Michael R. Willett

BARRE TOWN - Michael Ray Willett "Mike", 69, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at his home.

Born on June 1, 1951, in Montpelier, he was the son of Winfred and Jeannette (Irish) Willett of Berlin.   He attended West Berlin (Riverton) grade school and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1969.

Mike went to New Hampshire College in Manchester, NH and graduated in 1974 where he earned his Accounting degree.  Later he received his certification as a CPA in Barre.  He served in the National Guard for four years.

On July 1, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart Donna Bean at the Bethany Church in Montpelier.  They lived in Manchester, NH while he finished college and Mike worked at Jordan Milton while in college.   After college he accepted a job with Darling & Kelly accounting firm and they moved back to Barre, VT.  He worked for Darling & Kelly for several years until he opened his own CPA accounting firm in his home.

Mike was a devoted father to his two children Jenn and Chris, and he loved his two granddaughters, MaKenzie and Madilynn more than anything.   He also loved to golf - especially with his best friend Bryant Webster (we won't say who was the better golfer).  He liked stargazing and playing his guitar for anyone that came by.  He loved cruising in his 2008 Audi TT RS sports car, and he loved to cook and quite often would show up on someone's doorstep with a homemade pie, soup, and other creations.   Mike was a kind, soft spoken soul with the patience of a saint that would help anyone in need.  He would drop whatever he was doing to go help others from fixing computers to leaky faucets. He was the glue that kept the family together.

Survivors include his wife Donna of Barre Town; his two children Jennifer Manning; and  Christopher Willett and his companion, Latoyia Manning all of Barre; his grandchildren MaKenzie and Madilynn Manning of Barre; his brother Gary Willett and his wife, Janet of Las Vegas, NV; his sister Pam (Willett) Fontaine and her companion, Doug Singleton of Berlin; his brother Jeff Willett and his wife, Sheila Fenoff-Willett of Williamstown; his sister Deb (Willett) Grandbois and her husband, Bob of Berlin; and several aunts, uncles, special nieces, nephews, and cousins; as well as his best friend Bryant Webster, whom he considered a brother and his wife, Cynthia.

Mike was predeceased by his parents Winfred and Jeannette Willett.

A service will be held at a later date at the convenience of his family in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT  05495.