Obituary for Lyle Carmi Preston, Sr
Lyle Carmi Preston, Sr. passed away in Newport, VT on March 18, 2022, three days shy of his 84th birthday. Lyle died peacefully after battling dementia for many years. Born on March 21, 1938 in Georgia Plain, VT, he was the fifth of seven children of the late Carmi and Laura (Thibault) Preston. Lyle spent his childhood in Vermont before moving to Connecticut, where he attended Glastonbury High School and later graduated from RHAM High in its first graduating class. After serving in the National Guard and the Army, Lyle embarked on a nearly 40-year career as a carpenter with CT Carpenters Local Union 43. On February 8, 1963, he married the love of his life, Nancy (Schmartz) Preston, and they raised their three children in Glastonbury. In 2002, Lyle and Nancy retired to Newport Center, VT, and had celebrated 57 years of marriage when Nancy passed away in 2020.
Lyle was genuine, hard working, and adept at building and fixing almost anything. He loved genealogy and his extended family; the highlight of every summer was attending the Preston family reunion. He was a self-taught musician who played the guitar and harmonica. An avid hunter and archer, Lyle loved the outdoors and together with his family enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, and attending bluegrass festivals. Always equipped with the right tool, or Dad joke, for the occasion, Lyle extended himself to anyone who needed a hand with a project. Lyle was an accomplished marksman who competed in his younger years and who taught pistol safety in retirement.
Aside from his parents and his loving wife, Lyle was preceded in death by sisters Thelma and Joyce, brothers Wayne and Chet, and many extended family members. He is survived by sisters Eleanor Isleib of Middletown, CT and Rebecca Hyder of Thompson, CT; son Lyle, Jr., wife Liz, and grandson AJ, of S. Windsor, CT; daughter Lisa, husband Bradley Pagliaro, and granddaughter Natasha Bailey, of Honolulu, HI; and daughter Linda and grandson Al, of Longmeadow, MA. Lyle is also survived by cousins and guardian angels Emma and Jim Chaplin of Highgate, VT.
The family wishes to thank all of those who helped to maintain Lyle’s quality of life: the staff of North Country Hospital and the Pride agency, especially the Doyle family and Kristie Putnam. There will be no services. Please honor Lyle’s memory by doing good deeds for others and being generous with your talents. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
Lyle was genuine, hard working, and adept at building and fixing almost anything. He loved genealogy and his extended family; the highlight of every summer was attending the Preston family reunion. He was a self-taught musician who played the guitar and harmonica. An avid hunter and archer, Lyle loved the outdoors and together with his family enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, and attending bluegrass festivals. Always equipped with the right tool, or Dad joke, for the occasion, Lyle extended himself to anyone who needed a hand with a project. Lyle was an accomplished marksman who competed in his younger years and who taught pistol safety in retirement.
Aside from his parents and his loving wife, Lyle was preceded in death by sisters Thelma and Joyce, brothers Wayne and Chet, and many extended family members. He is survived by sisters Eleanor Isleib of Middletown, CT and Rebecca Hyder of Thompson, CT; son Lyle, Jr., wife Liz, and grandson AJ, of S. Windsor, CT; daughter Lisa, husband Bradley Pagliaro, and granddaughter Natasha Bailey, of Honolulu, HI; and daughter Linda and grandson Al, of Longmeadow, MA. Lyle is also survived by cousins and guardian angels Emma and Jim Chaplin of Highgate, VT.
The family wishes to thank all of those who helped to maintain Lyle’s quality of life: the staff of North Country Hospital and the Pride agency, especially the Doyle family and Kristie Putnam. There will be no services. Please honor Lyle’s memory by doing good deeds for others and being generous with your talents. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.