Jeanne Wylie Crist, 99, Died; Longtime Westporter, Saugatuck Congregational Member
Jeanne Wylie Crist, 99 years young, passed from this earth on August 3, 2022. A resident of Kimball Farms in Lenox for eleven years, she made many friends and was able to live near her daughter, Karen Crist Miller and her family.
Born on December 2, 1922, Jeanne was the only child of Hugh Wood Wylie and Nordica Root Wylie of Binghamton, NY. Her father rose through the ranks from pharmacy clerk to regional sales with Merck, Sharp and Dohme during the Great Depression and the family lived in Dearborn, MI before settling in Albany, NY.
Jeanne married her Albany high school sweetheart, Robert W. Crist ("Mike"), in 1947 after working with the Naval Department in New York City and Mike's service in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Two sons were born in New York City before they settled in Westport, CT where Karen was born in 1956.
They resided in Westport for nearly 50 years before moving to Lenox in 2011 when Mike's health faltered. They were members of Saugatuck Congregational Church, loved walking Compo Beach and cherished many friends. In retirement they purchased a cottage on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont where Mike had enjoyed his childhood. Lee's Point was shared joyously with their children and grandchildren for swimming, boating, badminton, mini-golf, barbecues, board games and so much more. Jeanne and Mike also travelled extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, in 2011, her son, Robert Wylie "Lee" Crist (Darlene Trew Crist), in 1983 and son, Jeffrey Hugh Crist, in 2017. She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Matthew Miller), three grandchildren - Matthew Charles "Chas" (Ashley), Geoffrey Robert (Michelle) and Kathleen Wylie "Kaylee", and five great-grandchildren - Charley Grace, Nuala Allison, Declan Joseph, Wylie Hope and Penelope Dawn.
We are all grateful to the entire Kimball Farms community where Jeanne thrived in many activities and was well served as her health declined, including during the pandemic. Similarly, her care by the BMC medical staff and team was supremely competent and compassionate.
A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Westport, CT where she will be interred with her beloved Mike and two sons.
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Julia Ann Riester, 81, Died; Artist, Avid Reader, Former Westporter
On July 31, 2022, Julia Ann Walsh Riester, loving mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 81.
Julia (Julie) was born on Feb. 11, 1941 in La Grange, Ky. to John and Elizabeth Walsh. Growing up in La Grange, Julie was an avid reader, national award winning 4H member and had a love for the arts. She graduated from Louisville's Sacred Heart High School then went on to enjoy her time at St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind. where she gained recognition for her artistic talents and graduated in 1963.
Julie continued her education and graduated from University of Louisville with a Masters degree in 1964. Using her artistic talents and education degree, she moved to Boston for several years supporting development of textbooks. On May 27, 1967, she married John Thomas Riester II (Jack). Early in their marriage, they briefly lived in Westport, Conn. Then returned to Columbus, Ind. where they raised three sons and a daughter.
Julie was an active member at St. Bartholomew Church where she taught and volunteered at St. Bartholomew School while supporting and volunteering for her children's various community engagements, member of Book, Garden and Social Clubs, enjoyed playing tennis and supporting the community of Wrightsville Beach, NC. Along with her faith, Julie's family was always a focused value in her life.
Julie's passing was preceded by her husband of 47 years, John Thomas Riester II (Jack). Julie is survived by her son, John Thomas III and his wife Laura Sue Wisehart in Union, Ky.; a daughter, Katherine Marie and her husband, Ryan Patrick Carr, and grandchildren, William, John and Andrew in Austin, Texas; a son, James Patrick, and his wife, Jill Collet, in Cincinnati, Ohio; and a son, Mark Edward, and his wife, Sarah Granger, and grandson, John Thomas IV (Jack) and granddaughter, Georgia James in Prosper, Texas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with Father Clem Davis officiating. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street and 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at the church. In keeping with the family's wishes, cremation will take place following the service.
Lynda Crawford Abshire, 82, Died; Gifted Musician, Westporter
Lynda Crawford Abshire passed away in Westport, CT on Wednesday July 20, 2022 after a long struggle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Lynda was born in Pecos, TX on March 5, 1940, and was the only child of Jo and Vernon Crawford.
A sensitive and gifted musician, Lynda graduated from the University of North Texas in 1962, majoring in Music. She went on to earn two masters degrees in arts-related disciplines.
In addition to keyboards, Lynda was also an accomplished recorder player and classical singer, specializing in baroque recorder and chamber choral music. While living in Atlanta, Lynda sang with Robert Shaw's Atlanta Symphony Chorus. After moving to Westport, CT from Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2009, Lynda joined the Southern Connecticut Camerata, with whom she sang in many public concerts. She also performed frequently in the Connecticut area with the Dolce Ensemble.
Lynda also enjoyed performing as an actor with community musical theater groups. In 2012, she performed the role of Joanne in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Company" with the Westport Community Theater, which Lynda described as, "The role of a lifetime."
Lynda was a lifelong Democrat and the longstanding companion of Sandra Wagenfeld of Westport, CT. Lynda is survived by her sons Gary Vern Abshire and Michael Krystian Abshire, as well as by her former husband, Robert Abshire, all of Fort Worth, Texas. Lynda specifically wished to express her deep gratitude to Wendy Awa, David Lassow, Martha Scales, and Valerie Wagenfeld for the devoted care they have given her during her illness.
William Bradford Sowik, Staples Grad, Air Force Veteran, Died
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of William Bradford Sowik on July 13, 2022. He passed away peacefully after a 5 year battle with cancer.
He will be deeply missed by his wife of almost 50 years, Sherri, his sons, Jason (Samantha) and Jeremy (Olivia) and grandchildren Kingston and Noah; sister Sharene Chiaia (Louie), and his cousins Frank and Ellen, nieces and nephews and many extended family members.
Born and raised in CT, Bill spent many summers out at Cockenoe Island, graduated from Staples High School and graduated from UConn with a degree in Environmental Sciences. He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force. He jogged for many years and enjoyed playing golf and had the highlight of hitting a hole in one in 2012. He worked for many years for the State of CT monitoring air quality as a field technician at the DEEP.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT on Saturday, August 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will always be grateful to the staff of Dr. Joseph McLaughlin at the John DeQuattro Cancer Center and Bill's hospice team as well as family and many friends who were there for us.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made online to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (www.pcf.org). If mailing, the address is 1250 Fourth Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Please reference Bill's name "in memory" in either the online or sent donation. Inform them of your name and address so they can notify the family of your donation. Also, donations can be made to Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut to enable donations of medical supplies for people who need them at www.echn.org. Please write checks out to VNHSC Hospice and send to VNHSC Hospice, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066. For complete obituary and online condolences, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.