Jensen Beach, Florida/Montpelier, VT Conrad M. "Bud" Cody, 86, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, Feb 26, 2016, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN from complications of kidney failure and pneumonia. A resident of Jensen Beach, Fl. for the past 26 years, Bud enjoyed his first 60 years on Elm Street in Montpelier. The past 4 months were spent in Brookdale Assisted Living center in Knoxville, Tn., to be close to his 2 daughters. Bud, as his friends knew him, was born on August 9, 1929 in Montpelier, to Richard and Lilli (Handy) Cody. As a teenager, Bud got his driver's license at 14, and split his time between working the family ice business and attending St. Michael's High School. He graduated in 1947 and it was during his ice route at VJC (Vermont Junior College) that he met and then dated his future wife, Bettie Rowles. The family ice business was sold in 1949 and they entered the motion picture business. In addition, father Richard was acquiring real estate and buildings in Montpelier and Barre. Bud and Bettie married in September 6, 1950, and last year celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. As the Cody family was growing rapidly, Bud and his brothers needed another business so they bought the H O Taylor Chevrolet Franchise in Montpelier, in 1953. The next year Bud opened up a separate Chevy store in Barre, called Bud's Chevrolet. In 1956 Bud and his brothers consolidated the 2 Chevy stores into one dealership at its present location. Bud was vice president and general sales manager. As such, he was able to secure large local fleet business's that helped establish Cody's place in the Vermont Automobile Industry. In 1963, J Leo Johnson was ready to retire and Bud and his brothers decided to buy a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership. This was Bud's dealership to run. Originally located behind the Capital Plaza (the old Tavern), a brand new facility was built in 1964 on the Barre-Montpelier Road. Bud's automobile skills were legendary-4 times the top Chrysler dealer in Vermont, repeatedly awarded the state of Vermont Police Cruiser Allotment. He was a lead person in organizing the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association-(an original charter member). During the 60's and 70's Bud was heavily involved in the Lion's Club-introducing the annual Pancake Festival that generously enriched local concerns. Also, Conrad was a founding member and driving force for the Greater Vermont Association (GVA) his signature mark was the first rest area built on I-91 in Putney. In addition to running his dealership, plus all his outside interest, Bud's passion was food and he decided to expand into the restaurant business. So in1972 Bud and 5 other partners established the Stockyard Inn, located where the VT State Employees C U is now. The steamship round was a huge local hit. The sidecar lounge (who can forget) the caboose on the tracks where the bar was located was a tourist attraction. Through all his successful endeavors, Bud was still able to have a balance with his children and Bettie's lives. Once his children graduated from high school, Bud and Bettie wanted to relocate to Florida, divest themselves from their business and retire. Bud lasted one year and got restless so he opened up a preowned automobile lot. That lasted for three years and then it was time to officially retire. No one took to retirement like Bud. Summer in Vermont, winter in Florida, travel in the spring and fall. Over the years Bud and Bettie befriended many people and a trip north or south would require 2 to 3 weeks with stops at friends along the way. The highlight for the past 15 years was the family's annual trips to Vegas, Foxwood, and Biloxi. Besides his loving wife, Bettie; Bud leaves behind his daughter, Linda, of Sevierville, TN; son, Michael, and his wife, Betsy, of Barre and their 3 sons, Garett, Ethan and Connor; daughter, Mary Lou, of Pigeon Forge, TN and her 2 daughters, Mary Christina and Margaret; son, Brian (BK) and his wife, Terri, of Kerrville TX and their 2 daughters, Karly and Casey; and his youngest son, Conrad II (Chip) and his wife, Valerie, of Jensen Beach, FL. Bud also leaves his brother, Rayden and his wife, Ann of Ocean Ridge, FL; sister, Mary Bashara and her husband Fred of Montpelier; sister-in-law, Yolande Cody of Montpelier/Pompano Beach FL; as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews and cousin, Mary Ann Breer and her husband, Wayne. He has been predeceased by his parents; brother, Robert Cody and his sister-in-law, Janice Cody; brother, Donald Cody; aunt Nellie (Cody) Ziter and her husband, Joseph. Bud will be remembered by all for his infectious smile, his huge heart, his culinary skills and his special barbeque technique. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 pm, Friday, May 20, 2016 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier. Burial will follow at Berlin Corners Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 On line condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com