Mae (Tanner) Reynolds.   She attended East Bethel Elementary School, Burlington Junior High School and Spaulding High School. After school, she made her home in Burlington.

On January 30, 1947, Kay married William Thomas Washburn in the Robbins Nest Guest Home on the Shelburne Road in Burlington. Following their marriage, they made their home in the Barre area before moving to East Barre where they lived for 46 years. William passed away on July 21, 1994. Kay then moved to Washington and then to Graniteville and lived there until recently.

She was employed as a clerk at Harry’s Discount Store and Ames Department Store and worked at the (former) Sprague Electric and in the kitchen at the Barre Town Elementary School. She also was a Tupperware Dealer/Manager and an Avon Representative.

Kay was a member of the Green Hills Homemaker Club of East Barre for 25 years and the East Barre Congregational Church.   She was also President of the Parent Teacher Organization at her children’s school for several years and helped with the local girl scouts council.

In her spare time, she loved to sew and play cards and spent many years camping in Wells Beach, ME with her family. She also enjoyed 18 years of swimming at First and Fitness and made some wonderful friends there.

Survivors include her children William T. Washburn, Jr., of Wolcott; Steven A. Washburn and his wife, Gail, of Plainfield; Gerald L. “Jerry” Washburn and his wife, Debra, of South Barre; Karen Farnham and her husband, Denis, of Washington; and Kristin Martin of Barre; and Jeffrey Washburn and his wife, Deborah, of East Barre; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; as well as her brother Everett J. Cameron and his wife, Judy, of Middleboro, MA; and her sisters Elsie Mae “Tootie” Wright and her husband, Allen, of Middleboro, MA; Barbara Hecox of Fall River, MA; and Nancy Cameron of Bridgewater, MA.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband William Washburn and her son-in-law Raymond Martin and daughter-in-law Barbara King.

The service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the East Barre Congregational Church followed by interment in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Washington. There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association Vermont Affiliate, 77 Hegeman Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446, or to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Chapter, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495.