“Jay” Judith Ann (Yates) Munson, owner of Bedford Fields Home and Garden Center, died Monday May 23, 2005 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH after a long and courageous battle with lymphoma. She was 67.
Born in Fall River, MA on April 15, 1938, she is the daughter of Florence and William Yates. She spent her early years in Warren, RI and Swanzey, MA. She received her bachelor’s degree from Gordon College in Wenham, MA and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College, New York City.
She met her husband, “Quin” George Q. Munson Jr., at Gordon College and then moved to Sea Cliff, NY (Long Island) where they remained for 25 years and raised their family of three children.
Her interest in Early Childhood Education was sparked during her early years working as Head Teacher at St. Paul’s Nursery School, Glen Cove, NY for eight years. She continued that work at Portledge School, Locust Valley, NY for four years.
Mrs. Munson was passionate about her work with young children and became an expert in Early Childhood Education culminating in becoming the founding director of Children’s Corner Preschool, Syosset, NY in 1984. In 1988 she and her husband moved to New Hampshire where she continued to share her professional expertise as a Head Start Coordinator for over 10 years.
In 1992 Mr. And Mrs. Munson, and their son David Munson, established Bedford Agway, now known as Bedford Fields. Their son, George Munson, later joined the family business. Mrs. Munson was the heart of Bedford Fields and her vision was to create a welcoming place where people could find beauty for their homes and gardens. Her gentle and kind spirit was always a comfort to all who visited Bedford Fields.
Also dear to her heart were her children and grandchildren. She spent countless hours encouraging, reading and playing with them. She especially enjoyed taking them on adventures to instill an appreciation of life, the arts and fine music.
Family members include her mother, Florence Yates of Concord, NH and formerly of Middletown, RI; her husband, “Quin” George Q. Munson Jr. of Bedford, NH; three children, Portia Munson Handlesman of Catskill, NY, George Q. Munson III of Lyndborough, NH and David Munson of Washington, NH; her seven loving grandchildren; two brothers, Steven Yates of Florida and Jeffrey Yates of Rhode Island.
The funeral was Wednesday , June 1st, 2005 at Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way, Bedford, NH. Private burial was held in Catskill, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Lymphoma Research Foundation, 111 Broadway, 19th floor, New York, NY 10006, or to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, 66 Hanover St., Suite 101, Manchester, NH 03101-2230