Every week, staff at InDepthNH.org looks at the websites of more than 75 funeral homes in New Hampshire and choose some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people featured here passed away during the previous week and are chosen at random. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to Bev Stoddart at bstoddart9@gmail.com.

The longest-serving police chief in New Hampshire history, Edward B. Garone, 79, of Derry, died Oct. 11, 2022, less than two weeks after retiring from the town’s top law enforcement job. Gov. Chris Sununu has directed that all flags on public buildings and grounds in the state be lowered to half-staff on Oct. 20, when Garone will be buried at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. Garone served 50 years in the position. Among the many honors and accolades bestowed upon the chief during those years, he was named Citizen of the Year in 1984 by the Derry Chamber of Commerce. He was the longest-serving member of the Derry Rotary Club for over 48 years, serving as president and on the board of directors. He received the Paul Harris Fellow recognition and was awarded Rotarian of the Year for 1987-1988. He began his career in law enforcement as a Lebanon police officer in Lebanon, and rose through the ranks to become a captain in the Lebanon Police Department. In 1972 at age 29, he was hired as Derry’s police chief. He belonged to many civic as well as law enforcement organizations, including the Greater Derry Boys & Girls Club board of directors for over 45 years. He was recognized as Volunteer of the Year, and as past president and chairman of the capital campaign, spearheaded the building of a new club building. (Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Another long-serving public servant died this week.  Winston A. “Win” Wright, 85, of Fitzwilliam, died Oct. 9, 2022. An educator in the middle school system in Winchendon, Mass., for 33 years, he was a teacher and assistant principal. But many will know him from his role as chief of the Fitzwilliam Fire Department, where he began his fire service career in 1960.  He also served as a member and assistant chief of the Meadowood Fire Department. A nationally registered EMT until eight years ago, he was one of the first in southwestern New Hampshire to be named an EMT. He also served as a certified firefighter 2 and hazmat deacon, emergency management director,  senior staff instructor with the N.H. Fire Academy, fire warden, and member of the Fitzwilliam Emergency Preparedness. He was also an emergency dispatcher from 1965 until 2014 with the Southwestern N.H. Fire Mutual Aid. He was a member of the Monadnock Regional School District Board. (DiLuzio Foley And Fletcher Funeral Homes)

Former Rochester District Court Judge Franklin C. Jones, 74, of Rochester, died Oct. 8, 2022. He practiced law in the greater Rochester area for more than 49 years, the majority spent as the managing partner at Wensley and Jones. He was an avid skier, hiker, kayaker and canoer. During summer, he could be found exploring the Casco Bay in his trusty Boston Whaler, Lucky Dog. (Grondin Funeral Home)

David “Dave” Andrew Fink, 86, longtime resident of Amherst, died Oct. 11, 2022. A U.S. Army and U.S. Marine veteran, he was a fourth-generation railroader, beginning as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad and working his way up to become president of New England’s largest freight railroad, Guilford Transportation Industries. He was the co-founder and president of Perma Treat Corporation, a creosote-treated lumber company in Durham, Conn. During his 56-year career, he was also president of Pan American World Airways and Boston and Maine Airways and president of Pan Am Systems. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)

Also among those we lost this past week was centenarian Paul F. Thiem Sr., 104, of Sanbornville, who died Oct. 7, 2022. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and began his shoe manufacturing career at J.F. McElwain Co. and later United Shoe Corp., International Shoe Corp. and Sportwelt Shoe Co., where he served as plant manager.  He also worked for Wilson Shoe Co., Hubbard Shoe Co., H & H Brown Shoe Co., the Robert Hart Shoe Co. and the Lowell Shoe Co.  He traveled the world as a shoe manufacturing consultant. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 28 and in 1990, was elected to the Hooksett School Board, serving three terms.  (The Roan Family Funeral Home)

Sandra G. Senter, 79, of Plaistow, died Oct. 8, 2022. She served as the president of the Newton Lions Club, the district president of the New Hampshire Lioness Club District 44-H, also as the New Hampshire Lions cabinet secretary treasurer for District 44-H from 1990-1991, and president of the New Hampshire Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation from 1992-1993. She was  the recipient of Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. (Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home)

Several long-time educators died during the past week, including Mary Ellen Davis, 80, of Wolfeboro, who died Oct. 10, 2022. She was an elementary school teacher in Port Washington, N.Y., Public School System and worked for Pierce Country Day Camp in Roslyn, N.Y., then Camp Birchmont in Wolfeboro.  She served as president of the Wolfeboro Garden Club. (Baker-Gagne Funeral Home)

