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Obituary for Jay W. Best, Sr.
St. Albans Bay - Jay William Best, Sr., 87, a longtime area resident passed away Tuesday August 31, 2010, at the home of his son, Jay Jr. in New Haven, Vermont, with his family at his side. Born on March 15, 1923, in North Hero, Vermont, Jay was the son of the late John Edwin and Margaret (Durkee) Best. Jay graduated from Springfield Technical High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. He started his working career as a machinist with Stacey Machine in Springfield. On March 31, 1945, he married Dorothy Duffus. He then moved to Vermont and worked for the Fonda Container Corporation, Precision Metals Foundry, and Bellows Free Academy of St. Albans. In the first year of his employ at BFA, Jay implemented and developed the building trade curriculum. Jay retired from Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans following a teaching career of 15+ years. Jay was a member of the St. Albans Bay Methodist Church, a former Trustee and chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Bellows Free Academy of St. Albans, former chairperson of the St. Albans Town Republican Party, member and chairperson of the St. Albans Town Planning Commission, interim St. Albans Town Zoning Administrator, and upon his retirement became a regular attendee of the McDonalds Coffee Group. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Dorothy (Duffus) Best of New Haven; their children, Jay Best, Jr, and his wife, Georgia of New Haven; Susan Best of Derby Line; Nancy Garey of Georgia and Christine St. Pierre of Swanton. Jay is also survived by his grandchildren, Heather, Hannah, Jessica, Elizabeth, Bryan, David, Jennifer, and Mark and 3 great-grandchildren, Emma, Carlisle, and Channing. In addition to his parents, Jay was preceded in death by his son, David Best on September 10, 1972, and his sister, Viola (Best) Neiburg on April 7, 2010. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday September 14th at 11:00 AM at the St. Albans Bay Methodist Church on the Lake Road. The Reverend Elizabeth Griffin will officiate. Following the service Jay’s family will receive friends in the fellowship hall. Interment will be in the Best family lot at the St. Albans Bay Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the St. Albans Bay Methodist Church, P.O. Box 116, St. Albans Bay Vermont 05481. Messages of condolence to the Best family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.
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