Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, August 6, 2003

Copyright of the newspaper.  Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives was received.

Josephine Jacobsen 
     COCKEYSVILLE, Md. — Poet and short story writer Josephine Jacobsen, 94, died on Wednesday, July 9. She and her 
husband maintained a summer home in Whitefield from the late 1930s to the early 1990s.
     Mrs. Jacobsen was born in Cobourg, Ontario. In 1926 she was graduated from Roland Park Country School in Baltimore 
in 1926. She married Eric Jacobsen in 1932.
     The Jacobsens were summer residents on Mountain View Road in Whitefield from the late 1930s to the early 1990s, 
where they were prominent members of the area’s summer “social scene.”
     From 1971 to 1973, Mrs. Jacobson was poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, holding the honorary position 
that is now known as U.S. poet laureate. She won numerous awards in her lifetime including the Robert Frost Medal for 
Lifetime Achievement in Poetry.
     Her family includes a son, Erlend Jacobsen of Plainfield, Vt.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson. 
     A memorial mass will be offered in the fall at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore.

Dorothy E. Emerson Phillips 

     DALTON — Dorothy E. Emerson Phillips, 80, of Rooney Road, died on Saturday August 2, 2003, at Weeks Medical Center, 
Lancaster.
     Mrs. Phillips was born in Whitefield on May 15, 1923, the daughter of Raymond and Grace Rooney.
     A longtime resident of the North Country, Dorothy worked at area mills including Gilman Paper Company and the 
Northumberland Mill. She enjoyed her vegetable and flower gardens and was a true animal lover, especially enjoying her 
dogs.
     She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary.
     Family members include her son Daniel Emerson and his wife Jean of Dalton; one great-granddaughter and two 
great-great-grandsons. 
     She was predeceased by her first husband, Everett Emerson in 1977; her second husband, Warren Phillips in 1983; 
and two sons, Raymond Emerson and Charlie Emerson.
     Visiting hours were held on Tuesday, August 5, at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A funeral service will be 
held on Wednesday, August 6 (today) at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Curtis W. Smith of Lancaster will officiate. 
Burial will follow in Summer Street Cemetery, Lancaster.

Helen M. Snelling 

     CASEYVILLE, Ill. — Helen M. (Dingman) Snelling of Caseyville, Illinois died on July 28, 2003.
     Helen was born in Percy, N.H. on November 19, 1940, a daughter to Margaret E. (Covey) and Lawrence R. Dingman. She 
was employed as a Certified Nurse’s Aid at Maryville Manor, in Maryville, Ill. 
     She was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Clifford W. Snelling.
     Helen is survived by two daughters, Sandra Brown and husband Tim of Caseyville, Ill., and Melody Sargent and husband 
Jared of Copperas Cove, Tex.; one son, Richard Snelling and wife Caryn of Bethlehem, N.H.; seven grandchildren; a brother, 
Donald Dingman of Walters, Okla.; two sisters, Ethel Newland of Lyndonville, Vt., and Rose Gonyer of Jefferson, N.H.
     Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at Herbert A. Kassly Funeral Home, Collinsville, Illinois. Burial 
will be at Memorial Park Crematory, St. Louis, Mo.
     Memorial donations can be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Norman Thurston 

    ERROL — Norman O. Thurston, 89, of Errol, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2003 at Country Village Health Care Center 
in Lancaster. He was born on April 7, 1914, in Errol, the son of the late Dwight and Lena (Olson) Thurston.
    Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 7-9 p.m. at the Jenkins Funeral Home, Colebrook. A funeral 
service will be conducted on Friday, August 8 at 2 p.m. at the Errol Congregational Church.
    (See next week's paper for complete obituary.) 

Helen Mae Willson 

    LUNENBURG, Vt. — Helen Mae (Lewis) Willson, 84, of Lunenburg, died on July 30, 2003 at Weeks Memorial Hospital in 
Lancaster after receiving constant care at home, from her only daughter Barbara, due to her failing health.
    She was born in Lunenburg on March 20, 1919, the daughter of Frank E. and Agnes A. (Kenney) Lewis. She attended 
grammar school in Lunenburg and was a graduate of Lancaster Academy, class of 1937. As a young girl she began piano 
lessons and played at various town functions in her young adulthood.
    She married Jack Q. Willson in August of 1940 and became bookkeeper to his flourishing logging business that was 
started upon his return from the military. Helen also took joy in spending her summers at the family camp on Neals Pond, 
where she enjoyed swimming, boating, and BBQs. However, her happiest moments were spent at home with her family. 
    She was a devoted mother and wife. She also loved animals, especially dogs, and delighted in the company of her 
Jack Russell Terrier, Rusty.
    Family members include a son Robert J. Willson and wife Andrea, of St. Johnsbury; a daughter Barbara A. Willson of 
Lunenburg; and a brother Kenneth L. Lewis and wife Arlene of Lunenburg. 
    Her husband, Jack Q. Willson of 59 years and an older sister Phylis, who died in infancy, predeceased her. She also 
has several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
    Funeral services and graveside committal will be private and held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, 
donations may be made to the Alden Balch Memorial Library in Lunenburg and/or the Caledonia Home Health Visiting Nurses 
Association in St. Johnsbury, Vt.
    Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster.

Mary Maria Young 

    ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. — Mary Maria (Haselton) Young, 94, of Waterford, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2003, at the 
St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center.
    She was born on June 22, 1909, in Enosburg, the daughter of Morton and Sadie Haselton. She married Clarence H. Young 
on August 11, 1929.
    Mary was a member of the Lower Waterford Congregational Church, and the Waterford Ladies Circle. She had spent years 
researching and compiling information about her genealogy. She was a very loving person, a very precious grandmother and 
great-grandmother and will be dearly missed by family and friends.
    She is survived by her husband, Clarence Young of Waterford; a granddaughter, Melody and husband Jeffrey Peterson of 
Concord; a grandson Jeffery and wife Erma of Dalton, N.H.; seven great-grandchildren, Marty Bradley of Concord, 
Frank Bradley Jr. of Ocala, Fla., Ryan and Remington Peterson of Concord, Allen, Avery and Aden Young of Dalton, N.H.; a 
great-great granddaughter, Autumn Bradley of Ocala, Fla.; two brothers, Arthur and Robert Haselton of Essex; and a sister, 
Ida May Gravelle of Jericho.
    She was predeceased by her only son, Lee A. Young of Waterford on March 13, 2003; two grandsons, Bruce and Rodger
Young on June 12, 1996, at the ages of 16 and 15; and eight brothers and sisters, Latham, Lee, Donald, Bernard, Helen, 
Florence, Gertrude, and Dorothy.
    In keeping with Mary’s wishes, there will be no visiting hours. 
    A funeral service was held at the Lower Waterford Congregational Church on Tuesday, August 5 with the Rev. Ann 
Hockridge officiating. Burial followed at Riverside Cemetery in Waterford.
    Anyone who wishes to contribute recent information or pictures to Mary’s genealogy research, so it can be continued, 
can forward materials to Marilyn Chates, PO Box 459, South Hero, VT 05486.
    Sayles Funeral Home of St. Johnsbury is in charge of arrangements.