Also, a Sister of Mercy for 78 years, Sister M. Thomas (Joan/Johanna) Norris, 97, of Windham, who died Oct. 7, 2022, taught in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and California Catholic elementary schools for 50 years. Her posts included in New Hampshire at St. Joseph School, Blessed Sacrament School, St. Anthony School, and St. Catherine School, all in Manchester; St. Mary Schools in Franklin and Dover; and St. Peter School in Concord. Retired from teaching, Sister Thomas continued to volunteer at St. Catherine School in Manchester as a tutor, at Warde Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and at New Horizons for New Hampshire as a cook for seven years. (Carrier Family Funeral Home & Crematory)

Virginia L. Doherty, 96, of Manchester, who died Oct. 12, 2022, began her teaching career in Colorado and later taught in Milford, Epping, and Littleton. Until her retirement, she taught at Manchester High School West. She was a founding sister of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Manchester, Beta Chapter. She also served on the board of directors of Members First Credit Union for 41 years. (Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center)

Joanne G. Cunningham, 50, of Goffstown, died Oct. 7, 2022.   She earned her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Manchester Community College and taught young children and worked as a kindergarten teacher for many years at Kiddie Corner Learning Center. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

John James Preston, 96, of Stratham and formerly of North Hampton, died Oct. 8, 2022. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres of Operation during World War II on board an amphibious landing craft. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in combat. He was an educator for 41 years, starting as a staff member at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Nashua for five years before moving to the Hampton School District as a teacher, administrator and guidance counselor until his retirement in 1993. He was a longtime volunteer at the Sacred Heart School and St. Vincent de Paul Society in Hampton as well as many years with the N.H. SPCA in Stratham. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory)

Well known for being general manager for racetracks and casinos during his career, including Seabrook Greyhound Park,  William Michael McLaughlin, 74, of Hampton, formerly of Nashua and Seabrook, died Oct. 8, 2022. He was a member of the Seabrook Planning Board and Winnacunnet School Board representing Seabrook. His career took him all across the country before returning to New Hampshire in 2015. He was instrumental in the sale of the former Seabrook Greyhound Park to the current ownership. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory)

Dianne E. Crean, 85, of Pembroke, died Oct. 8, 2022. She worked as a legal secretary in Concord, including for the State in Legislative Services and then the Attorney General’s Office for several years. She later worked for Orr & Reno Professional Association for nearly 20 years. She was a member of the Concord Chorale for many years. (Bennett Funeral Home)

Donald E. Reynolds Sr., 73, of Raymond, died Oct. 11, 2022. He served two tours with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. The owner and  operator of Reynolds & Sons, a general contracting business, he was a longtime member of the Richard A. Mitchell American Legion Post No. 51 in Epping where he held several offices over the years and worked to maintain the property. He was a founding member of the American Legion Riders Chapter No. 51 in Epping, where he was the current Sergeant-at-Arms. He was also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Kingston Veterans Club and was past commander of American Legion Post No. 4 in Haverhill, Mass. (Brewitt Funeral Home)

Claire Blais, 88, of Concord, died Oct. 8, 2022. After graduation from high school in  1952, she worked as a switchboard operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph and then as a dispatcher for the state highway department. She became the first female to be hired by the N.H. State Police as a communications specialist, retiring in 1979.  She was a member of the N.H. Retired State Troopers Association.  (Chadwick Funeral and Cremation Service)

Leon J. St. Cyr, 91, of Peterborough, died Oct. 8, 2022. He retired in 1976 as chief master sergeant with the U.S. Air Force after a 24-year career and often volunteered at Monadnock Community Hospital’s Emergency Department. He was a third-degree Knight with the Lancaster Knights of Columbus Council 1624. (Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center)

Shirley (Shear)(Cohen) Lelchuk, 99, of Hudson and formerly of Nashua, died Oct. 8, 2022. Born in Poland, she and her first husband, Elias Cohen, were the owners of the former Economy Market on West Hollis Street. She also worked for the former Alexander’s Market for 12 years in the bookkeeping/cashier department. She was an active member of Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua, where she taught Hebrew School and Yiddish Classes, was on the board of directors, and was a member of ORT Sisterhood and was Hadassah Woman of the Year in 1985. She received the Light of Torah Award and along with her husband, Jules, were the first persons at Temple Beth Abraham to receive the Keter Shem Tov “Crown of A Good Name” Award. She was a volunteer at the American Red Cross, the Friendship Club, the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter and the DeNicola Breast Cancer Center at Southern N.H. Medical Center. She was a past president of the Primetimers Seniors Group at Temple Beth. (Davis Funeral Home)

George Gilbert Sherwood, 95, of Dover and the owner of Sherwood Signs of Dover for over 50 years, died Oct. 11, 2022. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a recipient of a Purple Heart. His heroism was featured in the New York Times in 2020. He attended Coburn Classical Prep School in Waterville, Maine, and was voted class president in 1950. He was called back into the Navy as a critical rate signalman during the Korean Conflict. He taught carving at the Dover Adult Learning Center and carved international signing symbols that assisted in teaching the deaf. George was a member of the Ground Observers, the Dover Housing Authority and the Sons of the American Revolution, served on the Dover City Council and was commander of the Portsmouth Power Squadron. Both he and wife were Pease Greeters, welcoming troops home at Pease Air Force Base. (Tasker Funeral Home)

