Arthur B. Stearns

Arthur Burdette Stearns passed away at the age of 86 in his home Saturday night, August 13, 2016 after a bravely fought struggle with cancer. Throughout his illness Arthur took great solace and joy in the care and company of Kathleen Stearns, his loving wife. Arthur was born October 7, 1929. Arthur?s twin passions in life can accurately be narrowed down to his family, and the Stearns family?s farm, Mountain Dairy. Arthur truly devoted his life to the vitality and productivity of the family business. During his depression era youth, he peddled milk from door to door in the early morning hours before each school day. He was known from a young age as a hard and diligent worker. This reputation continued to be well earned into the later part of his life. Arthur continued to rise before 3AM in order to milk Mountain Dairy?s herd of Holstein and Jersey cows into his eighties and continued to be involved at the executive level of the company, as Board Chairman, until shortly before his death, when his health no longer permitted him to attend meetings. In addition to his love of working hard and getting a great deal accomplished, Arthur loved to meet and talk to people. Whether they were old or young, friends or strangers, Arthur made a striking impression on everyone he met and loved to pass spare moments striking up conversations with anyone within earshot. On his rare days off he loved sharing a hearty meal and a lively discussion with his close friends and family. The fact that these conversations always steered their way back to talk regarding the state of things ?at the farm? was no coincidence. For Arthur, his life and his life work were inseparable concepts. The land and animals he cared for were the embodiment of his family legacy and an extension of himself. He will live on in the continued cultivation of the land at Mountain Dairy and in the loving hearts and warm memories of those who knew and loved him. He will be sorely missed by his 10 surviving children: Arthur C. Stearns, Leslie H. Stearns, Beverley Bresson, Janet Kozin, Marilyn Gould, Kevin Stearns, Craig Stearns, Eliza Stearns, Wallace Stearns, and Shepherd Stearns. He also leaves behind a number of cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren that is too long to list here but whom he loved and appreciated to an unending degree. He was predeceased by his parents Willard J. and Frances C. Stearns, as well as his older brothers Willard C. and Luther E. Stearns and his sister Althea F. Ward. The loss of his son Calvin at just five years of age was a heart-deep wound which never fully healed for him. Calling Hours will be held, Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT. The Funeral Service will be Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., at Mountain Dairy Farm, 50 Stearns Rd., Mansfield, CT. A Committal Service will be held at 11:15 a.m. at Mansfield Center Cemetery on Cemetery Rd. To sign the online memorial book please visit, www.potterfuneralhome.com