Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, December 10, 2003 Copyright of the newspaper. Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives was received. Margie A. Anderson Lifelong Volunteer SOUTH BARRE, Vt. — Margie A. Anderson, 80, of South Barre Road, died on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 at her home. Born Aug. 6, 1923 in Gilead, Me., she was the daughter of Ernest and Mae (Aremburg) Curtis. Margie graduated from the Haverhill Academy in Haverhill. On Dec. 31, 1941, she married John E. Anderson in Watertown, N.Y. They made their home in Wells River before moving to Barre in the early 1960s. She worked for many years at Barre Town Elementary School. She attended St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Barre and was a member of Altrusa International of Barre. She volunteered throughout her life in many capacities, most recently at the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. Margie was a friend and mother to countless others outside of her family circle. She embraced a constant optimism toward life right up until her death. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, cooking, crafts and her birds. The family includes her children, Sandra Roberts and her husband ,Ted, of Wells River, John “Jack” Anderson and his wife, Patricia, of Bethlehem, David Anderson of Plainfield, Tom Anderson and his wife, Holly, of South Barre, Vt., and Laurie LaPlant and her husband , Steve, of Colchester, Vt.; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; three sisters, Priscilla Mayberry of Lancaster, Ruth Worden of Lebanon, and Nancy Anderson and her husband Warren of Lynn, Mass.; a brother, Bob Curtis and his wife, Georgette, of Cumberland Center, Me.; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Susan Marsha, Ann Peloquin, Phyllis Bullard and Lorraine Aja. Her husband, John E. Anderson, a brother, Norman Curtis and a sister, Phyllis Locke died previously. A service of remembrance was held on Dec. 6 at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home in Barre. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641; or to the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) Foundation, 80 Colchester Ave., Burlington, Vt. 05401. Nancy L. Briggs Chapter 39 Worthy Matron EAST CONCORD - Nancy L. (Carpenter) Briggs, 66, of Oregon Road, died Friday afternoon, December 5, 2003, at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Briggs was born in Concord, VT, on October 10, 1937, the daughter of Leslie and Pearle (Rash) Carpenter Sr. She shared a life with one sister and six brothers. Nancy attended Concord High School graduating valedictorian of her class. There, she met Dale Briggs in 1951 and they married in 1955. They had two children, Ronald and Deborah. She was active in community activities and a member of ADAH Chapter #39 obtaining the post of Worthy Matron. She attended church in Concord. She is survived by her husband, Dale, of East Concord; her son, Ronald Briggs, of Concord, VT; a daughter. Deborah Fullerton, of Woodsville; two brothers Francis "Bud" Carpenter of Lyndonville and Leslie "Moe" Carpenter of St. Johnsbury. There will be no service or calling hours. She will be laid to rest in Glenwood Cemetery, Littleton, at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the Concord Community Church, Concord, VT 05824. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster, NH. Joel Hartwell Carter LANCASTER and BREMEN, Me. — Joel Hartwell Carter, 55, of Lancaster, formerly of Bremen, Me., died on December 2, 2003 at the Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster after a long illness. Mr. Carter was born January 8, 1948 in Waldoboro, Me., the son of Hartwell DeLancy and Laura Emma Murphy Carter, and attended grade school in Bremen, is a graduate of Lincoln Academy in Newcastle and Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute in South Portland. He started his career as a meat cutter with The First National Store in Damariscotta, Me. He married Anne Gray on November 21, 1970, and moved to Gorham N.H., where he worked for First National Store in Gorham. He was then Meat Manager, for Prescott Farms, for more than 25 years and for the past 6 years, Meat Department Manager for Butson’s Supermarket in Lancaster. Joel was an avid sportsman, who loved hunting and fishing with his family and friends. His idea of a good day was breakfast at Moody’s Diner, then hunting with his friends. He also enjoyed doing home repairs and mechanical work and his children referred to him as McGyver, as he could fix anything. Joel was a member of the Bremen Union Church. His mother, Laura, died in 1987, and his father, Hartwell, died in 1999. Family members include his wife of 33 years, Anne Carter, of Lancaster; two sons, Gary Carter and his wife Cynthia of Richmond, Me., Kevin Carter and his fiancé Kimberly Hoyt of Berlin; two daughters, Sinda Carter and her boyfriend, James Chamberlain, of Alna, Me. and Katrina Pinard and husband, Marcel, of Berlin; sister, Janet Chase and her husband Stephen, of Bristol, Me., sister, Lorraine Simpson, of San Diego Calif.; four grandsons, Marcus, Samuel and Thomas Carter, Joel Pinard; granddaughter, Amanda Levesque. Joel was very much loved by his nieces, nephews, co-workers, friends and his many brothers and sisters in the Gray Family. Visiting hours were held at the Hall Funeral Home, Main St. Waldoboro, Me. A funeral service was held at the Bremen Union Church, with interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Bremen, Me. Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro, Me. Annabelle “Midge” Fairweather PORTLAND, Me. — Annabelle “Midge” Fairweather, 80, formerly of Lancaster and Washington Avenue in Portland, Me., died on Monday, Dec. 8, 2003 at Mercy Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in Lancaster, the daughter of Harry and Rose (Washburn) Morse and was educated in New Hampshire schools. Mrs. Fairweather was employed in the banking industry for many years and retired from Maine Savings Bank in the late 1980s. She was a former member of the Order of Eastern Star. She enjoyed reading, playing the piano, traveling to Boston and spending time with her family. The family includes her son, John E. Fairweather and his wife Carla of South Portland, Me.; and a granddaughter, Rebecca Delude, also of South Portland. Her husband of 38 years, John D. Fairweather, died in 1985. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, Dec. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, with funeral services to follow at 7 p.m., the Rev. Daryl Layway officiating. Private interment will be in Forest City Cemetery in South Portland, Me. Michael G. Hagan NORTH CONCORD, Vt. — Michael G. Hagan, 64, passed away in Lebanon, N.H., on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. Born in North Concord, on Nov. 4, 1939, he was one of seven children born to Bernard and Eva (LeBlanc) Hagan and had worked for the town of Concord for the past 22 years. Family members include his girlfriend, Catherine Merchant of North Concord; three children, Theresa Lafferty of Lakewood, Col., Susan Patoine of Waterford, Bernard Hagan of North Concord; four adopted children, Timothy Hagan of Derby, Christopher Hagan of Greenville, Va., Brian Hagan and John Hagan, both of North Concord; eight grandchildren; his former wife, Joyce Hagan of North Concord; one brother, John Hagan of Littleton, N.H.; three sisters, Mary Cassidy of Hinesburg, Margaret Donovan of Stark, N.H., Irene Oliver of Freeport, Me.; nieces and nephews. Visiting hours were held at Sayles Funeral Home, on December 3, from 5:30-7 and concluded with a service at 7 p.m. conducted by the Rev. Patrick Forman. Memorial contribution may be directed to Concord FAST Squad, P.O. Box 113, Concord, Vt. 05824. Arrangements are by Sayles Funeral Home, located at 525 Summer Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. Lorena “Lorie” Hersom Worked at Littleton Stamp Co. WHITEFIELD — Lorena “Lorie” Beatrice (Hubbard) Hersom, 85, died suddenly on Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 at Morrison Nursing Home in Whitefield. She was born on Aug. 23, 1918, the daughter of Dana and Marion (Stephens) Hubbard at the Home Place in Lyman. Lorie was employed by the Littleton Stamp Company for many years. She was a member of the Whitefield Advent Christian Church. The family includes a daughter, Nancy Lee Arfman of Nebraska; a grandson, Scott Arfman and a granddaughter, Lorie Arfman; two great-grandsons, Christopher and Steven Arfman; one stepson, Richard Hersom of Keene; one stepdaughter, Marion Schettino of Claremont; two step-grandchildren; a brother, Durward Hubbard and wife Nita of Lyman; several nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Her first husband, John D. “Jack” Lafferty and her second husband, Earle Hersom died previously. A memorial service was held on Dec. 6 at the Pillsbury Funeral Home in Littleton. Burial will be in the Glenwood Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Lorie’s memory to the Morrison Nursing Home, 4 Terrace Ave., Whitefield, NH 03598. To view an online memorial or send a message of condolence, visit www.pillsburyfh.com. Richard Hallett Lovell Vacationed in Jefferson AUBURNDALE, Mass. — Richard Hallett Lovell, 83, of Auburndale, Mass., died on Dec. 5, 2003 of complications from pancreatic cancer. A life-long resident of Newton, Mass., he graduated in 1937 from Newton High School, where he received the Boy’s Senior Cup. He attended Williams College and majored in history. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Gargoyle Society, and remained an ardent friend of the college throughout his life. He started at Yale Law School in the fall of 1941, but left immediately for Washington, D. C. at the onset of the war. In Washington, he was assigned to the Navy Department, where he worked in the Bureau of Ships from 1941 to 1944. He was sent to Okinawa in 1945, arriving there shortly after the Battle of Okinawa and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He completed Yale Law School in February of 1948, graduating first in his class and receiving the Colby Townsend prize for independent research. That spring he moved back to Newton, purchasing a home in Newton Corner that he would occupy with his family for the next 53 years. He started his law career with Hill, Barlow, Goodale, and Wiswall, where he practiced for the next 10 years. In 1958 he was asked to become a partner in the law firm of Rackemann, Sawyer and Brewster, where he specialized in real estate law. Several of the transactions he worked on in the ensuing 31 years at Rackemann Sawyer concerned Newton properties. He was particularly known for his pioneering work in “air rights” for the Newtonville Star Market and the Newton Corner Gateway Center and Howard Johnson’s Restaurant and Motor Hotel over the Mass Pike, and for his negotiations involving site