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MAXINE BRENNAN
Maxine B. "Mickey" Brennan, 78, of Lancaster, died on November 27, 2002 at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster.
Mrs. Brennan was born in Colebrook on November 20, 1924. She was raised in Groveton where, she was graduated from Groveton High School.
For a time she worked as a civil servant in Washington, D.C. She was also employed at the American Consulate in London, where she met her husband Robert E. Brennan. He predeceased her on December 15, 1992.
For many years she was employed at Weeks Medical Center, formerly Weeks Memorial Hospital, as a transcriptionist in the medical records department. She continued to work there on a part-time basis after retirement and wintered for eight years with her son in Arizona.
She was a communicant of All Saints Church in Lancaster, and was a member and former president of the Tabernacle Society.
Family members include two sons, Terence M. Brennan of Roslindale, Mass. and Thomas J. Brennan of Phoenix, Ariz.; a grandson, Robert D. Brennan, nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on Saturday at the Bailey Funeral Home in Lancaster. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Sunday at All Saints Church in Lancaster. The Rev. Raymond A. Ball, pastor, officiated. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery in Lancaster.
Memorial donations may be made to All Saints Church, 163 Main St., Lancaster, NH 03584.
GEORGETTE BELANGER
Georgette Belanger, 81, of Colebrook, died on Wednesday afternoon, January 29, 2003 at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook.
She was born on June 22, 1921 in Lac Megantic, Quebec, the daughter of Onezime and Bertha (Blais) Roy. Mrs. Belanger attended school in Canada, and was married to Jean Belanger on June 21, 1941. In 1949 she and her husband moved to Colebrook, where she raised nine children.
Mrs. Belanger enjoyed home life. She was an excellent seamstress, making clothes for all her children. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Additionally she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles and French Canadian television shows. She was an active participant in St. Brendan's Catholic Church.
She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Jean Belanger of Colebrook; two sons, Mr. and Mrs. Serge and Darlene Belanger of San Antonio, Texas and Daniel Belanger of Monroe, Mich.; six daughters, Mrs. Pierre (Suzette) Langlois of Alstead, N.H., Mrs. Timothy (Diane) Stanley of Georgia, Vt., Mrs. Leo (Denise) Benoit of Concord, N.H., Mrs. Steve (Lucie) Stanton, of Kenai, Alaska, Mrs. Gerold (Carmen) Craft of Boulder, Mont., Mrs. Don (Josee) Julliano of Hanover, Mass.; a brother, Clement Roy, of Lac Megantic, Quebec; three sisters, Marcelle Labbe of Colebrook, Eva Breton of Lac Megantic and Monique Purrington of Colebrook; twenty grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by a son, Gilles Belanger, and by four brothers and three sisters. Donations in memory of Georgette Belanger may be sent to St. Brendan's Church, Pleasant Street, Colebrook, NH 03576.
Calling hours for Mrs. Belanger were held on Sunday afternoon, February 2, and again on Monday afternoon, February 3, at the Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Monday at St. Brendan's Church in Colebrook. Burial will take place in St. Brendan's Cemetery in the Spring.
ELLA EAMES
Ella M. (Mullins) Eames, 61, of Errol, died on Tuesday morning, February 4, 2003 at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital.
Mrs. Eames was born on January 30, 1942 in Berlin, the daughter of Wallace R. and Fannie E. (Hayes) Mullins.
Mrs. Eames was a teacher for 14 years for Milan Village School and more recently for the Errol Consolidated School. She enjoyed farming and haying with her family and was a member of the I.O.O.F. Rebekah Assembly, Emily Flint Rebekah Lodge #62. She loved her family and friends dearly and will be remembered for her wonderful cooking and her love of the ocean.
Mrs. Eames is survived by her loving husband, Norman "Pete" E. Eames, of Errol, to whom she was married on March 24, 1961; three children, Jesse Eames and his wife Claudette of Errol; Ethan Eames of Errol, and Elizabeth Host and her husband Bradley of Berlin; her parents, Wallace R. and Fannie E. Mullins, of Lancaster; a sister, Mona Douglass, and her husband Robert of Errol; three grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 6 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Jenkins Funeral Home in Colebrook. A spring memorial service will be held at the Errol Congregational Church, with an interment service to follow at the Errol Village Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy in Mrs. Eames' memory may be made to the Errol Rescue Squad, c/o Mrs. Terri Ruel, Route 26, Errol, NH 03579.
