BRIDPORT — Stephen Parsons Howlett, 85, passed away at home on April 1, 2021. He was born May 25, 1935, in Greenfield, Mass., to Carey and Anna (Parsons) Howlett. In 1947 his family purchased a dairy farm in Bridport, Vt. Steve attended the one-room Lake School in West Bridport, and then the Mount Hermon School in Gill, Mass., graduating in 1953. He attended Cornell University, receiving his Associate Degree in Agriculture in 1955, followed by a Bachelor of Science magna cum laude from the University of Vermont in 1958.
After working on farms in New York, he came home to Bridport to manage his own herd on his family’s Lake Street farm. On Dec. 15, 1962, he married Esther Manning, a neighbor and family friend. They bought their first farm in Whiting in 1964, and in 1977 returned to Bridport to Esther’s family’s farm.
Steve chose the life of a sole-proprietor dairyman, devoted his life to dairy farming, and achieved his goals for his life and farm. Independent-minded, frugal, and conscientious about the treatment of his cows, he consistently earned awards for milk quality. After retiring in 2009 he enjoyed tending his large vegetable garden. Although he rarely ventured far from home, he enjoyed socializing with family and neighbors and keeping up with the farm community.
Stephen was predeceased by his father in 1992 and his mother in 2005. He is survived by his wife Esther and son Kenneth of Bridport, son Bruce (and Carol Dickson) of East Montpelier, and son Brian (and Sigrid Recktenwald Howlett), with grandchildren Sonia and Ronan of Cornwall. Survivors also include siblings Linda (and Paul) Palmer of Columbia S.C., Margaret (and William) Barnes of Shoreham, Elizabeth Howlett of Amherst, Mass., and Thomas (and Diane) Howlett of Bridport, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
The family will return Stephen’s ashes to his farm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice or the Vermont Farm Fund. Many thanks to Home Health and Hospice staff for their care, which enabled Stephen to remain at home with his family.◊