Worcester logger had a fondness for gardening, four-legged creatures and all things green
Jay Kimball, 65, of Worcester Vt., passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 15, 2023, in Moretown, Vt. He was the youngest of four siblings and the son of (the late) Gordon Kimball Jr. and Madelyn Maxham Kimball, of Worcester, Vt. His siblings were Gordon “Butch” Kimball Sr., Patricia Kimball-Wells Koehler and (the late) Kevin Kimball. Jay grew up on the family farm, with an early exposure to his father's logging business and where he became an expert caretaker of horses and respected their capacity for hard work. His love for these animals remained with him throughout his life, as did the world of logging. His journeys led him to a job in South Woodstock, where he met Anne Duffy, in a horse barn. The pair stuck together, and in the late ‘70s, with a handful of good friends, they moved west toward vast landscapes and big skies where Jay’s brothers Butch and Kevin had previously settled to explore work in the drilling industry. Eventually, Jay and Anne settled back in Worcester. In the early ‘80s they purchased a portion of the family’s property, now known as Kimball Road, and built a home where they raised their children. Their son, Joshua Kimball, of East Montpelier, Vt., and daughter, Jessica Kimball, of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, grew up immersed in outdoor exploration and shared family responsibilities. They hauled firewood through the snow, aided in tending the family’s horses and learned practical skills at a young age. There was always an adventure on the horizon; on cue, the kids knew to hop out of the wood truck to lock hubcaps in the winter, and at a young age learned to navigate (with assistance) the family's F350 diesel up the steep and intimidating driveway leading to their home. Jay wasn't just a driven worker; he also held unique and loving characteristics as a father. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to show up to his kids' holiday shows in steel spiked logging boots, sawdust-covered denim and flannel shirts likely left over from the ‘70s. He was not to be found in the neatly arranged rows of chairs next to other families but rather in the back corner of the gymnasium nearest the door. When the last note was sung by Josh or Jessie, a quick exit was made by Jay, believing it was less about his presence to…
Worcester logger had a fondness for gardening, four-legged creatures and all things green
Jay Kimball, 65, of Worcester Vt., passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 15, 2023, in Moretown, Vt. He was the youngest of four siblings and the son of (the late) Gordon Kimball Jr. and Madelyn Maxham Kimball, of Worcester, Vt. His siblings were Gordon “Butch” Kimball Sr., Patricia Kimball-Wells Koehler and (the late) Kevin Kimball. Jay grew up on the family farm, with an early exposure to his father's logging business and where he became an expert caretaker of horses and respected their capacity for hard work. His love for these animals remained with him throughout his life, as did the world of logging. His journeys led him to a job in South Woodstock, where he met Anne Duffy, in a horse barn. The pair stuck together, and in the late ‘70s, with a handful of good friends, they moved west toward vast landscapes and big skies where Jay’s brothers Butch and Kevin had previously settled to explore work in the drilling industry. Eventually, Jay and Anne settled back in Worcester. In the early ‘80s they purchased a portion of the family’s property, now known as Kimball Road, and built a home where they raised their children. Their son, Joshua Kimball, of East Montpelier, Vt., and daughter, Jessica Kimball, of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, grew up immersed in outdoor exploration and shared family responsibilities. They hauled firewood through the snow, aided in tending the family’s horses and learned practical skills at a young age. There was always an adventure on the horizon; on cue, the kids knew to hop out of the wood truck to lock hubcaps in the winter, and at a young age learned to navigate (with assistance) the family's F350 diesel up the steep and intimidating driveway leading to their home. Jay wasn't just a driven worker; he also held unique and loving characteristics as a father. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to show up to his kids' holiday shows in steel spiked logging boots, sawdust-covered denim and flannel shirts likely left over from the ‘70s. He was not to be found in the neatly arranged rows of chairs next to other families but rather in the back corner of the gymnasium nearest the door. When the last note was sung by Josh or Jessie, a quick exit was made by Jay, believing it was less about his presence to…