Hazen Gordan Niles, age eighty-eight, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 18, 2011. He was the second of three children born to the late Orrin and Maddie (Sanborn) Niles of Newport Center, Vt. Hazen graduated from Newport Center High School, then received his B.S. degree in education from Johnson State College and a Masters of Education from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, where he was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi honor society. His 45 years of work as both a teacher and school administrator were performed in Vermont and Texas. On Thanksgiving Day in 1969, he married Alice Schultz, an El Paso, Texas teacher, with whom he enjoyed thirty-three years of marriage. Mr. Niles was pre-deceased by his wife, Alice; his parents, and two sisters: Erma Horn of Vermont and Marion Messier of Mansfield, his nephew Todd Messier of Willington, his niece, Sheila Tenofsky of Keene, NH and his nephews, the late Dayton Horn of Columbia and the late Lyndall Horne of Texas, whom he raised along with their brother, Darrell Horne of Poway, California, following his sister's death. He is survived by his nephew and his wife, Larry and Lynn Messier of Columbia, who have cared for him in his declining years and with whom he made his home for the past eighteen months. Other survivors include his nieces and nephews: Steve Messier of Enfield, Mike Messier of Columbia, Sue Blake of Delhi, NY, David Messier of Lebanon, Debbie Robinshaw of Coventry along with their children and grandchildren and his step-son, John Schultz of Seattle, WA. Heartfelt thanks belongs to all of those who helped with Uncles Hazen's care and provided support over the last few years, particularly Ted Crockett of Marlborough, Sharon Truglio of East Hampton and VNA East Hospice Care of Mansfield. He will be remembered fondly and with admiration for his generosity, kindness and commitment to family. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made in his name to the Saxton Free Library in Columbia c/o Carol Kubala 319 Rte 87 Columbia, CT 06237 to be used for the purchase of large-print books, that he highly enjoyed reading, so that others can do the same. There will be a gathering Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic prior to the procession to a graveside service at 11:00 a.m. in the New Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, CT. Please visit
www.potterfuneralhome.com
for online memorial guest book.