Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Obituaries from July 23, 1999 Copyright retained by the newspaper. Permission received to include in the USGenWeb Archives. Shirley D. Sargent PORTSMOUTH - Shirley D. Sargent, 64, died Thursday, July 22, 1999, at home. Born and educated in Manchester, England, she lived in Manchester, N.H., Cohasset, Mass., and Portsmouth after moving to the United States. Before retiring, she was employed by the Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Co. in Boston and with the Easter Seal Society in Manchester. Active in community activities, she was a past president of the Elliot Hospital Associates in Manchester. She was the wife of Donald H. Sargent for 44 years. In addition to her husband, survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth M. Tack of Manchester; a son, Adrian A. Sargent of Manchester; and two grandsons. Amos W. Dana Jr. HAMPTON - The funeral of Amos W. Dana Jr., 87, formerly of Hampton, was held Thursday at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home. The Rev. William Gardei officiated. Jean Goss was organist. Cremation followed in the Phoenix Crematory. Burial will be in the High Street Cemetery. Clarence Frank Witham YORK - Clarence Frank Witham, 81, of Chases Pond Road, died Wednesday, July 21, 1999, at York Hospital after a brief period of illness. Born Aug. 13, 1917, in Kittery Point, he was the son of Charles and Margaret (Estes) Witham. He attended local schools. During World War II he served in the Army. He later joined the family construction company, Will Chase Construction of York Harbor, working with his wife's grandfather, Will Chase. In 1962, he took over the company from his father-in-law, Everett Waugh, and renamed it the Clarence F. Witham Construction Company. The business is now being operated by the fifth generation of the family. He was a member of the York Street Baptist Church. He enjoyed working, boating and fishing. He was the husband of Muriel (Waugh) Witham for 50 years. She died Sept. 1, 1992. Survivors include a son, Frank H. Witham of York; a daughter, Margaret W. Dixon of York; a brother, Justin Witham of Eliot; two sisters, Lillian Spinney and Jane Higgins, both of Kittery Point; six grandchildren, Kelli Succi, C. Christopher Dixon, Robyn Thompson, F. Darin Witham, Melissa Dixon and Jessica Witham, all of York; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Witham, and a sister, Mildred Brooks, both of Kittery Point. Mary K. Stetson MANCHESTER - Mary K. Stetson, 40, of 529 Kimball St., is the murder victim found in a popular Manchester swimming area July 20, 1999. Born July 24, 1958, in Portsmouth, she was the daughter of Virginia Miles of Portsmouth and the late Leonard E. Miles. She worked for the Burton Wire Cable Co. for the past three years. In addition to her mother, survivors include three daughters, Tamara Haney, Virginia M. Haney and Samantha H. Stetson; two sons, Travis T. Stetson and Adrian D. Markwith, all of Manchester; three sisters, Lisa Minton of Hampton, Va., Jennifer Williams and Angela Miles, both of Portsmouth; three brothers, Leonard E. Miles II of Dover, George E. Miles of Manchester and Jason P. Miles of Portsmouth; two grandchildren, Essence M. Marbury and Justus T. Haney, both of Manchester; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Anthony Miles. Alma K. Wiley EAST ROCHESTER - Alma "Mickey" K. Wiley, 80, of 7 School St., died Thursday, July 22, 1999, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital following a brief period of illness. Born Feb. 1, 1919, in Manchester, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Anna (Deo) Krauss. She lived in Rochester for the last 52 years after moving from Lynn, Mass. A homemaker, she was a member of the Trinity Anglican Church in Rochester and the Farmington Country Club. For several years, she wrote articles for the Rochester Courier. She enjoyed gardening, taking care of her dog and cat, and playing golf. She was the wife of Richard Wiley for 59 years. In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Jon R. Wiley of West Bath, Maine; two daughters, Janice Keefe and Joyce Metayer, both of Rochester; four grandchildren, Susan Metayer of Portsmouth, Kyra Wiley of Wiscasset, Maine, Jeffrey Metayer of Rochester, and Tyler Wiley of Wiscasset; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Eleanore Wolf. Jean Dorothy Losee Saunders HAMPTON - Jean Dorothy Losee Saunders, 74, of Ocean Boulevard, Hampton, formerly of Smith Avenue, White Plains, N.Y., died Thursday, July 22, 1999, at the home of her daughter, Jean Carola, in New Milford, Conn. Born Dec. 4, 1924, in Scarsdale, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Wilfrid and Katherine MacDonald Losee. In 1943, she graduated from Scarsdale High School. She was a former member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopalian Church. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her sons, Frederick Saunders of Taos, N.M., and Kenneth Saunders of Franklin, Pa.; her sisters, Grace Orce of Port Chester, N.Y., Katherine Adams of Fishkill, N.Y., Elise Losee of Ocala, Fla., and Mary Losee of Hackensack, N.J.; nine cherished grandchildren; and one cherished great-grandchild. Antonia T. Rappa EXETER - Antonia T. Rappa, 90, resident of RiverWoods At Exeter senior community, died July 14, 1999, at the Monadnock Lodge facility after a series of debilitating strokes. She was born Aug. 19, 1908, in New York City, only weeks after the arrival of her parents from Russia. Because of the death of her father and the poverty of her widowed mother, she spent her youth in various orphanages run by the Sisters of Mercy. She had a beautiful coloratura soprano voice. She trained with renowned coach Estelle Liebling, and performed as Gilda in the opera "Rioletto" with the Amato Opera Company. In 1974, her family moved to Mahopac, N.Y., where they lived for 26 years. They later moved to New Hampshire to be near family. She was the wife of Salvatore J. Rappa of Exeter. In addition to her husband, survivors include her daughter, Stephanie Curcio of Stratham; a grandson, Ronald Curcio of Exeter; a granddaughter, Susan Hutchinson of Raymond, and two great-grandchildren. Angela M. Baron YORK - Angela M. "Angie" Baron, 21, of 26 Southside Road, died Thursday, July 22, 1999, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital of injuries suffered in an auto accident in Rye. Born June 26, 1978, in Southbridge, Mass., she was the daughter of John P. and Darlene (Baron) Jeacopello of York. She was a 1997 graduate of York High School. She was employed as a pool technician by Custom Pools of Newington. She was a communicant of St. Christopher by the Sea Church. She enjoyed camping, mountain biking and spending good times with her friends. In addition to her parents, survivors include a brother, Seth J. Jeacopello of York; twin sisters Ashley Heather Jeacopello and Jessica Lynn Jeacopello, both of York; her paternal grandparents, Percy and Elinor Jeacopello of Glendale, Ariz.; and maternal grandmother, Beatrice Baron of Putnam, Conn.