TUNBRIDGE, VT — Edward H. “Skee” Barnaby, 95 died Thursday, February 27, 2020 at the Riverbend Residential Home in Chelsea, VT.
He was born January 15, 1925 in Tunbridge, VT the son of Forrest and Jessie (Hoyt) Barnaby. He attended school in Tunbridge and at a young age began logging with his father and two brothers. He also helped his father with the trash removal during the Tunbridge World’s Fair. Eventually, he and his brother, Levi formed a logging partnership that lasted many years in the central Vermont area called “Barnaby Brothers Logging.” He was a hard worker all of his life.
When he retired from logging, he worked at the Tunbridge Fair full time as a member of the grounds/maintenance crew. Skee took great pride in his work at the fairgrounds whether it was fixing a broken water pipe, making a new barn door or doing tractor repair. He and the crew could do it all! Skee had attended the fair every year of his 94 years!
On February 2, 1946 he married Anna M. Moses of South Royalton. They lived in Tunbridge most of their married life where they raised their seven children. (Anna died May 15, 1984.) For many years he and Blanche Fisk of Tunbridge were long time companions for each other and shared a home. (Blanche died September 26, 2019.)
Skee enjoyed deer hunting with his family and friends, watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at sporting events and visiting with family and friends. He was a man that could fix anything and enjoyed working and driving John Deere bulldozers.
He is survived by two sons, Gordon (Susan) Barnaby of Tunbridge, VT and James (Kim) Barnaby of Warren, MA; two daughters, Diana (Larry) Brock of Greenwood, AR and Jean (Harlie) Parker of Chelsea, VT; 13 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; two sisters, Beverly Benoir of Windsor, VT and Marilyn Vesper of Tunbridge, VT and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also remembered by Blanche’s two daughters, Darla (Dick) Allen and Janice (Stan) Capron.
He was predeceased by a son, Edward G. Barnaby; two daughters, Winona Barnaby and Elaine Barnaby; three brothers, George Barnaby, Levi Barnaby, and Richard Barnaby and three sisters, Gena Moses, Bessie Roberts, and Evelyn Ritter.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, 300 VT RT 110 in Chelsea, VT. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at The Tunbridge Church in Tunbridge, VT with Pastor Tom Harty officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Tunbridge Town Forest Committee, P. O. Box 6, Tunbridge, VT 05077. A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com.