Harriett Blanche Purinton Brown
Lincoln
Harriett Blanche Purinton Brown, 100, passed away Monday, July 29, 2019 at University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
She was born April 10, 1919 in Buels Gore, VT the daughter of Lewis and Lucy (Tucker) Purinton. Hattie lived in Bethel before settling in the Bristol area and graduated from Bristol High School in 1937. Hattie wed Fletcher Raymond Brown on May 14, 1937. They lived in Lincoln, enjoying 64 years of marriage until his passing in 2001.
She was a member of United Church of Lincoln, serving as Deacon, Trustee and member of the Christian Ed. Board. She was a long-time member of the Addison County Maple Sugarmakers Association and was elected to its Hall of Fame.
Hattie had many occupations over the course of her life and shared her talents in numerous ways. With Fletcher, she managed Maple Landmark Homestead, where they were dairy farmers, sugarmakers, carpenters and dowsers. The two were lay pastors at the Panton Baptist Church for over 10 years. She received her teaching certificate from Johnson Normal School and taught in one-room schools in Lincoln, including the last one-room school, in West Lincoln. She will be remembered as a substitute teacher, tutor, and mentor to many across Addison County.
Hattie served her town as Justice of the Peace for over 40 years, often officiating at weddings, something she took as an honor. She enjoyed sharing her writing, whether it be the Lincoln news for the Addison Independent or her own self-published poetry and prose. In her later years, she helped regularly at Maple Landmark Woodcraft, the family business, assembling toys, ornaments and such.
After the passing of Fletcher, Hattie enjoyed traveling with her granddaughter, venturing to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Austria as well as NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Missouri and Maine. She loved people and places.
Harriett is survived by her daughter Luthera (Pat) Ruth Brown Rainville and husband Claude; grandson Michael and his wife Jill Rainville; two great-grandsons Adam and Andrew Rainville; granddaughter Barbara Rainville; sister-in-law Beverly Brown all of Lincoln; older sister Adah Blanchard of Millbridge, ME; special friend Donna Rose and her children Braham and Ocean; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers Ransom Purinton, Harold Purinton and wife Sylvia, and Luther Purinton; her sister Amie Blanchard; three half-brothers Elihu, Arland and Norman Purinton and a half-sister Lillian Purinton Blow.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the United Church of Lincoln, Elderly Services & Project Independence, Lincoln First Response and Fire Department and her caregiver Paula Hubbell for their attentive care and concern over the last months of Hattie’s life.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 3rd at the United Church of Lincoln. Interment will be at Maple Cemetery in Lincoln. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to United Church of Lincoln, Quaker St., Lincoln, VT, Lincoln Vol. Fire Dept, Gove Hill Rd, Lincoln or Elderly Services Inc., 112 Exchange St., Middlebury, VT. To send online condolences to her family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com
So sorry for your Loss. What a legacy she has left behind.
I enjoyed spending time with “Ma” and “Pa” Brown and of course their daughter. We spent many an evening playing games. Hattie was also my Sunday Sxhool teacher.
Sincere condolences to the family and all who knew, admired and cherished her.
All the years I lived in Lincoln, she is the person I remember the most. Her radiant smile and kindness spoke of her Christian lifestyle as a Native Vermont Farmer . She surely did Love people and will be missed by us all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
WE are so very sorry for your loss; condolences to her Family & Friends. What an amazing woman she was. She left lots of memories & some history too.
I was so sorry to hear this news today. Certainly this leaves a large hole in your lives and hearts. And what a large life she lived. I enjoyed working with her. She is missed.
Mrs. Brownwas my teacher for six years at the one room school house in West Lincoln, till it closed.
I often thought of the skills I learned from her during those six years. The simpleness of the school, taught us lots.
We put on some simple plays, had music lessons with hand made instruments, learned how to survive without running water, flushing toilets or hot lunches.
Without those, we learned to read, write, and arithmetic. I left that one room school, with many thanks to Mrs. Brown.
Interesting that both she and I had poems published by the same company.
RIP Mrs. Brown.