ORVILLE HAYNES
Orville A. Haynes died in Colebrook on May 25, 2003 at the age of 82. Orville, the son of Harley and Elsie Ida (Bumford) Haynes, was born in Colebrook on March 5, 1921. Orville was graduated from Colebrook Academy in the Class of 1940. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America and played several sports in school.
Orville was married to the love of his life, Frances Noyes, in Colebrook on July 17, 1941. They enjoyed nearly 62 years together. Orville began his working life driving a milk route for Harley Haynes Trucking, collecting milk cans from area farmers and delivering them to the local creameries. Orville and Frances began their life together on a dairy farm in Lemington. He also served as a volunteer fireman on the Colebrook Fire Department.
In the mid 1940s he purchased the farm on Route 3 in Colebrook, where he spent the majority of his working years. Orville worked seven days a week for several years and grew a very successful farm. He served on several Coös County committees to support local farmers. He was presented the Governor's Trophy, State of New Hampshire Green Pastures Award, for excellence in farming in 1961.
Orville owned Arctic Cat and New Holland Farm Equipment dealerships and enjoyed grooming North Country snowmobile trails. Later in life he bought the Hughes homestead, which was once owned by his great-grandfather, Daniel Bumford, and rebuilt the old sugar house. He was very particular about his maple syrup and enjoyed the ancient process of turning nature's sap into a sweet delicacy. He worked for the Colebrook Rest Area for twenty years and enjoyed helping people find their way.
Orville is survived by his wife, Frances; daughter Linda Haynes Stonner and husband Tom of Goffstown, son Ronald Haynes and wife Mary of Colebrook, son Thomas Haynes and wife Lisa of Bedford, daughter Nancy Haynes Call and husband Duane of Colebrook; brother Donald Haynes and wife Edna of Columbia, 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Glen Haynes and Clark Woodard.
Orville loved sports, snowmobiling, golfing, feeding the deer in the backyard, family gatherings and old friends. He especially loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events. He was a strong influence and role model for those who knew him. Orville was a quiet man whose advice was usually limited to a few words with a great deal of meaning.
Orville loved nature and animals. He was a man who was most at home, and at peace, when he was in the fields or woods with his golden retriever, Sandy. He will be missed, but is now at peace.
Calling hours were held on Tuesday, May 27 at the Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 28 at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Burial will be at the Colebrook Village Cemetery following the service. Friends are invited to join the family at the church for light refreshments following the burial.
Flowers are welcome, or those who wish to support Colebrook sports may contribute to the Colebrook Booster Club, c/o Dodie Smith at the First Colebrook Bank, 147 Main Street, Colebrook, NH.
RICHARD LEAVITT
Richard Freeman Leavitt, 74, of Colebrook, transcended this life on May 25, 2003 in the Coös County Nursing Hospital in West Stewartstown. His death climaxed a heroic fight against cancer.
He was born on March 30, 1929 in Colebrook, the second child of Henry Walter and Marion Rebecca (Covell) Leavitt. Through both parents he descended from three of the oldest families in the area. On his mother's side, he was a sixth-generation direct descendant of Isaac Covill, one of the partitioners for Colebrook's charter in the 1700s. He was a great-grandson of Freeman Porter and Rebecca (Hicks), Covell. On his father's side he was a nineth-generation descendent of Thomas Leavitt (Samuel Line), brother of John Leavitt. From both immigrant brothers descend all the gentile Leavitts in New England and throughout America. His parental great-grandfather was Henry Scott Lord of Pittsburg.
He was graduated from Colebrook Academy in 1947 and attended the University of New Hampshire. He served in the Navy from 1949-1953.
After the service, he became the Fuller Brush salesman in Colebrook. However, warmer weather called him to Florida, where he became an instant success as state manager for TV Guide. He received high praise for being the first in the nation to use color in the magazine's advertising. Richard then moved on to Corning, N.Y., where he became the advertising director for the Summer Theatre. This introduced him to a host of new friends and acquaintances in the world of entertainment, among them the well-known playwright Tennes-see Williams.
He became an author of some note. For the 1970 Colebrook Bicentennial he edited the Colebrook Cookbook, compiled and edited Colebrook Yesterday, and was a committee member for Colebrook School Days. He authored Yesterday's New Hampshire, published in 1974 and in 1978 he edited The World of Tennessee Williams. In 1995 he compiled the photos and genealogical chart for the book Tom, The Unknown Tennessee Williams, and in 2002 he co-authored Tennessee Williams and the South.
Richard became well-known as a sign painter in the Great North Woods. The Governor's Suite at the Balsams Hotel in Dixville Notch is graced by the Seal of New Hampshire, one of his many artful creations.
