Obituaries from The Rockingham News, Plaistow, New Hampshire, from July 13, 2001 http://www.seacoastonline.com Copyright retained by the newspaper. Permission received to include in the USGenWeb Archives. E. Marie Backard PLAISTOW -- E. Marie (O'Connor) Backard, 84, of 6 Sweet Hill Road, died Friday, July 6, 2001, at her home. She was born May 21, 1917, in Wilmington, Del., the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Ethel (Rooney) O'Connor. She had resided in Haverhill, Mass., and northern New Jersey before moving to Plaistow in 1945. She was educated in New Jersey schools and was a 1988 graduate of Merrimack College, North Andover. Mrs. Backard was employed by Lucent Technologies Inc., North Andover, Mass., for 18 years and at Bell Laboratories in Haverhill for 18 years. She was a member of Holy Angels Parish, Plaistow, where she served as a Eucharistic minister from 1979 until 1995. She was a licensed ham radio operator with the call letters KA1TQE and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America; the XYZ Club of Plaistow; the Haverhill Poetry Club; the North Shore Poetry Forum of Beverly, Mass.; the Massachusetts State Poetry Club; Local No. 1366, CWA; the Haverhill Women's City Club; and the Women's Radio Operators of New England. She enjoyed traveling, especially her tour of China in 1987. The widow of M. Joseph Backard, she is survived by one sister, Patricia Valliere or Orange Park, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Beryl O'Connor of Verona, N.J.; 19 nieces and nephews; 32 grandnieces and nephews; and one great-grandnephew. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday in Holy Angels Church, Plaistow. Burial was in Holy Angels Cemetery. Arrangements were by the C. Frank Linnehan & Son Funeral Home, Haverhill. Leon J. Gallant Jr. HAVERHILL, Mass. -- Leon Joseph Gallant Jr., 76, of 190 North Ave., formerly of Newton, died Sunday, July 8, 2001, at Kenoza Manor Nursing Home. He was born April 11, 1925, in Manchester, the son of the late Leon J. and Eglantine (Manseau) Gallant. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II serving as a medical technician. Mr. Gallant worked for Montgomery Ward Department Store, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Kingston. He is survived by his wife, Pauline (Michaud) Gallant; two sons, William L. Gallant and his wife Barbara of Newton and Robert D. Gallant of Raymond; two grandsons; two brothers, James Gallant of Manchester and Thomas Gallant of Hudson; two sisters, Teresa Johnson of Suncook and Margaret Gunzelman of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews. There are no calling hours. A Memorial Mass was celebrated Thursday in Mary, Mother of the Church, Newton. Interment was in Highland Cemetery, Newton. Arrangements were by the Paul C. Rogers & Sons Funeral Home, Amesbury, Mass. Matthew P. Lucey ATKINSON -- Specialist Matthew P. Lucey, 22, formerly of Atkinson, died Thursday, July 5, 2001, in Savannah, Ga., from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born Jan. 5, 1979, in Lawrence, Mass., the son of J. Patrick and Kathy (Brady) Lucey of Palm Harbor, Fla., formerly of Rockingchair Lane, Atkinson. He was a 1997 graduate of Timberlane High School where he lettered in soccer and basketball. Specialist Lucey joined the U.S. Army shortly after graduation and was stationed with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Savannah, where he distinguished himself as an Army airborne ranger. He was an avid boxing fan and fought in the Golden Gloves in Lowell, Mass., representing the Haverhill Boxing Club. In addition to his parents, he is survived by one sister, Jennifer Lucey of Florida; one brother, Keith Lucey of Florida; his paternal grandmother, Doris A. Lucey of Merrimac, Mass.; a close friend, Nicole Hanson; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday in Sacred Heart Church, Bradford, Mass. Military burial was in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements were by the Brewitt Funeral Home, Exeter. Leighton L. Reynolds SOUTH HAMPTON -- Leighton L. Reynolds, 79, of 20 Main Ave., died June 17, 2001, in Fort Meade, Fla. He was born July 15, 1921, in Amesbury, Mass., the son of the late Chester W. and Elizabeth E. (McLean) Reynolds. He lived in Amesbury most of his life moving to South Hampton several years ago. He was a graduate of Amesbury High School and the Vocational School and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Mr. Reynolds was a draftsman and tool supervisor for the former Towle Silver Co., Newburyport, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Sheffield) Reynolds of South Hampton; three sons, Leighton A. Reynolds of North Berwick, Maine, Gary Reynolds of Newton and Mark Reynolds of South Hampton; one daughter, Diane L. Smith of Laconia; and six grandchildren. There are no calling hours. Services will be held Tuesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. in East Kingston Community Methodist Church, Route 107, East Kingston. Private burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Assistance with the arrangements was by the Stockbridge Funeral Home, Exeter. Clarence M. Rogers EPPING -- Clarence M. Rogers, 84, of Route 27, died Monday, July 9, 2001, in Exeter Hospital after a period of failing health. He was born April 23, 1917, in Raymond, the son of the late Ralph W. and Cora M. (Trickey) Rogers and was a longtime resident of Epping and Raymond. He attended Raymond High School. Mr. Rogers was a self-employed carpenter working his entire life in the Epping area. The widower of Barbara (Hartford) Rogers, who died Oct. 20, 2000, he is survived by one grandson, James L. Rogers Jr. of Aurora, Colo.; two sisters, Rowena LeClair of Fremont and Ida Brusso of Raymond; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one son, James L. Rogers Sr. No services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements are by the Brewitt Funeral Home, Epping. Thomas A. Shallow Sr. PLAISTOW -- Thomas A. Shallow Sr., 73, died Wednesday, July 4, 2001, at his home. He was born Aug. 7, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of the late James and Ellen (Doris) Shallow and had resided in Virginia Beach, Va., before moving to Plaistow in 1970. He was educated in Philadelphia schools and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II and a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. Mr. Shallow owned and operated Plaistow Taxi, which is still operated by his family. He was an avid sports fan and a TV addict. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Frances (Danila) Shallow of Plaistow; two sons; two daughters; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday in Holy Angels Church, Plaistow. Burial was in Holy Angels Cemetery, Plaistow. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society Memorial Giving Program, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Arrangements were by the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, Haverhill. Robert B. Toher RAYMOND -- Robert B. Toher, 69, of Freetown Road, died Saturday, July 7, 2001, in Exeter Hospital after a brief illness. He was born July 21, 1931, in Newton, Mass., the son of Esther (Batey) Toher of Natick, Mass., and the late Robert G. Toher, and had resided in Raymond for seven years. He was a graduate of Newton High School and was a U.S. Navy veteran serving on submarines and carriers. Mr. Toher was employed by Raytheon and worked on the Patriot Missiles and with the Apollo Space Program for several years. He was an active member of the Barbershop Chorus in Nashua. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 10 years, Carla of Raymond; four sons, Bruce Toher of Londonderry, Wayne Toher of Danbury, Conn., David Toher of Carlisle, Mass., and Glenn Toher of California; one daughter, Joan Toher of Newburyport, Mass.; one brother, James Toher of Ashland; two sisters, Beverly Ferran of Attleboro, Mass., and Janice Rapp of Wellesley, Mass.; his father and mother-in-law, Dr. John and Betty Kerr of Mesa, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Thursday in Exeter United Methodist Church, Exeter, with the Rev. Daniel Weaver officiating. Burial was in Exeter Cemetery, Exeter. Memorial donations may be made to the SPEBSQSA, 6315 Harmony Lane, Kenosha, WI 53143-5199, c/o Harmony Foundation Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were by the Brewitt Funeral Home, Exeter.