Leona Mae LaCross Dodds, 87, of West Rutland and Burlington, passed away at Green Mountain Nursing Home in Colchester on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Born in Waitsfield on March 25, 1921, Leona was the daughter of the late Arthur and Margaret (LaVanway) Livingston. Leona married Henry LaCross who predeceased her in 1947. On September 11, 1982, she married Richard C. Dodds in Colchester. Mr. Dodds predeceased Leona on March 16, 2005.
Leona was a 1939 graduate of Waitsfield High School and spent her early years enjoying being a homemaker and raising her family. Following the unexpected death of her husband Henry, Leona entered the workforce, first as a secretary for the Barre Granite Association, later served as Postmaster for South Barre for 15 years and then worked as a unit secretary at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. Upon her marriage to Richard, she and her husband made their home in West Rutland where they operated a vegetable farm and farm stand until their retirement in 1998. Leona was a longtime and well-respected member of the Barre Grange and in her leisure time enjoyed spending time with her loving family.
Leona will be greatly missed by her children, Sharon Frazier of Morrisonville, NY, Richard LaCross of Milton and Donald LaCross of South Burlington; her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; her sister, Ora Gibbs of Graniteville, her brother, Jerry Livingston of South Royalton; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Leona was predeceased by two brothers, Guy Livingston and Clifford Livingston.
A graveside service celebrating Leona's life was held from the Waitsfield Village Cemetery on Wednesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association, Vermont & New Hampshire Chapter, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 427B, Concord, NH 03301-5004.
To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
