Ryegate, VT Carroll Clifton Tappy Eastman, 83, died on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at his home on Witherspoon Road. He was born in Groton, VT, September 16, 1925, a son of Roger and Sarah Crocker (Lawton) Eastman. Tappy worked for 37 years as a stone cutter in South Ryegate and Barre retiring from Savard Granite. He married Arlene (Barnes) Perkins on July 8, 1976. He entered the United States Army on November 18, 1943 and served with the 277th Combat Engineers and the 333rd Engineer Special Service Regiment in the European Theater in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe until his discharge on March 29, 1946. He received the Good Conduct and Victory Medals. In his younger years he logged with a team of horses. He always enjoyed hunting, brook fishing, gardening, and sugaring. During the winter, he loved to read, especially books about Vermont history. He was a supporter of the Blue Mountain School community, attending their sporting events, sharing his knowledge of the local granite history and taking classes to the Blue Mt. quarry. Following his retirement, he and Arlene traveled and were members of the Vermont 251 Club. He also helped at the Ryegate Corner Presbyterian Church. Most importantly, he cherished the times visiting with family and friends. He was predeceased by his first wife Eldora (Chamberlin) Eastman on September 26, 1970; two sisters,Carrie Esther Murray and Dorothy Magoon; six brothers, Harold Tom , Howard, Earl Bart , Bernice Larry , Vernold Cut , and Kenneth; by a step son Richard Perkins on December 27, 2005; a step grandson Jeff Leonard on March 24, 1999, and by a son-in-law Dean Hatch on October 1, 2004. Survivors include his wife, Arlene Eastman of Ryegate, VT; three daughters, Ruth Hatch of South Ryegate, Codie Rockwood and husband Tim of Hartland, VT, and Lois Farley of Nashville, TN: two sons, Dean Eastman and wife Pamela of Sutton, VT and Robert Eastman and wife Victoria of Port Orchard, WA; 8 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; a sister Catherine Cochran of Morrisville, VT; a brother Robert Eastman and wife Ann of Groton; two step daughters, Laura Clark and husband John of Williamstown, VT and Linda Leonard and husband Dan of Ryegate; two step sons, Gene Perkins and wife Nancy and Daryl Perkins and wife Dottie all of Ryegate; 9 step grandchildren, 6 step great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Calling hours will be Thursday, April 9, 2009, from 6-8 PM at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville, NH. A funeral service will be on Friday, April 10 at 1 PM at Ricker Funeral Home, with Rev. Dr. M. Catherine Cook, officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Groton Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Groton-Ryegate FAST Squad, c/o Groton Town Treasurer, 1476 Scott Highway, Groton, VT 05046.