Vermont native and mother of two spent 22 years working in the Essex Junction schools
Laurel (Colomb) Ashley passed away peacefully at the age of 90, surrounded by her loving family, on the morning of February 11, 2025. Laurel was born in Swanton, Vt., on October 14, 1934, the daughter of George and Priscilla Colomb. She graduated from the former St. Anne’s Academy in Swanton, class of 1952. On November 3, 1956, she was married to Alton “Ken” Ashley. After graduation, Laurel worked for the state Department of Health in Burlington, Vt., until moving to Virginia to be with Ken, who was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir. She worked there for Routh Robbins Real Estate until Ken was sent to Korea. She then returned to Burlington and worked at the Lane Press in the office until Ken returned home and their first child was born. Laurel became a stay-at-home mom with her daughter and son. In 1967 she began working at Essex Elementary School, where she spent 22 years in the offices of both Essex Elementary and Founders Memorial. In 1989 both Ken and Laurel retired and built their home on the lakeshore in West Swanton, where they enjoyed 17 wonderful years. After Ken’s death in 2006, Laurel moved back to Essex to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She leaves a daughter, Tamara, and her husband, Roger Pratt, of Milton, Vt.; her son, Thomas, and his wife, Caroline, of Essex; her grandchildren, Danielle Whitten and her partner, Jamie Fisher, of Shelburne, Vt., Kelsey Whitten and her partner, Joseph Genest, of Swanton, Lisa Ashley and her partner, Bobby Wolfe, and his daughter, Ava, of Colchester, Vt., and Michael Ashley and his partner, Anna Charland, of Essex; and a much beloved great-grandson, Kaiden Fisher #18 of Shelburne. She also leaves son-in-law Raymond Whitten of St. Albans, Vt., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Vaughn Colomb; sisters, Elaine Moreau and Gloria McCormick; and sister in-law, Grace Rose. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center, the staff at Mansfield Place and the McClure Miller Respite House for their loving and compassionate care. Visiting hours will be held on February 20, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Services in Essex. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Laurel’s memory be made to Essex Rescue, 1 Educational Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452…
Vermont native and mother of two spent 22 years working in the Essex Junction schools
Laurel (Colomb) Ashley passed away peacefully at the age of 90, surrounded by her loving family, on the morning of February 11, 2025. Laurel was born in Swanton, Vt., on October 14, 1934, the daughter of George and Priscilla Colomb. She graduated from the former St. Anne’s Academy in Swanton, class of 1952. On November 3, 1956, she was married to Alton “Ken” Ashley. After graduation, Laurel worked for the state Department of Health in Burlington, Vt., until moving to Virginia to be with Ken, who was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir. She worked there for Routh Robbins Real Estate until Ken was sent to Korea. She then returned to Burlington and worked at the Lane Press in the office until Ken returned home and their first child was born. Laurel became a stay-at-home mom with her daughter and son. In 1967 she began working at Essex Elementary School, where she spent 22 years in the offices of both Essex Elementary and Founders Memorial. In 1989 both Ken and Laurel retired and built their home on the lakeshore in West Swanton, where they enjoyed 17 wonderful years. After Ken’s death in 2006, Laurel moved back to Essex to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She leaves a daughter, Tamara, and her husband, Roger Pratt, of Milton, Vt.; her son, Thomas, and his wife, Caroline, of Essex; her grandchildren, Danielle Whitten and her partner, Jamie Fisher, of Shelburne, Vt., Kelsey Whitten and her partner, Joseph Genest, of Swanton, Lisa Ashley and her partner, Bobby Wolfe, and his daughter, Ava, of Colchester, Vt., and Michael Ashley and his partner, Anna Charland, of Essex; and a much beloved great-grandson, Kaiden Fisher #18 of Shelburne. She also leaves son-in-law Raymond Whitten of St. Albans, Vt., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Vaughn Colomb; sisters, Elaine Moreau and Gloria McCormick; and sister in-law, Grace Rose. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center, the staff at Mansfield Place and the McClure Miller Respite House for their loving and compassionate care. Visiting hours will be held on February 20, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Services in Essex. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Laurel’s memory be made to Essex Rescue, 1 Educational Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452…