Evangeline Bachelder, 87, widow of the Rev. Horace Bachelder, died Nov. 12, 2007, in Melrose, MA. They served the Atkinson Church, Oregon City, OR, from 1946-1971, where Evangeline directed a 30-voice junior choir and often composed music. She composed a hymn, “I Held the Planets in my Hand” which was pasted into the hymnal and sung often by the (then) 600-member church. Under their leadership, the church went from Congregational to Unitarian in 1959. They moved to Plymouth, MA, in 1971, where Horace ministered until his death in 1981. Evangeline again directed the Jr. Choir.
Author: Duane Fickeisen
Virginia Bicknell
Virginia Bicknell, 78, widow of the Rev. Kelsey Bicknell, died in July, 2007, and David Pohl conducted her memorial service at the Unitarian Memorial Church, Fairhaven, MA. David writes, “Ginny was a teacher as well as mother, grandmother and friend. Her children spoke of her as a great cook, one who loved puzzles, and had a boundless love for her family. She was also ‘a second mother’ to many college students. I shall always remember her as a smart and kind person who lived with courage and grace throughout her 78 years.” She leaves a son, Michael, and three daughters, Rebecca Bicknell, Leigh Hemingway and Anita Langley.
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Norman Helverson
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Norman Helverson, 95, died April 25, 2007, at Carleton-Willard Village, Bedford, MA. He was minister emeritus of the First Parish in Cambridge, MA, which he served as minister from 1959 to 1977. He also served UU congregations in Ithaca, NY, and N. Palm Beach, FL, as well as being interim minister for San Diego, CA, W. Hartford, CT, Naples, FL, and Dedham, MA.
He was a graduate of Anderson College (B.A.), Garrett Theological Seminary (B.D.) and Cornell University (M.A.), and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1969.
A distinguished preacher, thinker and writer, he was also a beloved pastor and colleague. He had served on several boards and committees of the UUA and related organizations, and was the author of several collections of prayers and meditations.
A memorial service celebrating Ralph’s life and ministry was held on Wednesday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. at The First Parish of Cambridge (in Harvard Square). Letters of condolence may be sent to his wife of 67 years, Wynanda Helverson, 88 Falmouth Court, Bedford, MA 01730-2912.
The Rev. Dwight E. Smith
The Rev. Dwight E. Smith, 76, died April 18, 2007 of an aneurysm. His wife, the Rev. Carol Hilton was by his side. He served congregations, in co-ministry with his wife in Hobart, Indiana; Cedar Falls, Iowa, Clinton, Iowa, and Vista, California. Following their retirement in 2003, the Palomar UU Fellowship in Vista named them Ministers Emeriti. Surviving are his wife and two children from a previous marriage, Mark Smith of Lafayette, LA, and Cara Ferguson of Houston, and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held May 20.
The Rev. Frances E. McQuarie West
The Rev. Frances E. McQuarie West, 75, died March 15, 2007, of complications from pneumonia. Frances was led to her ministry through lay leadership at the UU Congregation Atlanta with the encouragement of Rev. Eugene Pickett. She served as Chaplain in the Emory University Hospital, and congregations in Winder, GA; Raleigh, NC; Gwinnet, Decatur, Atlanta and Marietta, GA; where she was named Emeritus in 1995. She was an advocate for hospice care. She was survived by her husband Bill West; their children Jean Alhadeff, Aran, Nina and Todd West. A memorial service was held May 19, 2007 at the UU Congregation of Marietta, GA, led by her son Todd West, president of the UU Congregation of the Shoals in Florence, AL.
The Rev. A. John Skeirik
The Rev. A. John Skeirik, 88, died March 7, 2007 in Brewster, MA, of kidney failure. He was ordained in 1947 as a Methodist minister and received UUA Final Fellowship in 1965. John served Methodist pastorates NY and Massachusetts and UU ministries in Sherborn and Reading, MA, Hollis, NY and Middleboro, MA where he was named minister emeritus. After retirement John and Betsey continued to live on Cape Cod. He had a second career as a multi-media specialist and served as an assistant librarian in public schools. John was an exceptional amateur photographer, and enjoyed carving objects with his wood-carving power tools. He and Betsey also enjoyed travel, including a number of trips to Europe. He donated time to the library of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural His-tory. One of his colleagues writes, “John was an uncomplicated, transparently kind, and genuinely liberal minister, one without a mean bone in his body.” He was survived by his wife of 59 years, Betsey, a brother and a sister. A memorial service was held March 24 in Chatham, MA.