Clyde C. Chapman, 94, of Antrim, died Oct. 6, 2022. An avid horseman, he pulled his pony and draft horse teams for many decades at local fairs.  He would volunteer his time to the local 4-H kids to shoe their horses or share words of encouragement or advice. He worked for Skip Hammond Logging, with horses, while staying in a logging camp at the age of 14.  He also worked for Mascoma Lumber Company.  Clyde worked for Bithrow Construction, which brought Clyde and his family to Weare in 1959. (Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation)

Lorrie M. (Robbins) Byrnes, 69, of Pittsburg, died Oct. 7, 2022.  She worked at the Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen, and she owned and operated Robbins Cabins on Back Lake in Pittsburg. For the past several years, she was a familiar face to all as she worked at Young’s Store. (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)

William Joseph DesGrosseilliers, 84, a longtime resident of Merrimack, died Oct. 6, 2022. He served in the N.H. Army National Guard for nine years and was activated during the Berlin Crisis. He was owner and president of Paradis Insurance Agency in Manchester for more than 30 years.  He served as director and coach of the Merrimack Youth Association and was a longstanding member of the Manchester Country Club.  He also volunteered for Crimeline in Manchester, the Kiwanis Club, and was a member of the League of 1000 Men of the Monastery of the Precious Blood. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

Earle Charles Peaslee, 92, of Sandwich, died Oct. 11, 2022. He was a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then had a desire to work in anything that involved wheels, from owning logging trucks to school buses, coaches, and garbage trucks. He was a Sandwich selectman and moderated several town meetings. He was involved with the Sandwich Fair for more than 20 years and served as president of the fair association for much of that time. He also served as a trustee at the Meredith Village Savings bank for several years. Retiring from business at the age of 58, his love of wheels continued: He owned several RVs, tractors, mowers and UTVs. He enjoyed traveling the country in an RV and had a home in Arizona. (Mayhew Funeral Homes)

John Anthony Gray Sr., 81, of Thornton, died Oct. 6, 2022. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked at various positions at Sanders, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems in the contracts management field until his retirement in 2001.  He was a volunteer with Speare Memorial Hospital, Plymouth; the U.S. Forest Service, Lincoln, from 2003 to 2013; and was a volunteer guardian ad litem with the N.H. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. He was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Holy Family Council 10307, in Plymouth, and a fourth-degree Knight of the Father Verrette Assembly 2478. (Mayhew Funeral Homes)

Tristan James Vassar, 39, of Milford, died Oct. 9, 2022. The man in the red bandanna who was for 16 years a fixture behind the stove at Amigos Mexican Cantina, he was a kind and loyal friend who had a special way of brightening any room with his infectious cackle of laughter and making people smile on the worst of days. (Michaud Funeral Home & Crematorium)

Ella Mae (Erikson) Casey, 92, of Newport, died Oct. 10, 2022. She was the first woman Little League baseball coach in the local league in the early 1970s and worked on Main Street for 30 years, retiring from the 1st NH Bank in 1996. She was director of the Newport Chamber of Commerce and retired in 2021 at the age of 91.  Over the years, she served as a  Supervisor of the Checklist, the Jaycees, Newport Winter Carnival, Newport Booster Club, Newport Business & Professional Women’s Club, Chamber of Commerce (Board), Community Alliance of Human Services, Sugar River Chicks, Red Hats, Newport Rotary Club, Economic Development Corporation, Newport 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee, Newport Loan Advisory Committee, Newport Planning Board, Newport Historical Society,  Women of the Moose and South Congregational Church. (Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home)

Philip M. Reed Jr., 81, of Seabrook, died Oct. 10, 2022. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he worked at Western Electric, Digital Equipment Corporation and Bocra Industries. He was a past officer of St. James Lodge No. 102 F. & A.M. in Hampton, past Master of the Anniversary Lodge of Research No. 175, and lifelong member of the Police Square Club. He loved being a member of the Sojourners No. 386 in Portsmouth. He was also a past member of St. Mark’s Lodge in Newburyport, Mass., Scottish Rite & Shrine and East Gate Club. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory)

Mary Lou (Taylor) Stein, 93, of Franklin, died Oct. 7, 2022. She worked as an assistant librarian for over 30 years at the Franklin Public Library and on Oct. 29, 1993, the City of Franklin declared it “Mary Lou Stein Day.” She was a founding member of the Franklin Targeteers. She competed in “Turkey Shoots,” fed and watched wild birds, and drove around town in a bright red Thunderbird convertible. (William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home)