GRACE ELLEN (BAKER) SIMONDS

WHITING — Grace Ellen (Baker) Simonds, 85, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025.

Grace was born in San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 15, 1939. She was the daughter of Cushman and Ellen (Gage) Baker. Her family moved back to Brandon in 1944 and she graduated from Brandon High School in 1957. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Caselton State College and then taught at Burr Pond School and kindergarten in Whiting. She served 33 years as the Whiting Town Clerk from 1983 until her retirement in 2014.

She married Wilson “Bill” J. Simonds on March 10, 1962. They lived in Sudbury and later bought the longtime family home in Whiting, where they raised their four children.

Over the years she enjoyed family gatherings, reading, television, playing the organ, quilting, sewing, genealogy, showing old family photo albums and socializing.

She is survived by three daughters and their spouses; Marie and Dan Berry, Michelle and Rick Lincoln, Marlene Alden, and one son and spouse Mark and Tracy Simonds; two sisters, Carol and Dick Bird and Susan and Keith Puffenbarger; 10 grandchildren and spouses, Denise Berry, Adam (Heidi) Berry, Stephanie (Brandon) Mokris, Ross (Rania Jaber) Lincoln, Matthew (Juliette) Berry, Kirstyn (Mike) Mayhew, Kacey Scheuereman, Kaley (Kobe) Pinkham, Kira (Travis Hornbeck) Simonds and Rocco Alden; and nine great-grandchildren, Emory, Callen, Finn, Hudson, Jace, Ellie, Maverick, Dudley and Maci.

She was predeceased by her husband Bill in 2020 and her parents.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 30, at Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. The graveside committal service and burial will be in the family lot at the Whiting Community Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be given in her memory to the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Whiting, VT 05778. ◊