Nancy Lorraine (Mahan) Stowe
Nancy Lorraine (Mahan) Stowe, 93, passed away at the home of her daughter in Vergennes, Vermont on September 11, 2023.
She was born November 9, 1929, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, to Thomas William Mahan and Mary Anna Josephine (Couture) Mahan. Nancy grew up in hardship during the Great Depression but faced life with courage and found happiness in simple country life. She graduated from Burlington High School, where she walked from her home on St. Paul Street every day with a young man, Richard K. Stowe, whom she married in 1952. They made their home in Hinesburg, where they raised 11 children. During high school, Nancy was employed at Charlie’s Red Hots. After graduation, she worked at the Burlington Free Press as a teletypist, and later at IBM with her husband.
Nancy was a force of nature. She spent her life doing good and volunteering, attending many days at the state capitol advocating for educational rights for intellectually disabled children. She assisted with PTA fundraising, was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, a typist for the Hinesburg Record, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she filled many callings, often at great personal sacrifice. She loved visitors and opened her modest home to anyone in need. She enjoyed singing, gardening, horses, and her family, and was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and grandmother.
She is survived by 10 of her children, Linda (Ralph) Miller of Vergennes, Vermont; Danniel (Pam) Stowe of Provo, Utah; Laurel ( Jim) Brady of Mapleton, Utah; Dave ( Jane) Stowe of Hinesburg, Vermont; Robert (Andra) Stowe of Genola, Utah; James ( Jill) Stowe of Hinesburg, Vermont; Susan (Greg) Phillips of Washington, Utah; JoAnne Stowe of Hinesburg, Vermont; Christine Stowe of Salt Lake City, Utah; Benjamin (Katie) Stowe of Grain Valley, Missouri; brother-in-law, Harold ( June) Stowe from South Burlington, Vermont; sister-in-law, Marjorie (Dave) Thorpe of Meredith, New Hampshire; and friend, Jean Smith of New Haven, Vermont. She leaves 45 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Richard “Dick” Stowe, her son, Timothy, her granddaughter Valerie Stowe, her parents, and siblings Madeline Arter, Armand Mahan, William Mahan, Estella Bartlett, Rachel Kirkland, and parents in law, Karl and Vera Stowe.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023, at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel, 133 Valley View, Middlebury, Vermont. Burial will be held privately for family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Addison County Home Health & Hospice, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753. Arrangements are in the care of the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home. To send online condolences to her family please visit www.vtfuneralhomes.com.