Roland A. Hayford, Sr.

BARRE – Roland A. Hayford, Sr., 90, a longtime resident of Country Club Road, passed away Monday, August 17, 2020 at the Woodridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Berlin.

Born on December 8, 1929 in Elmore, he was the son of Leon and Abby (Hodgdon) Hayford. He attended a one room school the Pleasant Valley School in Elmore. Following his schooling he went to work with his father’s logging operation.

When Roland was seventeen years old, he enlisted in the United States Army. He went through Airborne School and was stationed in Fort Bragg, NC as part of the 504 ^th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82 ^nd Airborne Division. He served with distinction as a staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged in July of 1955.

On May 20, 1954, he married Jo-Ann Rachel Gomez in Bennettsville, SC. The two made their home in Fayetteville, NC before moving back to Elmore in 1955. They moved to Websterville when Roland got a job working in the granite quarry’s and he became a foreman. He then took a job as foreman for Kelley Construction and when Kelley closed, Interstate Equipment hired him as a foreman, and he worked there for many years until the company closed. During this time Roland and Jo-Ann had moved back to Elmore for ten years before finally moving back to Barre. Once they moved back to Barre he finished his working career at McCullough Crushing, where he was a heavy equipment operator for 18 years before his retirement at the age of 79.

He was a longtime member of the Hedding United Methodist Church in Barre as well as the American Legion Post #7 in Hardwick.

Roland was known for his hard work ethic and would instill this in his family and those around him. He loved hunting, fishing, and listening to country music and any country music show. Most importantly, he cherished spending time with his family.

Survivors include his daughters Nancy Leclerc and her husband, Dean Preston, of East Barre, Deanna H. Mandell and her fiancée, Norm Gruskin, of Coral Springs, FL and Allison K. Moyes and her husband, Douglas Moyes of Barre; his grandchildren Jill Leclerc Sweet ( Sid Sweet Jr), Ryan Leclerc, Jacob Mandell, Hannah Hayford, Heather Anderson( Michael Anderson), Hydee Hayford, Trevor Moyes and Isabella Moyes; his great-grandchildren Caleb, Ciera, Alexis, Cadence, James, Ava, Michael, Lacey and Kingsley. He also leaves his brothers Alan Hayford and Craig “Ellis” Hayford as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Jo-Ann, his son Roland Hayford, Jr., Baby boy Hayford, his brother Leon Hayford, Jr., and his sister Donna Westover.

A graveside service to honor and celebrate Roland’s life will be held in the Elmore Cemetery on Vt Route 12 in Elmore on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends may call on Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.

Memorial contributions in Roland’s name may be made to the American Legion Post #7, 15 North Main Street, Hardwick, VT 05843.