East Montpelier, VT Helen Bailey Witham died at her house on May 11, 2014. Born in Montpelier, Vermont in 1921 to Jason Banta Bailey and Hallie Ruth Templeton Bailey Helen had a rather colorful farming childhood indicative of the times. She and her two sisters rode a horse-drawn sleigh to school in winter, often under wolfskin blankets in a futile attempt to keep warm. Helen met her future husband, Carroll Eldredge Witham, at a dance in Montpelier. They marriedand had three sons: Carroll Jr., Bradley and Bruce Witham. After a short while on a Roswell, New Mexico Air Force base for her husbands' military training, she returned to Vermont happy for family, the cool weather and lack of blowing sand. On weekends from her job with the State of Vermont, she started hand-building the stone fireplace at her camp property in the Northeast Kingdom that still stands. She loved it there. Helen enjoyed traveling the world and was always thrilled to plan an adventure, clip on the fanny-pack and explore; she encouraged family members to see as much of the world as they could. She was an avid cross-country and alpine skier, water skier and walker she loved being out in nature, especially walking miles on the beach. Helen was an excellent shot and routinely defended her prized garden by thinning the woodchuck population with a .22 kept by the kitchen window for a rodent too brave or stupid to know better. Helen is survived by her oldest son Carroll and his wife Joan Witham, their daughters, Jennifer and Susan Witham and her middle son Bradley Witham. She was predeceased by her husband, Carroll Eldredge Witham Sr. and her youngest son, Bruce Alan Witham. She will be remembered fondly, sitting by any available large body of water, cold gin and tonic in hand with a smile on her face. The Witham family would like to thank Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice for their endless compassion and fantastic care; as well as the community members of The Old Meeting House, of which Helen was an active member for 66 years. Helen's funeral service will be held at The Old Meeting House on May 18 at 2 p.m. with reception to follow at the church's Parish House. For donations in Helen's honor, please send to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.