Obituary: Arlis M. Fuglie
January 30, 1946 — July 2, 2026
August 26, 2026 Arlis Marie Fuglie, age 80, passed away on July 2, 2026, in Barre, Vermont, after surviving cancer and struggling against Alzheimer’s disease.
Arlis M. Fuglie, 1946-2026
She was born on January 30, 1946, in Winona, Minnesota, the daughter of Alfrieda Melinda (Kuehn) Fuglie and Elmer Alvin Fuglie. Beginning a lifelong love of art, nature, water-based activities and travel, Arlis graduated in 1964 from Winona Senior High School in Winona, Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art and minored in English and History at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, graduating in 1968.
Arlis lived in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco. During these years, she lived in a commune and was proud to have been a hippie. She and friends bicycled from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Toronto, Ontario, before continuing by train to Vancouver. The group also canoed up the Allagash River in Maine.
She moved to New England and settled in Burlington, Vermont, where she worked in Adult Basic Education. After five years, she took a job in adult education for the state of Vermont, where she worked until she retired in 2009.
While employed by the state, Arlis met the love of her life, Don Maris Gamble. They married on October 11, 1987, and moved to Waterbury, Vermont. Though Don predeceased Arlis, she is survived by step-children Jim Gamble, Amy Gamble and Todd Gamble, and her grandchildren Gaston (Jim), Jess and Gabby (Amy), Duncan her godson, Grace, Brandon, and Geo (Todd).
While married, Arlis joined the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 59 in Waterbury and helped produce USO shows for 16 years. She was selected Vermont Volunteer of the Year in 2015. Arlis also became a member of the Waterbury Area Senior Center and served on its Board of Directors. Her love and gift for art found expression in set dec with the Lyric Theatre, where she designed and painted sets for a plethora of plays at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, among them “My Fair Lady” and “Babes in Toyland,” with Don and Todd “flying” backdrops behind the scenes.
Don and Arlis traveled extensively, preferring cruises. Rather than continuing the waterskiing and swimming she enjoyed in younger years, Arlis tried and loved water aerobics, making a number of great friends.
Arlis is survived by her sister, Lois Ann (Fuglie) Reed, and she was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Lawrence Allen Reed. She also was predeceased by her mother, Alfrieda Melinda (Kuehn) Fuglie, father Elmer Alvin Fuglie, and brother Larry Allen Fuglie. She is survived by nieces and goddaughters Kathleen Marie Reed and Patricia Ann (Reed) Leeds.
A graveside service was held on July 16 at the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vermont.
The family invites friends to join them on Saturday, Sept. 5, for a celebration of Arlis’ extraordinary life from 2 to 5 p.m. at Camp Meade in Middlesex.
Attendees are invited to bring their favorite stories, photos, and memories of Arlis to share. In honor of her bright spirit, the family encourages guests to wear comfortable and casual, bright colors, something that would be apropos for working set dec at the Flynn for Lyric Theatre, rehearsing for a USO show, popping down for a creemee, or puttering in the garden.
Those who wish to read or share a story are asked to let the family know in order to be included in the program. There will be music at the celebration, so if anyone has a special song to request, please send an email so it can be added to the list. In addition, Woodbelly wood-fired pizza will be available as well as a cash bar.
Those planning to attend are asked to please reply by Aug. 28 with an email to Alleto04@gmail.com so the family can plan accordingly.
For those unable to attend in person, the family is planning to have a livestream via Zoom; anyone interested should send an email to receive those details.
In lieu of flowers, those who would like to make a memorial donation are requested to direct them to Central Vermont Humane Society or to the American Legion Post 59 in Waterbury. Cards may be mailed to Amy Gamble, 15 Spring St., Montpelier, VT 05602.
Arrangements are in the care of Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home in Barre. Those wishing to share online condolences may do so at pruneaupollifuneralhome.com.