By Edd Merritt, contributor

Congratulations
to Geeda Searfoorce who is appearing in highlights from the Vermont Comedy Club’s 2020 show on this Friday. Geeda is a former Managing Editor of The Charlotte News.

Obituary
Mary Frances Priest, 97, formerly of Shelburne, and more recently of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away Sept. 13, 2021. Mary was born April 23, 1924, in Westcliff on Sea, Essex, England, to William Alexander Patrick and Lizzy Ethel (Poulton) Patrick.

Mary Priest

Mary’s parents and brothers have all predeceased her, including a half-brother Charles Moss, brothers Douglas William Arthur Patrick and the Reverend Edward Thomas Patrick. She was also predeceased by a son, Alex John Priest, in December 2013.

Mary was a war bride and married Dean Edward Priest during the Second World War, in Dunstable, England on September 23, 1944. They returned from the war and lived in Plattsburgh, New York, Burlington, South Burlington and Shelburne, before retiring in Lavonia, Georgia, and Orange City, Florida. When her husband Dean became ill in 1997, they returned to the Burlington area, where he passed away in 2004.

Mary was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, then employed by Grants Department Store, then Chittenden Trust Company for more than 20 years, gaining seniority as head teller in the Shelburne location.

Her interests were few, but she loved animals (especially dogs), as well as sewing, knitting, needlepoint and reading. She was a longtime member of the Overseas Wives Club of Burlington.

Mary is survived by Michael (Shirley) Priest of Charlotte, Vermont/Port Charlotte, Florida, and Robin (Larry) Gabbert of Bluffton ,South Carolina, grandchildren Patrick Priest of Boston, Massachusetts, Shelby Priest of South Burlington, Heather Gabbert of Bluffton, South Carolina, and Dean Priest of Maine. She also leaves a sister-in-law, Ruth Priest, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and nieces Sue Lundy of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Martha Quinlin of Suwanee, Georgia, Judy White of Castle Pines, Colorado, and nephews Daniel and Simon Eve of England.

Private internment to be held at a later date.