Brownsville, Vt. — Christine P. Sykes, 92, a former longtime resident of Brownsville, passed away Tuesday evening, June 21 at Wyndham Lakes Assisted Living in Jacksonville, Fla. She was born Feb. 25, 1924 in Windsor, Vt., the daughter of Harold and Thelma (Stone) Peoples. She graduated from Windsor High School in 1942 and married Lester E. Sykes in Windsor on Oct. 26, 1946. She was employed at the former Cone Automatic Machine Tool Company in Windsor for five years and later owned and operated the Sykes General Store in Brownsville with her husband for 25 years. Christine was an active supporter of the Bean Suppers in Brownsville, was a member of the Brownsville PM Club, the Brownsville Grange, a charter member of the West Windsor Historical Society and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Windsor.

Christine was a valued community member and was always there to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need. During her years as a leader for the 4-H club she touched the lives of so many of the youth in town encouraging them to learn life skills, like cooking, sewing, square dancing and leadership qualities. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends, loved to watch NASCAR and enjoyed the local car racing scene. She was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband Lester; her brothers Howard and Richard Peoples; a granddaughter Tiffany Sykes and a great granddaughter Kaylani. She is survived by two daughters; Leanne King and Linda Sykes, both of Jacksonville, Fla., one son; Leigh Sykes of Bolton, Vt. and seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Brownsville Community Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 20th at 2 p.m. Committal services will follow in the Brownsville Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the West Windsor Historical Society at PO Box 12, Brownsville, Vt. 05037.

The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor is entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to her family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.