Despite his preference for more temperate climates he chose to retire in the town of his birth. He really was a lover of Colebrook.
He was predeceased by his sister, Faith, in 1990. He is survived by his brother, Claude, of Sunapee, N.H. and sister Martha Sanborn of Lisbon. In addition, he leaves several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours, along with a celebration of the life of Richard F. Leavitt, will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, May 30 at the Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. Burial will be in Colebrook Village Cemetery at a later date.
Those who wish to make donations in memory of Richard may give to the Coös County Nursing Hospital, Box 10, West Stewartstown, NH 03597.
MARY PHILLIPS
Mrs. Mary J. Phillips, 88, of Laconia and formerly of Tilton, died on Friday, May 23, 2003 at the Belknap County Nursing Home. She was the widow of Linwood G. Phillips, who died on May 3, 1990.
Mrs. Phillips was born on March 3, 1915 in West Stewartstown, the daughter of Wesley and Myrtle (Shaw) Mills. She lived in West Stewartstown and was graduated from Canaan High School in 1933.
In September of 1934, she was married to Linwood Phillips. They built a home on Park Street in Colebrook and later moved to Columbia, where they lived until 1959. Their last home in the North Country was on Route 26 in Dixville Notch; in 1980 they moved to Belmont.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Phillips moved in with her son and daughter-in-law, Wilbur and Norma Phillips in Tilton. She enjoyed their home and the array of flowers and their colors. She spent the last couple of years at the Belknap County Nursing Home. Mrs. Phillips was a homemaker for all of her adult life. She was a good cook, loved to sew, and kept busy with crafts. She had a green thumb with African violets.
Mrs. Phillips attended the Evangelical Baptist Church of Laconia.
Survivors include five sons, Wesley Phillips and his wife Gloria of Ilion, N.Y., Lester Phillips of Langdon, N.H., Wilbur Phillips and his wife Norma of Tilton, Richard Phillips and his wife Barbara of Georgetown, Texas, and Bradley Phillips and his wife Sandra of Richland, N.J.; a daughter, Linda Whipple, of Sunapee; 24 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Albert Mills, of Texas; three sisters, Virginia Crawford of Groveton, Eva Stevens of Columbia and Ethel Goodwin of Colebrook; and many nephews and nieces. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a brother, Waldo Mills, and by a sister, Dorothy Mills.
Calling hours were held on Monday, May 26 in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home in Laconia.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday at the Monadnock Congregational Church in Colebrook, followed by burial in the family lot in Colebrook Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Belknap County Nursing Home Activities Fund, 30 County Drive, Laconia, NH 03246.
THOMAS CHAPIN "CHAPE" PRATT
Mr. Thomas Chapin "Chape" Pratt, 90, of Beecher Falls, died on Saturday morning, May 24, 2003 at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital.
He was born on April 2, 1913 in Gaysville, Vt., the son of the late Warren and Ada (Blan-chard) Pratt.
Chape farmed as a young man and took over the family farm in the late 1930s. Later he was a carpenter and building contractor. He bought and sold real estate and was well known for building many of the true log cabins in the Gaysville area.
He enjoyed teaching young people carpentry, electronics and gardening. His hobbies were hunting and fishing, and his form of relaxation was making things that worked. He designed and built a chainsaw, a power ice cutter, a steam tractor, windmills and water wheels, boats, sawmills and more. His motto was, "If it's manmade, it can be repaired or rebuilt." He loved to take something old and broken and turn it into something of value.
Chape is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Martha H. Crawford Pratt; four children, Chapin A. Pratt and wife Beverly of The Villages, Fla., Elizabeth "Betty" Brown of St. Cloud, Fla., Wayne Pratt and wife Vivian of Gaysville, Vt. and Virginia Merrill and husband Dennis, also of Gaysville; seven stepchildren, Stanley Crawford of St. Cloud, Fla., Carol Crawford of Coco, Fla., Rodney Crawford and wife Dorothy of Dudley, Mass., a step-daughter-in-law, June Crawford of Westfield, WI, Vernon Crawford and wife Bonnie of Canaan, Donald Crawford and wife Anne Marie of South Burlington, Vt., Harland Crawford and wife Odette of Canaan, and Calvin Crawford and wife Laurie of Groveton; 12 grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Chape is preceded in death by his first wife of 53 years, Doris (Simonds) Pratt; an infant daughter, Alice Ann Pratt; three brothers and one sister and a step-son, Robert Crawford.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be conducted on Thursday, May 29 at 2 p.m. at the Grace United Methodist Church in Canaan, VT, with the Reverend Rodney Dobbs officiating. An interment service will be held on Friday, May 30 at 2 p.m. in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Gaysville, Vt.
