ARTHUR W. HUESTIS

BRIDPORT — Arthur W. Huestis passed away May 15, 2024, at the age of 76 (although he perpetually said he was 29).

Arthur was born on Oct. 18, 1947, the first son of Daniel and Eleanor (Blacklock) Huestis. He graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1965. He was a proud member of the FFA of Middlebury, where he was Vice President in 1963-1964 and Treasurer in 1964-1965. While in the FFA Arthur was awarded a State Star Farmer award for an article on hoof trimming.

Arthur married the love of his life, Joan, on June 26, 1971. They purchased the family farm in Bridport in 1977 from his parents, where they resided to this day. Arthur was an innovator in the farming industry, raising registered Holstein cows. He was the first to install a bunk silo in the county and to have a computerized milking system. He was President of the Northern Milk Producers (which later merged with Eastern Milk Producers) and a key member of several other farming organizations. Arthur was a dairy farmer through and through who loved what he did, especially milking cows and baling hay, having had the first large square baler in the area.

Arthur was baptized at the United Methodist Church of West Addison, where he was a member at his death. He was a member of the Bridport Fire Department for 20 years. He retired from dairy farming in 2019. He enjoyed attending Project Independence in person or by Zoom and made many wonderful friends.

Arthur is survived and will be missed by his wife, Joan, of 52 years; his daughters, Claire Huestis of Bridport, Katie (Chuck) Welch of Bridport and Amy (Kyle) Emens of Golf, Ill.; by his beloved fresh air daughter, Nerva (Jeff) Horne of Albany, N.Y.; his cherished grandchildren, Chaz, Zach, and Sophia Welch and Daniel Emens; and his siblings, Richard, Ronnie, Debbie and Sherrie. As a family farmer his farm hands always became part of the family and remained close friends no matter where life took them. He was predeceased by his parents and his in-laws, Henry and Clara Briggs.

Calling hours will be at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes on Monday, May 20, from 5-8 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at the United Methodist Church of West Addison at 18 Church St., at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21. Burial will follow at the Bridport Central Cemetery with a luncheon at the Bridport Masonic Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Church of West Addison, C/O Doris Roberts, 826 Walton Lane, Addison, VT 05491 or Bridport Fire Department, 125 Crown Point Rd, Bridport, VT 05734. ◊