Merton S. Pike, Stowe farm fixture, dies at age 98

Merton Sabin Pike, a prominent farmer and community leader in Stowe, died in the early hours of Wednesday, April 18, 2018, two days before his 98th birthday.

He was born April 20, 1920, in Lyndon Center, the first son of Carroll M. and Ruth Grandy Pike, who moved to Stowe in 1921, settling on the farm that his mother named “Keewaydin,” a native term for firefly. Merton lived there the remainder of his life.

Brother Milton died before him; brother Morris of Shelburne survives.

As an active member of the Stowe Community Church, which he officially joined in 1936, he served as deacon, trustee and president; on the nominating committee and fundraising committee for the church renovation; and as a member of the choir, prayer group, calling group, Bible study, etc.

His years of formal education led to graduation from Stowe High School in 1938 and the University of Vermont in 1942.

He was hired by Eastern States Farmers’ Exchange during the World War II years but came back to work on the farm to help through the winter with hauling water for the herd and stayed on there as a needed farm worker during the war effort. Eventually business arrangements were made with his parents and subsequently with his son Les and daughter-in-law Claire.

He married Ora Heywood in 1943; to them were born three children, Lucene, now of Florence, Ore.; Leslie in Stowe; and Rosemary. This marriage lasted nearly 72 years. Ora died in 2015 and Rosemary in 1966.

The years included involvement in the Farm Bureau; president of the local Dairy Herd Improvement Association; clerk and director of Central Vermont Breeder’s Association; director of Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association, nine-year director of Eastern States Farmers Exchange; council member and director for 18 years of Agway; member and president of Brandon Training School Association; president of the state Association for Retarded Children; local justice of the peace; member of Stowe Historical Society, Town Charter Commission and Town Police Commission; Town Conservation Committee chair; and Stowe Land Trust director, president and director emeritus.

A farm accident in 1971 left him a double amputee and presented challenges and new areas of involvement in the Extension Rural Farm Family Vocational Rehab Program, State Vocational Rehab Advisory Council, Disability Support Groups (“Champutees”), County and Regional Extension Service Committees.

Merton completed the sale of the farm to Les and Claire in 1988 but remained actively engaged in farm life, always found tinkering, designing and repairing, including designing and building hand controls for all the farm tractors, which he drove for countless hours up until he was 96.

The later years brought enjoyment watching granddaughter Suzi and her husband, Brett, and grandson Dan and wife Katie become active fourth-generation farmers at Keewaydin.

Granddaughter Sara (husband Denver), who teaches, brightened Merton’s world with great-grandson Scott. Lucene’s “bonus family” brought Ginger, Sarah and Katie into his days as well.

Among accolades received, he was humbled by these awards: 1989 Stowe Fire Department Clifton Thompson Public Service Award and finalist for George D. Aiken Vermont Agriculturist of the Year; 1998 Stowe Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Award; 2001 Stowe Conservation Commission Award for Conservationist of the Year; 2006 inducted into the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Merton Sabin was named for his two grandfathers and words attributed in 1947 to the one named Merton seem appropriate: “Such a man inevitably is missed when his physical presence is with us no longer. But the power of his living presence cannot be removed from the hearts of those who knew him, nor will the strength of the character which he built be weakened by the passing of the years. It has become a part of the lives of many people, thus extending its influence to coming generations.”

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, May 8, at 11 a.m. at Stowe Community Church, 137 Main St.

Contributions in his honor and memory can be shared with Stowe Community Church, P.O. Box 991, Stowe, VT 05672; Stowe Land Trust, P.O. Box 284, Stowe, VT 05672; Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661.