Expressions of sympathy in Chape's memory may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, c/o The Reverend Rodney Dobbs, PO Box 247, Canaan, VT 05903. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins Funeral Home of Colebrook.
PATRICIA N. ROWELL
Patricia Natley Rowell, 61, of Wilton, Maine died on Friday afternoon, July 25, 2003 at her home.
She was born in Canaan on March 19, 1942, a daughter of George and Hattie (Ellingwood) Brown Sr. She received her education in Canaan schools, was graduated from Canaan High School in 1960 and moved to Wilton in 1968.
Mrs. Rowell worked at Forster Manufacturing and G.H. Bass, and was always dedicated to her family. She enjoyed the outdoors, walking, and her dog.
She is survived by her children, Wendy Mae D'Anjou and her husband Loic of Canaan, Wanda Jean Nichols and her husband John of Wilton, Wanita Jane Begin and her husband David of Beecher Falls, Wayne Earl Rowell of Canaan, Wenda Marie Deer and her husband Ben of Missionviejo, Calif., and Tracy Brooks and her husband Mark of Wilton; two sisters, Everdene Hodgon of Guildhall and Eunice Caron of West Stewartstown; two brothers, Sherwood Brown and his wife Vivian, and Linwood Brown and his wife Barbara, all of Granby, Vt.; 12 grandchildren; and the father of her children, Leslie Rowell of Washington Plantation.
She was predeceased by a son, Wade Leslie Rowell in 1989; and her brothers, Glen, George, Ronald, Wesley and Irving.
SR. RITA DIONNE
Sister Rita Dionne (Sr. Gert-rude-Irene), 84, of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, Manchester, died on August 3, 2003 at her residence.
Born on September 19, 1918 in Lewiston, Maine, she was the daughter of Ludger and Irene (Turcotte) Dionne. She entered the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in 1941, made her first Profession in 1943, and her final Profession in 1948. Sister Dionne received a bachelor of music degree from Rivier College in Nashua.
An accomplished educator and musician for 48 years, she taught primary grades and gave music lessons at St. Anne School and St. Joseph School in Woonsocket, R.I.; Guardian Angel School in Berlin; St. Albert School in Stewartstown; and Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson. Family members include a brother, Albert Dionne, and a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Ouellette, both of Lewiston, Maine, and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on Tuesday, August 5 in Resur-rection Chapel at St. Marie Residence in Manchester. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:30, also in Resurrection Chapel at St. Marie Residence, which is situated at 495 Mammoth Road, Manchester. Burial will be in the Presentation of Mary Cemetery, Hudson. Lambert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
NORMAN THURSTON
Norman O. Thurston, 89, of Errol, died on Monday, August 4, 2003 at the Country Village Center in Lancaster.
Mr. Thurston was born on April 7, 1914 in Errol, the son of the late Dwight and Lena (Olson) Thurston.
He worked on the family farm at an early age and supplemented the family income as a bookkeeper for C.R. West, Inc., and by ice fishing. He was the last official meter reader for the Errol Power Company, and after 33 years of employment with the New Hampshire Highway Department, he retired as a road patrolman. He was an active member of Evening Star Lodge #37 F.&A.M. and the Bektash Temple. He was a founding member and past-president of the Umbagog Fish and Game Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Aziscoös Grange. He held various offices in the Errol Congregational Church and will be remembered for his skills as a hunter and fisherman.
Mr. Thurston is survived by his two sons, Ralph Thurston and wife Jone of Wells, Maine, and Paul E. Thurston and Dianne Ingalls of Lancaster; his daughter, Frances Sytek and her husband Dick, of Colebrook; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Eunice M. Thurston, on September 27, 2002; a brother, Gerald Thurston; and a sister, Marion Carey.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 7 from 7-9 p.m. at the Jenkins Funeral Home. Private Masonic service by Evening Star Lodge #37 F.& A.M. will also be held at the funeral home. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, August 8 at 2 p.m. at the Errol Congregational Church, with pastor Larry Clough officiating. A private family interment will follow at the Errol Village Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend a reception at the Log Haven around 3:30 p.m., whether or not they are able to attend the church service.
Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Thurston's memory may be made to the Errol Congregational Church, c/o Pastor Larry Clough, RR1, Box 143, Canaan, VT 05903.
