LACONIA ---Donalda “Donnie” Richards, 91, died on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at the Taylor Community in Laconia, NH
Donalda was born in Sanford, Maine, on July 30, 1929, the daughter of Payson and Nina Ricker.
She was educated in Sanford, Maine, and in 1944 moved to Portsmouth, NH.
She carried her love for cooking and especially seafood when she moved inland as an adult. Some of her earliest employment was working for her grandparents at the Fernald Cottages in Jackson, NH. She was employed by the State of New Hampshire Welfare Department in Portsmouth, and later at the Supply Department at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Durham, NH. After moving to Lake City as John worked as a newly minted pharmacist, Donnie worked for Perry Craver at the Western Auto Store and eventually for Charlie and Alice Dockhamat Story Drugs. She and her husband owned and operatedthe store for many years, retiring in 1992. They were active in the downtown Business Association and many charities.
Donnie’s gateway medium to expressing herself artistically was ceramics. She then began painting, studying under Loran Percy. She ended up specializing in landscapes, giving framed pieces generously to loved ones, and had many fine paintings in her home. Later she enjoyed making all sorts and sizes of quilted pieces and really enjoyed belonging to the Belknap Mill Quilters. Insofar as collecting things, her taste ran from Annalee Dolls to Pepi Herrmann crystal work.
Donnie had a quick and wry sense of humor, a desire for fairness, and a belief in charity. She was a member of the Laconia Congregational Church and served as a Trustee and on other committees and, in 2001, was chosen for the Church Service Award.
Despite success as a small business owner, as a child of the Depression, Donnie had learned to be prepared for lean times and kept what we kindly called a well-stocked cupboard. Recipe collections and overflowing magazine racks filled her spaces. Her clothes closets were important collections too.
Her circle of friends was most important to her. She and John enjoyed traveling to distant locations, she would keep a journal of activities, experiences and expenses (to the penny) and he would snap pictures and shoot movies.
In addition to caring for two active sons, a retail drugstore and her beloved elders, not to mention several dogs and cats over the years, Donnie served her community. She was a member of the Lakeport Women’s Club, serving as President in 1986-87, and the Extension Group of Belknap County. She was a longtime member of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary. And when she and John retired to Taylor Community, she made many new friends, enjoyed entertaining, and volunteered in the gift shop, working shoulder to shoulder with her beloved, surviving friend, Betty Shurbert.
Survivors include two sons, John Richards Jr. and wife Deborah of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Thomas and wife Mary of Monkton, VT; two grandchildren, Megan and Benjamin; a great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. She loved them all very much.
Burial will be at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, next to her husband, to whom she had given much devotion over the years, especially as his health failed.
She leaves with us her sense of stubbornness, hospitality, humor, and procrastination.
The family thanks the staff and administration of The Taylor Community for their true caring, love, support and professionalism during all of Mother’s time with them.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to Congregational Church of Laconia - Dorcas Fund, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH 03246; the Laconia Salvation Army, 177 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH; or please donate some canned goods from your well-stocked cupboard to your local food shelf.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.