Jacqueline Dawson

Jacqueline Marie (Poro) Dawson, age 83, formerly of Hill Street for 58 years, passed away at her home on Brown Farm Road in Lyndonville, Saturday Morning, January 14, 2017, surrounded by her family.

Jacqueline was born in Middlebury, VT on April 10, 1933, daughter to Gilbert and Isobel (Whitman) Poro. She was raised and educated there attending Middlebury High School from 1947-49 when the family moved to Lyndonville and she finished at Lyndon Institute with the Class of 1951.  She played basketball throughout high school and after graduation she was the class secretary for many years. She married Rufus H. Dawson, Jr, on October 16, 1954 and shared 57 years at the time of his passing in 2012. Jackie was a member of St. Elizabeth’s Church for most all her life and was a member of the Altar Society.  She was a homemaker and an excellent cook. She enjoyed baking, reading, knitting and watching the soaps. One of her favorite pass times was watching the Celtics.
On her 80th birthday, Andrea, Susan, Karen and Ashley surprised her with a trip to Old Orchard Beach and then to Boston to a Celtics game. On Christmas morning family and friends looked forward to “Jackie’s Coffee Cake”. The grandchildren and great grandchildren were her life, whether they were sick and needed someone to watch them or going to one of their sporting events or just making sure the candy dish was full if they stopped by. When visiting Karen and family in West Virginia, she would sit and watch the cardinals and the girls (deer) in the backyard.

She is survived by her 3 daughters: Andrea Dawson and husband John Conway of Lyndonville; Susan Dawson-Karlson and husband Eric of Greenwich, NY;  Karen (Moulton) Minch and husband Paul of Inwood, WV;  her son: Rufus “Hank” Dawson, III and Karole Davis of Lyndonville; her brother: Gilbert Martin and wife Jennie of Pittsford, VT; 2 sisters: Marilyn Brown of Lyndonville; Joan Hayes of St. Johnsbury; 10 Grandchildren: Taylor Dawson, Sean Montgomery and Gina Brisson, Ashley and Neal Allen, Jordan and Kimberly Karlson, Rufus Dawson, IV, Derek Dawson, Lyndsay Christman, Matthew Minch and Miranda Bias, Ryan and Molly Minch, Nicholas Minch, 9 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Emma and Tyler Montgomery and their mother Denise Montgomery, Andraya and Alicia Brisson, Hailey, Kianna and Karson Allen, Hank Dawson, cousins: Bobby and Janice Whitman, Bill Whitman, Ruth Conway, Lucy Barrows, Marianna and Dominick Davino, Ann Baldwin, 14 nieces and nephews: Michael, Nancy, Diane, Patricia, Steve, David, Paula, Karen, Mark, Kathleen, Michael John, Jaime, Tyler and Beth, a sister-in-law: Elizabeth “Betty” Dawson and 4 special friends: Claire Tanych, Evelyn Lussier, Liz Williams and Julie Boera. Special family members: Steve and Peggie Parker.

She was predeceased by her husband, Rufus H. Dawson, Jr., her brothers-in-laws: Dale Dawson, Wayne Brown both in 2011, her sister: Julie Nash in 2003, her mother: Isobel Nash in 1990, her step-father: Chester Nash in 1968 and her father Gilbert Poro in 1943.

Friends may call on the family for visitation Thursday evening from 6-8PM, January 19th at the Guibord Funeral Home on the corners of Center and Main.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Friday, January 20, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Church on Hill Street in Lyndonville will Rev. Fr. Curtis Miller as celebrant.  Burial will take place in the springtime on Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10AM at the Lyndon Center Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, VA for the loving care they provided.  A special thank you to Caspertine Hawkins-Speller RN for her love and devotion to our mother. Thank you to Dr. Thomas Ziobrowski and staff at Kingdom Internal for the care provided to her throughout the years.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to: LAYHA (Lyndon Area Youth Hockey Association) and St. Elizabeth’s Altar Society., c/o Corpus Christi Parish, 31 Winter Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.guibordfh.com