Donna Burt

Donna M. (Gokey) Burt Waterville Donna May (Gokey) Burt, 60, passed away on Tuesday January 20, 2015 at her home in Waterville surrounded by her loving family. She was born in St. Albans, daughter of Joyce (Snide) Gokey and the late Lincoln Gokey on March 16, 1954. Donna grew up in Bakersfield and graduated from Enosburg High School Class of 1972. She was a jack of all trades from home carpentry to splitting and stacking wood. She was very independent and self sufficient. She was an avid reader of romance novels and thriller books. Stephen King was her favorite author and she always looked forward to the next book and taking a written adventure. Donna loved rural living, avoiding populated areas whenever possible. She loved four wheelers, being on the river and the water, tubing in “Kelly River” (a branch of the Lamoille River). The river was her heart and soul. She could often be found fishing in Belvidere Pond with her grandchildren; they were the light of her life. Donna was a very practical and loving mother and will be missed dearly by all those who knew and loved her. She is survived by her children William H. Burt III of Waterville; Carrie Pontbriand and husband James of Barre; her mother Joyce Gokey of Bakersfield; sisters Debbie Wilbur and husband Phil of Fletcher; Deanna Allen and husband Rodney of Bakersfield; Gloria Stone and husband Roger of Enosburg; Bonnie Labrie and husband Mark of Fletcher; brother-in-law Jim O’Brien of Arizona; three grandchildren: Maria Anne Burt; Hailey Lee Burt; Willem Fabian Pontbriand; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was also predeceased by her brothers Richard and David Gokey, and sister Dayle O’Brien. Visiting hours will be held on Friday January 23, 2015 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at A W Rich Funeral Home – Fairfax Chapel, 1176 Main St., Fairfax, VT 05454. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday January 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Fairfield, with Reverend William Giroux officiating. Burial will be held in the Spring at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions in Donna’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495 or Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 65 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661. The family also invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com.