Corinne K Lawson – (Corkie, Cork)

Montpelier, VT, B. February 4, 1940 – D. February 6, 2026

Corinne K Lawson, aged 86, of Montpelier and Woodbury, VT, passed away on February 6, 2026, at Woodridge Rehabilitation & Nursing with her family around her bedside. She suffered from Alzheimer’s.

Corinne was born on February 4, 1940, in Montpelier, VT, the child of Beatrice (Kit) Fitch and Harmon (Rocky) Kelley. During World War II, with both her parents involved in the war, she resided with her paternal grandmother in Montpelier. Her parents later divorced, and Kit married Arthur E. Fitch of East Montpelier. Corinne lived with her mother and stepfather until she married. She attended public schools in Montpelier, graduating from Montpelier High School in 1957. After high school, Corinne attended Plymouth State Teachers’ College.

Corinne married Milan Lawson on September 12, 1959. They settled in Montpelier and had one child, Daniel Warner Lawson.

Corinne’s work life began at National Life Insurance. She spent several years as an art teacher at Main St Middle School in Montpelier. She then began working for the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, where she managed membership and produced their newsletter. She was joined there by her lifelong friend, Eleanor (Babe) Curtis. Corinne and her family spent many winters on the VAST trails with the Curtis family, including her goddaughter, Kathy Apgar.

In the summer, Corinne and her family would move to their camp in Nelson Pond. Snowmobiling gave way to waterskiing, and Corinne and Milan entertained scores of Nelson Pond kids, who enjoyed all the pleasures of Vermont’s short summers. Corinne’s nieces and nephews spent treasured overnights at the camp, playing cribbage, canasta, and rummy, and telling ghost stories. By day, they boated around the pond to visit local landmarks known only to the kids and Corinne: the sunken boat, the point, and the turtle tree.

Corinne had a keen sense of curiosity, playfulness, and creativity. She was active in diverse groups, supporting her husband in his endeavors, including the Masonic Temple, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VAST, the Montpelier Gun Club, and the Nelson Pond Association.

Corinne was a committed gardener, an interest that she shared with her son Dan. She maintained beautiful gardens–which became bird-friendly habitats–both at her home in Montpelier and at Nelson Pond. In fact, many animal companions brightened Corinne’s life, including her horse Rooky, Toby the crow, and her numerous cats, Holly and Charlie, two of many.

Corinne is survived by her son, Daniel W. Lawson of Barre, her sister Martha Fitch and spouse Dan Bragg of Montpelier, her sister-in-law Rachel Fitch, her brothers Peter Kelley of Barre and Richard Kelley of Montpelier, sisters, Roberta Goodwin and Kathleen Swain of Westerly, RI, and Deborah Flowers of Cleveland, TN. Her beloved nieces and nephews, Peter Talbot and spouse Olli Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, Dylan Bragg of Montpelier, Lucia Bragg of New York City, Eliza Fitch of Boston, and her cousins, Pam Gardner, David Gardner, and Lori Lucia, and cousins of the Lawson/Marchant/Grzankowsi clan.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Todd Fitch, her husband Milan Lawson, and his brothers, Rev. Ronald C. Lawson and Sidney Lawson, her champion to the end.

A celebration of life will be held in the afternoon on July 10 at the Old West Church in Calais. Burial will be held earlier in the day at the Waterbury Center Cemetery.

Donations in Corinne’s name can be made to the Mitzvah Fund, the Central Vermont Humane Society, or the Nelson Pond Association.