Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, October 27, 2004 Copyright of the newspaper. Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives was received. William Bagshaw Jr. World War II Veteran DALTON -- William Bagshaw Jr., 78, of Ridgeview Terrace, died suddenly on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004 at his home. He was born in Newton, Mass., the son of William and Margaret (Coughlin) Bagshaw. Mr. Bagshaw attended local schools in Watertown, Mass. before joining the Navy and serving his country in World War II. He worked as a plumber in Framingham, Mass., co-owning Framingham Plumbing and Heating. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, Council 87, of Framingham, Mass. He lived in Ashland, Mass. for many years prior to moving to the North Country in 1976 where he owned and operated the North Country Star Motel in Bethlehem until 1989. He also worked as a janitor at Profile High School in Bethlehem. Mr. Bagshaw enjoyed fishing and hunting, and was very proud of his family. The family includes two sons, Kenneth Bagshaw of Framingham, Mass. and Paul Bagshaw of Yelm, Wash.; two daughters, Joanne Roudebush of Norwood, Colo. and Kathleen Hewitt of Milford, Mass.; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. His wife, Ethel (Delaney) Bagshaw and a son, David Bagshaw died previously. Visiting hours were held on Tuesday at the Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 (today) at St. Matthews Church, Whitefield, with Father George Majka officiating. Interment will follow at St. Margaret's Cemetery, Twin Mountain. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the NH Alzheimer's Association, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 427B, Concord, NH 03301. For more information or to sign the guest book, please visit www.rossfuneral.com. Raymond F. Brooks World War II Veteran LANCASTER -- Raymond F. Brooks, 96, of Middle Street, died on Thursday morning Oct. 21, 2004 at Country Village Health Care Center, Lancaster. Mr. Brooks was born in Groveton on July 1, 1908, the son of Albert and Mina (Brunnell) Brooks. Raised in Groveton, he was a graduate of Groveton High School. He went on to serve with the Army in World War II and fought in the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. Returning home he took up residence in Lancaster in 1947 with his wife, Doris (Webster) Brooks. For a brief time he worked for Groveton Paper Company. For 20 years he was employed at Gilman Paper Company, retiring in 1971. He was a Communicant of All Saints Church, Lancaster. Family members include his son, Daniel W. Brooks of Lancaster; a brother, Philbert Brooks of Groveton; nieces and nephews. His wife, Doris died previously. Visiting hours were held on Saturday at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sunday at All Saints Church, Lancaster, with the Rev. Raymond Ball, pastor, officiating. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Lancaster. Judith (Farnsworth) McKearney Enjoyed many hobbies LANCASTER -- Judith (Farnsworth) McKearney, 46, of Pond Hill Road, Lunenburg, Vt., died on Sunday evening, Oct. 24, 2004 at Country Village Health Care Center, Lancaster. Judith was born in Gloucester, Mass., on Jan. 22, 1958, the daughter of John M. and Eldora (Nelson) Farnsworth. She was raised in Plainfield and later moved to Lancaster where she graduated from White Mountains Regional High School in 1975. She went on to attend Mt. Ida College and Claremont Votec, where she acquired a nursing degree. For 18 years Judith resided in Las Vegas. At first she worked there as a model and later worked many years as a neonatal nurse. She returned to Lancaster and later Lunenburg and worked as a private duty nurse. Judith enjoyed fashion, interior decorating, cooking, and floral arranging. The family includes her husband, Kevin McKearney of Lunenburg; her mother, Eldora Farnsworth of Lancaster; a brother, Henry L. Farnsworth III of Canaan; three sisters, Sandra Farnsworth of Claremont, Dian Kenison of Lancaster and Linda White of Littleton. Her father died in 1997. Memorial visiting hours will be held on Wednesday evening, Oct. 27 from 6-9 p.m. at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning, Oct. 28 at the funeral home. The Rev. John C. Gregory of Whitefield will officiate. Audrey G. Pitts Avon representative, Red Sox fan CHICOPEE, Mass. -- Audrey G. "Dee" (Day) Pitts, 67, died on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Loomis House in Holyoke, Mass. She was born in New Hampshire on Jan. 27, 1937, the daughter of Walter and Wava (Arsenault) Bacon. Mrs. Pitts attended schools in New Hampshire. She was previously employed at the former VFW Post 3104 in South Hadley Falls, and was a longtime Avon representative, as well as an avid Red Sox fan. The family includes two sons, Mark and Christopher of Chicopee; one daughter, Debra Perron and her husband Phil of Chicopee; three sisters, June Stevens and Gail Williams of New Hampshire (Gail of No. Stratford) and Dawn Whyte of Pennsylvania; a grandson, Joseph Perron; several nieces and nephews. Her husband, Ernest Pitts died in 1987. Wilbur J. Singer Resident of Lancaster, Groveton FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Wilbur J. Singer, 70, died on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 at the Kindred Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale. Mr. Singer was born in Portland, Me. on Aug. 7, 1934, the son of Arthur Joseph and Edith Pearl (Dougher) Singer. He had resided in the Groveton-Lancaster area most of his lifetime and was employed at Groveton Paper for many years. He also worked for a time at Weeks Memorial Hospital. He had resided in Florida for the past 15 years. Family members include his wife, Norma J. (Baker) Singer of Ft. Lauderdale; three sons, Ed Singer of Newport, Vt., Ronald Singer of Northumberland and Armand Singer of Ft. Lauderdale; three daughters, Gail Singer of Newport, Vt., Beth Singer of Orlando, Fla. and Marie Miles of Ft. Lauderdale; one brother Chuck Hart of Maine; two sisters, Marie Sanville of Newport, Vt. and Frances Bowan of Connecticut; and many grandchildren. There are no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. The Rev. Donald B. Williams, pastor of the Mt. View Baptist Church, Lancaster, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Summer Street Cemetery, Lancaster. Ruth B. Sweet Held the Boston Post Cane LANCASTER -- Ruth B. Sweet, 101, formerly of Water Street, died on Monday, Oct. 25, 2004 at the Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield. She was born in Jefferson on August 16, 1903, the daughter of Charles and Musetta (Hadley) Merrow. Ruth was raised in Jefferson and resided most of her lifetime in Lancaster. For many years she worked locally as a waitress at several area restaurants. She was also employed for a time as a foster grandparent at the Play and Learning Center in Lancaster. Prior to her death, Ruth was Lancaster's oldest living resident and holder of the Boston Post Cane. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and was a Gold Star Mother. The family includes a son, Richard Brisson and his wife Gloria of Lancaster; a sister, Geneva Martin of Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren. A son, Kenneth Brisson Jr., a daughter, Mary Smith, two brothers, Charles Merrow and Albert Bahr and three sisters, Mildred Kennett, Charlene Fitzmorris and Jeannie Corrigan died previously. There are no visiting hours. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 at All Saints Church, Lancaster. The Rev. Raymond Ball, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lancaster. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to the Simond B. Huntington Scholarship Fund, c/o VFW, 259 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster.