William H. Briggs Sr.

03/13/2005

William H. Briggs Sr., 82, of 72 Dublin Road died Sunday evening at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield after being stricken at home. Born in Adams on June 9, 1922, son of Helen Briggs Farewell, he attended schools there. A decorated Army veteran of World War II, he served from 1944 to 1946 in the European theater and earned the rank of sergeant. From 1967 to 1984, Mr. Briggs owned and operated Pine Valley Mobile Home Park, which he had developed. In 1989, he was a partner in the Mountain View Estates subdivision in Cheshire. From 1945 to 1961, he owned and operated a dairy farm where Hoosac Valley High School stands today. He also was a cattle dealer, doing business as "Double B Livestock." In the late 1940s and early 1950s, he was a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of First Congregational Church of Adams. He was a former member of the Cheshire Board of Health and a past commander of VFW Post 9396. He enjoyed fixing things and working on his computer. His wife, the former Vernon Bush, whom he married Dec. 5, 1942, died Oct. 18, 2000. He leaves a son, William H. Briggs Jr. of Cheshire; twin daughters, Bernice J. Hanvey of Nashua, N.H., and Bette A. Stano of Torrington, Conn.; a brother, Ralph Farewell of the state of Florida; a sister, Ida Hurlbut of North Adams, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for William H. Briggs Sr., 82, who died March 13, 2005, will be conducted Thursday, March 17, at 1 at DERY-CHESHIRE FUNERAL HOME by the Rev. William D. Furey, pastor of Berkshire Union Chapel. Burial will be in the spring in Cheshire Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 445, Cheshire, MA 01225. He leaves his daughter-in-law, Diane Briggs, and son-in-law, Nathaniel Stano; his seven grandchildren, Rodney Briggs, Lisa Jarvis, Tracy Thiel, Ryan Allen, Mark Duprey, Randy Duprey and Heather Duprey, and his nine great-grandchildren, Jimmy, Joshua, Kassandra, Kaylee, Amanda, Briggs, Nathan, Angelina and Ian. He was predeceased by a brother, Edward Farewell of Pittsfield.

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