Wayne M. Doyle

CHELSEA- Wayne M. Doyle, 75, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at home, after a long illness.

He was born December 12, 1931 in Chelsea, the son of John and Bertha (Bowen) Doyle. He attended school in Chelsea. He married Helen Louise Godfrey August 6, 1960, and was the father of four children.

He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, aboard the USS Preston. After the Navy, he went to work for his brother, Walt, at Doyle's Floor Surfacing in Guilford, Conn. for several years. He moved his family to Chelsea in 1969 to operate Doyle's General Store, and soon he started Doyle's Gas Service with his brother, Merlin "Tuffy" Doyle. He and his wife sold the store in 1980, and he continued to work in the gas business until his retirement in 1996.

He was a past member of the Oddfellows Lodge #62 and past president of the Auxiliary Police Association, both of Guilford, Conn. He was a member of the Chelsea Fish & Game Club, past master of the George Washington Lodge #51 F.&A.M. and the VFW, all of Chelsea.

He enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. He and his wife were 26-year members of the Ed Larkin Contra Dancers. He "ear-learned" to play the fiddle as a teenager and it became one of the greatest joys in his life. He played for many local events and filled many of his retirement years with music. One of his favorite pastimes was playing for the "old folks" at several area nursing homes with his good buddy, Harold Luce, and other friends. He brought joy to elderly people with his music, but he also loved to get children involved. Two of his granddaughters made him very proud, Jess with her piano playing and Hayley with her playing the fiddle.

Survivors include his wife, Helen of Chelsea; two sons, Dennis Doyle of East Randolph and John Doyle of Tunbridge; two daughters, Brenda Doyle of Chelsea and Donna Waters of Barre; four grandchildren, Melinda and Shawna Doyle and Hayley and Jessica Waters; two great-grandchildren, Jasmine Doyle and Diedra Driscoll; a brother, Merlin "Tuffy" Doyle of Chelsea; three sisters, Gertrude Lyford of Barre, Doris Crum of Guilford, Conn. and Julia DeGoosh of Craftsbury; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Leo, Walter and John Doyle, Jr.; a sister, June Prescott; and a great-granddaughter, Janine Driscoll.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, Nov. 8 from 5-8 p.m. at the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home on Main Street in Chelsea. A funeral service will be held Friday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Chelsea, with Rev. Diana Benjamin officiating. Burial will take place at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VFW's Operation Uplink, P.O. Box 1248, Montpelier, Vt. 05601.

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