Thetford, VT – Roy Durkee, 87, of Thetford passed peacefully at his home in the early morning of Monday, February 13, 2023, to join his beloved wife, Charlotte.

He was born July 18, 1935, in Pompanoosuc, one of eleven children to Ralph H. and Beatrice (Goodrich) Durkee. Roy grew up in Union Village and attended school in Pompanoosuc. He lived in Union Village until he married Charlotte Mace on December 26, 1954, in her family home in White River Jct. and they remained married until her passing in 2022.

Roy began his work career in his early twenties, first at the Copper Mines in South Strafford, and ended his career at Dartmouth College, in the Building and Grounds Department where he worked for 40 years until his retirement in 2000. After retirement, he continued as a locksmith working out of his home.

He was an exceptional finish carpenter, building three of his own homes and taking on odd jobs throughout the years. He especially enjoyed helping his children and grandchildren with special projects around their homes.

Family was the most important thing to Roy, and he always cared about others before himself. You knew if you called on him for anything, he would drop whatever he was doing to be there, especially when it came to family. He played an intricate role in his grandchildren and great grandchildren's lives. As they grew up and began their own families, he was always interested in what was going on and how he could help.

Roy had a wonderful sense of humor which he maintained to the very end. He was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed hunting with his sons, extended family, and friends. After he was no longer able to spend time in the woods, he and Charlotte enjoyed late afternoon rides looking for deer and waiting eagerly to hear the stories of the day as other hunters returned home.

Roy also loved car races and each year looked forward to the beginning of the NASCAR season and once it started was always watching every Sunday. In years past, he and Charlotte would also spend Saturday nights at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford.

Roy is survived by three children, Cheryl Leavitt and husband Rick of Newport, NH, Eric Durkee and wife Karen of East Thetford, and Scott Durkee and wife Tina of North Thetford; three grandchildren, Aaron Jordan and wife Kelly of Grantham, Jeremy Durkee and wife Stephanie of Windsor,  and Kendra Durkee of White River Jct.; great-grandchildren, Mason and Mara Jordan, Eleanor "Ellie" and Brooklyn Durkee and William Lopez; brothers, Kenneth Durkee of Post Mills, Howard Durkee of East Thetford and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Charlotte Eva Durkee and brothers, Jimmy, Heman, William, Leonard and Gene; sisters, Dorothy Sullivan, Irene Smith, and Helen Hodgdon.

Roy's family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical and nursing staff at the Cardiology Department and Cardiac Critical Care Unit at Dartmouth Health for his care the past few years.

A graveside service is planned for a date in the spring in the Hillside Cemetery in Thetford, VT.

Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to Roy's family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.