James “JT” Tirrell

BRATTLEBORO - James “JT” Tirrell of Laurel Street, a lifelong resident of the area, died unexpectedly early Monday morning, September 21, after being stricken ill at work.

JT was born at Grace Cottage Hospital, Townshend, on March 21, 1988, the son of Keven and Deborah (Howe) Tirrell. He was raised in Wilmington and attended the local schools there. He also attended the Kindle Farm School in Townshend, the Wilmington High School, and graduated from the Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 2006. His academic focus while at the Career Center was law enforcement and firefighting.

At the time of his passing, he had been employed as a shipping department supervisor at LePage’s Bakery. Previously, JT worked for Baker Distributors as a salesman.

During high school, JT was an active member of the Wilmington Fire Department.

An avid outdoorsman, JT enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and riding his motorcycle, but his biggest form of enjoyment was time spent with his children, his fiancé, and his nephews Bradley, Logan, and ‘Grasshopper.’

Survivors include his fiancé, Katelyn Barrows, of Brattleboro; her mother, Lori Vigneau, of Dummerston; his son, Jayson, and his daughter, Brooklynn, both of Brattleboro; his brother-in-law, Brian Barrows (Nikkie), of Dummerston; his parents, Keven and Deborah Tirrell, of Wilmington; a sister, Tia Tirrell Williams (Trevor), of Star Lake, NY; a brother, Brian Tirrell (Laura), of Jamaica; his lifelong ‘brother from another mother,’ Cody Yule, of Readsboro; his maternal grandfather, Lenny “Pop” Howe, of Wilmington; paternal grandmother, Brenda Tirrell, of West Dover; nephews Bradley, Logan, Taylor, and Bradly; and a niece, Lauren. Additionally, JT leaves a host of in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles - and even more friends - due to the fact that JT lived by the motto “I’ve never met a stranger I didn’t know.” He was loved by all who met him.

Graveside committal services will be conducted on Sunday, October 18, 12 pm, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. A memorial gathering will follow the committal service, to be held at his home on Laurel Street.

In lieu of flowers, in JT’s memory, spend a day with your child. You may also send memorial contributions in his name to ‘Hunt of a Lifetime Vermont’. To make a contribution to this program, checks, cash or Visa gift cards can be sent to the VT Head Ambassador, Kevin Morton, at 1091 Bunker Road, East Dummerston, VT, 05346.