plan approval for the Newton Marriott Hotel at the 95/90 junction. He was also lead counsel in negotiating rights for the creation of the Copley Square Plaza in 1966, and for the creation of the Christian Science world headquarters in downtown Boston in 1976. Throughout his tenure at Rackemann Sawyer he was admired for his breadth and depth of understanding and for his consistently wise and temperate counsel. His civic and charitable work was extensive, beginning with his appointment to the Newton Planning Board and his subsequent election as chair. He was then appointed and later elected to the Newton Board of Aldermen. This was followed by his appointment to the Newton Housing Authority, for which he served as both treasurer and chair. His civic responsibility of greatest duration was to the Newton Cemetery Corporation, for which he initially served as Trustee, then as president, serving in this capacity until 2002. The charitable institution to which he devoted his greatest attention and devotion was the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He served on the hospital’s Board of Governors for many years, receiving the George L. White Award in 1979 for outstanding service as the board’s president. His life was blessed by his lifelong friendship with the members of the “Almosters,” a close-knit group of Newton friends. He also enjoyed a multitude of close professional and personal friendships, including many who knew him through his vacation residences in Jefferson, and Harbour Island, Bahamas. The family includes his adoring children and children-in-law—his three sons and their spouses, Jonathan H. Lovell and Ellen W. Lovell of San Jose, Calif., Benjamin C. Lovell and Sandra M. Lovell of York, Me., and Christopher W. Lovell and Julie S. Lovell of Sherborn, Mass.; and his two daughters, Pamela L. Parker of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Merrily Lovell of Chatsworth, Calif.; his 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His wife, Beverly S. Lovell, died previously. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Eliot Church on 474 Centre Street in Newton Corner. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to Newton-Wellesley Hospital at 2014 Washington St., Newton, MA 02462 (www.nwh.org). Vernal E. Strawn Grew up in Derby SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Vernal E. Strawn, 85, died on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, 2003, at the Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vt. He was born on April 10, 1918 in Derby, Vt., the son of Emery and Etta Strawn. Mr. Strawn attended schools in the Derby area. He was married to Arvilla I. Blodgett on Nov. 20, 1941 in Stratford. He served in the Army during World War II. Over the years Mr. Strawn lived in Derby, Vt., Groveton, Laconia and Springfield, Vt. He was employed in the Grinding Dept. at the Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield for 20 years. He was also part owner and operator of New Hampshire Rentals in Laconia for 15 years. He was a member of the Robert L. Johnson V.F.W. Post 771 in Springfield. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and carpentry. The family includes his wife, Arvilla of Springfield; a son, Wayne V. Strawn of Owensboro, Ky.; a daughter, Janet E. Lynds of Springfield; a sister, Sylvia Shannon of Groveton; four grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A brother Cecil Strawn died previously. A funeral service was held on Tuesday at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield. The Rev. Richard Cederholm, pastor of the North Springfield Baptist Church, officiated. Burial will be in the Plain Cemetery in Perkinsville, Vt. in the spring. Contributions in Mr. Strawn’s memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 366 River Street, Springfield, VT 05156; or to the Adult Day Care Program in Springfield. Imogene R. Towle LANCASTER — Imogene R. Towle, 95, formerly of Summer Street, died on Thursday evening December 4, 2003, at Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield. Mrs. Towle was born in Randolph, on November 5, 1908, the daughter of Asa F. and Mabel (Creighton) Reed. Imogene was raised in Randolph later moving to Jefferson and eventually Lancaster where she resided for many years. She worked various jobs in the Lancaster area and was employed many years at Connors & Hoffman, Littleton. Her last place of employment was at the Tri-County CAP Thrift Shop in Lancaster. She worked there until 87 years of age. She has been a resident of Morrison Nursing Home for the past 1 1/2 years. She was a member of the Advent Christian Church, Whitefield, and the Colonel Town Senior Citizens, Lancaster. Family members include two sons, Asa C. Towle and Emmett E. Towle, both of Whitefield; two daughters, Molly T. Ball of Gilman, Jane D. Savage of Lancaster; two sisters, Mary R. Rice and Alice Hopkins, both of Stark, FL; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband Chester C. Towle and three sisters, Edith Barber, Pearle Mulherin, and Lillian Ingerson died previously. Visiting hours were held on Sunday evening December 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. on Monday morning at the Advent Christian Church, Whitefield. Rev. Lou Going, pastor, officiated. Burial will follow in the Forest Vale Cemetery, Jefferson. Donations may be made in her memory to Weeks Home Health Services, 278 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584.