Hartland Four Corners, VT – Gary Eliot Bernard, 63, died Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Roxbury, MA. He was born April 2, 1949 in Windsor, VT the son of Eliot Bernard and Connie Crowell. He grew up in Hartland and graduated from Windsor High School class of 1967. After high school he joined the US Marine Corp. and served in DaNang during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. After receiving a Purple Heart and his honorable discharge Gary went to work for the Green Mountain Power Company as a linesman but most of his working career was as a self employed carpenter. He named his business Fieldsville Construction and worked right up until his illness.

Gary was a true outdoorsman. He loved all kinds of hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed panning for gold. For over thirty years, long before it became fashionable, Gary panned the streams of Hartland and the surrounding areas. One of his closest companions was his beloved German Sheppard, "Alfie" who died just a few months ago.

He was predeceased by his father, Eliot and his step father, Warren Tessier.

He is survived by his mother, Constance "Connie" Tessier of Hartland Four Corners, his brother, Mark Tessier of Wallingford, VT, his two sisters, Lynne Bernard of Venice, FL and June Larsen of Peyton, CO also several relatives in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.

A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, September 29, at 12 Noon at Damon Hall in Hartland, VT. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, Cox Road, Woodstock, VT 05091 in memory of his dog Alfie or to the Universalist Church Steeple Fund, Hartland Four Corners, VT 05049.