Stanley Reynolds

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Stanley James Reynolds Jr. His soul left this earth the evening of Wednesday, November 20, 2024, of natural causes, and not before enjoying one last piece of blackberry pie. His passing leaves a void that can never be filled, and he will be forever missed by all who knew and loved him. 

He arrived March 16, 1948, the first-born child of Stanley James (Sharkey) Reynolds and Shirley (Gordon) Reynolds. Over the next several years, the Milton family welcomed seven more children, Suzanne, Steven, Stuart, Sidney, Scott, Shaun & Starlene, settling on Railroad Street. 

In his early years he spent a lot of time at his grandparent’s (Joseph & Aline Gordon) home on Westford Road in Milton, helping on the dairy farm alongside his Uncle Robert and cousin Ed, who were more like brothers to him. When he hit eighth grade, he decided he would rather work than attend school and so he spent his next 50+ years doing a little bit of everything. He was a jack-of-all-trades, an inventor, entrepreneur, and mechanical genius. He could do math in his head like no one else, and he could build anything from scratch. His understanding of hydraulics was impressive to say the least. When he was processing equations, his eyebrows would rise, his eyes would dart back and forth, nostrils flaring as his nose twitched, and you knew he was formulating something big! When driving, he would always point out houses that he worked on or helped build, providing ALL the details of the project, including how many blocks it took for the foundation and the exact date it was completed. 

His hobbies included collecting junk that he considered treasure, visiting friends, puttering in the shop, telling jokes (especially the dirty ones), riding around looking for deer, yard saling, watching YouTube videos of wood processors/logging equipment, judging singers on The Voice, picking berries in the summer, gun bingo, playing poker, going to deer camp, telling stories, making pies, candy and deviled eggs, riling up the grandkids, pinching pennies and his most favorite pastime of all, watching the sap run in the Spring of the year.

He is survived by his children and families, Troy Reynolds and his wife Leslie of Waterville; April Begnoche and her husband Marcel of Hartsville, SC; Jodi Quigley and her husband Joe of Colchester; and their mother Cheryl Williams of Murphy NC. Matt Marra and his wife Amy of Hinesburg; Toni Marra and her partner Ray of Montpelier; Kelly Lamphere of Grand Isle; and their mother Mary Marra of Milton. 

Grandchildren: TJ (Ashley), Devon, Kenneth, Logan (Kallie), Kolby, Noah, Marisa, Madison, Madeline, Breydon, Maeve & Maryn. Great Grandchildren: Adriana & Remick. 

His siblings: Suzanne Lang and her husband Clayton of AZ; Steve Reynolds of Milton, Stuart Reynolds of OH, Sidney Reynolds and his wife Suzanne of Milton, Shaun Reynolds of Jeffersonville, and Starlene Reynolds of St. Albans. 

Several nieces and nephews (two of them his godchildren), great nieces and nephews, cousins, and his two special Aunts, Polly Gordon (Leland) and Jerilyn Gordon (Robert). 

Stan valued all his friendships, but a few friends deserve special thanks for the extra attention they gave to him over the years. Katie Banks was always doting over him or bossing him around and he would chuckle after every phone call, which always ended with a “love you.” His special friendship with Mike Gokey spanned 35+ years, and he loved him like a son, talking to him every night on the phone, and having dinner together regularly. Finally, there is Mary Marra, whose heart of gold has blessed our family for close to 37 years. She was there through the good and the bad, and Dad could always count on her to remember the bits and pieces, so and so’s name, the exact date he bought a piece of equipment, and everything in between.

He was predeceased by his parents Stanley (Sharkey) and Shirley Reynolds, a brother Scott W. Reynolds in infancy, nephew Aaron Lang, son-in-law Shawn Lamphere, sister-in-law Sandy Turner, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends whom he adored. 

Per his wishes, there will be no services. He is to be cremated, and his ashes spread around deer camp in Belvidere and up in the sugarbush. There will be a celebration of life on August 02, 2025, at Jodi & Joe’s, 167 Macrae Road, Colchester, VT. Please mark your calendar now.

Life as we know it has been altered forever. We’d like to thank everyone who has reached out to offer their support and condolences during this difficult time. We look forward to seeing you all for an epic sendoff for the man we all loved.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a local nursing home. Warm socks/slippers, hygiene/toiletry products, lap blankets, stationary, puzzles, games, adult coloring books, knitting/crochet materials, a special treat.