The Rev. Michael Edward Boardman
The Rev. Michael Edward Boardman, 68, died Dec. 9, 2006, of progressive supranuclear palsy. He had dreams of becoming a dairy farmer, but he soon realized one must have money to buy a farm. Instead, he entered Starr King School for the Ministry. He served churches in Whittier, CA, and later in Sudbury, Brookline and South Natick, MA and several interim ministries. Shortly after an incorrect diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Michael retired in 2002 and moved with his wife, Barbara Prairie, to Berea, KY. Despite declining health, he participated in various organizations, converted to Catholicism and regularly attended mass at St. Clare. He is survived by Barbara; daughters Katherine Edwards and Sheila Boardman; stepdaughters Adrienne Cruise and Karen Ransom; and five grandchildren.
The Rev. Dr. Clarke Dewey Wells
Clarke Wells
The Rev. Dr. Clarke Dewey Wells, 76, died Nov. 8, 2006. He served churches in Oklahoma City; Cincinnati, OH; Portland, OR; and Newton, MA. As interim, he served in Bloomington and Muncie IN; Houston, TX; Santa Barbara, Santa Paula and San Luis Obispo, CA; Youngstown, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Asheville, NC. He also served in Lakeland, FL, where he was named Minister Emeritus. Author of four books of poetry and well-known essays, His reputation as a dynamic preacher and an excellent teacher led to many requests for these services following his retirement in 1995. He served on the Board of Trustees for Meadville Lombard and as adjunct faculty and chaplain. He was a special lecturer at Starr King. In 1977 gave the sermon at the Service of the Living Tradition at GA in Boston. He also served on the Commissions on Appraisal, the Free Church and Common Worship. He was Vice President of the UUMA (following merger in 1961). An avid athlete, he played football in high school and college; he was an enthusiastic snorkeler, handball, and tennis player. He marched with Dr. King in 1965, and was with his colleague, James Reeb, and his wife, Marie, at a hospital in Birmingham, AL, when Rev. Reeb died. Clarke is survived by his sons, Jared St. John Wells of Tucson, AZ and Garde MacKenzie Wells of Eugene, OR; as well as his wife and companion, Barbara Carlson.
Dorothy Simonetti
Dorothy Simonetti, 95, widow of the Rev. Leon Strock Simonetti died July 7, 2006 in Auburn, IN. They served churches in Athol, MA; and Utica, Barneveld and Little Falls, NY. She was a member of the Unitarian Church in Fort Wayne, IN. Her husband died in 1968. She is survived by a daughter, Donna Russell, in Waterloo, IN.
Laile E. Bartlett, Ph.D.
Laile E. Bartlett, Ph.D., 90, wife of the Rev. Josiah R. Bartlett, died May 11, 2006 in Ft. Bragg, CA. Laile received her sociology Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a social settlement post in the east end of London, a government internship with the National Institute of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C, and a lectureship with the League of Nations in Geneva. For the first half of her career she taught on college campuses and the second half was research and writing: Bright Galaxy, an analysis of the Unitarian fellowship movement (Beacon Press), The Vanishing Parson, on the clergy exodus (Beacon Press), New Work/New Life (Harper and Row), on career change, and Psi Trek, (McGraw-Hill). This book, in which she explores psychics and psychic phenomena, resulted in more than 90 invitations to appear on TV and radio programs. Most distinctive was her long and extensive collaboration with her husband, who was president of Starr King for nearly 20 years. Her radio program, “The Family Reads,” co-hosted with her husband, was nominated for a Peabody Award. The Bartletts created an interim ministry program for the UU denomination. They served in interim ministries in more than 25 churches throughout the US. She is survived by four children: Joel Emerson Bartlett of Phonenixville, PA, Joselyn Kingsley Bartlett Miksak of Caspar, CA, Loel Starr Bartlett Miller of Walnut Creek, CA, and Noel Channing Bartlett, of Lafayette, CA; and three grandchildren.