Priscilla Tower

Priscilla Irene (Tower) Thayer, 94, of Readsboro, VT, died on March 25 at North Adams Regional Hospital.

She was born in North Adams on July 9, 1931, a daughter of the late Lewis and Ellen (Schmall) Tower. She grew up in Monroe and moved to South Readsboro, VT in 1950. She attended elementary school in Monroe Bridge and also Drury High School for two years. She enjoyed doing things for others and always lent a helping hand. Priscilla and her aunt Bessie Bowen would walk from Monroe to South Readsboro to help her great-uncle and -aunt, Joe and Ruth Prew.

Priscilla loved animals, birds, and plants – she raised a few parakeets and loved to crochet. She crocheted afghans for family, friends, and neighbors, and created 124 prayer shawls for the Readsboro Baptist Church to give to the sick. She also knitted 19 throws for the Veterans' Home in Bennington, VT, plus odds and ends and other things.

Priscilla was an honorary member of the South Readsboro Community Club and served as secretary and treasurer. She was also an honorary member of the Monroe Historical Society; the Readsboro Historical Society, where she served as its secretary and treasurer; and a 15-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary unit # 29. Priscilla was an active member of the Readsboro Baptist Church, serving on friendly missions and as church clerk, and was a life member of the Tower Genealogical Society.

Her first husband was Clifford Ray Thayer and her life partner was Frank W. Chadwick Sr., with whom she lived for many years until his death in 2004.

Priscilla loved all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She leaves her children, David, of Clarksburg; Kim Thayer and his wife, Nicole Thayer, of Readsboro, VT; Susan Thayer and her husband, Karl Morrison, of Averill Park, NY; Craig Thayer and his wife, Johanne Thayer, of Readsboro, VT; and Melissa Thayer, of Ferrisburgh, VT. Priscilla also leaves 12 grandchildren: Jessica, Taber, Kyle, John, Richard, Kristofer, Danielle, Grady, Amanda, Melinda, Sarah, and Felicia; 16 great-grandchildren: Kalynn, Jalena, Rhaya, Jayden, James, Jessica, Emily, Ashley, Matthew, Artemis, Colton, Lane, Aleesia, Kelsey, Ciarra, and Gianna; and three great-great-grandchildren, Savannah, Gracelynn, and Gnataliegh. She also leaves her sister, Bethel Alex, and many nieces and nephews.

Priscilla was predeceased by three sisters: Helen May Tower, Shirley Tower Bennett, and Leona Jones; three brothers: Henry Tower, Kenneth Tower, and Harold Tower; and her grandson, Matthew James Thayer.

Services for Priscilla Thayer will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 11 am, at the Readsboro Baptist Church. Burial will follow in South Readsboro Cemetery. There will be a luncheon after the burial at the South Readsboro Community Club. Donations may be made to South Readsboro Community Club, Readsboro Baptist Church or the Readsboro Historical Society in care of Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Homes, 74 Marshall Street, North Adams, MA, 01247. To add to the book of memories go to www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.