Whistling Mailman, Whistles No More

Percy "Elmer" Ayer, 82, of Bank Avenue in Claremont, died Tuesday morning,
February 7, 2006 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in White
River Junction, VT after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Pembroke, NH on November 7, 1923 the son of Percy and Olive
(Lemay) Ayer and had resided in Claremont most of his life.

He was a graduate of Stevens High School in the class of 1941 and was a
veteran of World War II having served in the US Navy.

He worked at Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield, VT and with his father did
painting and wallpapering for several years.  He became a mailman at the
Claremont Post Office and retired after thirty years of service and was
known as the "Whistling Mailman".

Elmer was a member of the Windsor, VT American Legion Post #25, the
Claremont Moose Lodge #1201 and the Oliver Lacasse Post #808 Veterans of
Foreign Wars.  His love was for his grandchildren, stock car racing,
casino's, reading and dancing.

He was the widow of Louise "Dolly" (Simms) Ayer whom he married Oct. 30,
1947 and she died in 1990. He was pre-deceased by a son, Thomas Allan
Goyette in 2005; a granddaughter, Lisa Marie Goyette in 1969; a sister,
Eldora O. Henault in 1990 and a foster brother, Kenneth Leslie in 2004.

The surviving family includes two sons, Donald E. Ayer and his wife,
Jennifer of Cornish and Larry R. Ayer, Sr. and his wife, Joyce of Wells
River, VT; one daughter, Jane Companion and her husband, Daniel of
Claremont; one daughter-in-law, Lorraine Goyette of Claremont; ten
grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Eileen Eroszonak of
Claremont and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont
on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 PM.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday morning, Feb. 10th at Eleven-Thirty
at the Funeral Home with Rev. Father Stanley J. Piwowar, Pastor of St
Joseph's Church, officiating.

Interment with full military honors provided by the American Legion will
follow in Union Cemetery.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his
memory to the Veterans Administration Respite Room Fund, 215 North Main
Street, White River Junction, VT 05009-0001.