Leo P. “Butnut†Gratton St. Albans - On July 24, 2007, a great man, Leo “Butnut†Gratton, age 80, went to heaven to join the rest of his family. He was at home, where he wanted to be with his loving family at his side. Butnut was born, March 13, 1927, the son of Alphonse and Alma (Larocque) Gratton. On September 16, 1946, he married Charlotte “Skipper†Paquette, who was his best friend for sixty-one great years. Butnut is survived by his wife, Skipper and their children, daughter, Sandra Boudreau and her husband, Wayne, son, David Gratton and his wife, Penny, son, Stacy Gratton and his fiancé, Nicki Paquette, who was Butnut’s loving caregiver, five grandchildren, Scott, Mark, Justin, Dakota and Liam, two great grandchildren, Curtis and Cassie, three sisters, Theresa Garceau, Lillian “Giggin†Rocheleau and her husband, Maurice, Pearl Lumbra and her husband, Francis, two brothers, Raymond Gratton and his wife, Lorraine and Ernest Gratton and his wife, Helen, numerous nieces and nephews and his faithful companion, “Ravenâ€. In addition to his parents, Alphonse and Alma, Butnut was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucille Racette and Jeanette Leadbeater, and four brothers, Henry Gratton, Joseph “Babe†Gratton, Girard “Buddy†Gratton, Maurice ‘Baldy†Gratton. Butnut was a respected lifelong builder/contractor who left his mark on many places in Franklin County. He taught his boys his trade of quality craftsmanship that will be lessons remembered forever. He enjoyed his Saturday night card parties with many good friends, parties at the pond and his grandchildren’s visits. Butnut was an avid gardener and had a remarkable green thumb. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 11:00 A.M. in Holy Angels Catholic Church on Lake Street with the Reverend Maurice J. Roy as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Gratton family lot in Mount Calvary Cemetery. At Butnut’s request there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Home Health Agency, Hospice Program, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vermont 05478 or to Holy Angels Catholic Church, 246 Lake Street, St. Albans, Vermont 05478. Assisting Butnut’s family is the Heald Funeral Home of St. Albans. Messages of condolence to Butnut’s family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.
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