West Fairlee, VT – Russell Horace Bragg, 78, life long resident of West Fairlee, VT, passed away Monday morning, July 29, 2019 at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center in Berlin, VT. He was born on May 26, 1941 in Woodsville, NH, the only child of Russell Warren and Alberta Violet (Huse) Bragg.  Russell attended grammar school in Fairlee and graduated from Bradford Academy in 1959.

Following graduation, Russ started working in the field of construction. In his early twenties, he began a bricklayer apprenticeship with Rich Construction in Littleton, NH, which was the start of his long and successful career in masonry. Russ was a quick study with an incredible work ethic, and he soon became a master mason. After several years working commercial jobs, he started his own business. He was known for his impressive fireplaces and stonewalls which are scattered throughout the Connecticut River Valley and beyond.

On October 22, 1963 he married Nancy Moran in Woodstock, VT. They lived on his family property on King Hill Road, overlooking Lake Fairlee. They were married for 55 years.

Russ would have told anyone that his greatest accomplishments, and loves, were his wife and raising their six wonderful daughters, who all graduated from the University of Vermont. He proudly served countless hours volunteering for his friends, neighbors, and the community of West Fairlee. He served decades in the town of West Fairlee as a Selectman, Justice of the Peace, Cemetery Commissioner, Planning Board Member, and as the representative to the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District. Russell was also a dedicated member of the Thetford and West Fairlee Volunteer Fire Departments, and was a reliable volunteer at their annual Chicken Barbecues. He was a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers for 52 years, and a member of the of the Free and Accepted Masons, Charity Lodge #43 in Bradford, VT for 46 years. Russ will be remembered as a very generous and loyal friend by the people he grew up with and worked with throughout his life.

He enjoyed the outdoors and especially deer hunting, trapping, and fishing. He and Nancy enjoyed many hours on the trails riding snowmobiles and their ATV with the clubs based in West Fairlee. Russell was the forth generation of his family who lived on King Hill road. He took great pride in his land, and raised beef cattle there for many years. He spent endless hours on the land cutting fire wood, haying, and fixing fence.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, of West Fairlee; his daughter Samantha and her husband Eric Lord of Raymond, NH, and their children Michael, Ashley, Mason, and Aidan; his daughter Kimberly Bragg and Ray Waring of Newbury, NH, and their children Connor, Riley, and Angie; his daughter Kristen and her husband Derek Kouwenhoven of Bristol, VT, and their children Alexis, Cole, and Gavin; his daughter Michele Bragg and her husband Django Phillips of Stratford, CT, and their children James, Amelia, Reed, and Henry; his daughter Nicole and her husband Jason Fahey of Orange, VT, and their children Adriana and Charles; his daughter Danielle Bragg of Williston, VT; and several cousins.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 5, at 11AM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT. Burial will follow with a Masonic Service and Committal prayers in the Ely Cemetery in Ely, Vermont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090.