Edward MacRae Younker, 89, formerly of Derry, died on Nov. 5th, 2010, at St. Mark Village in Palm Harbor, FL after a long illness.
Born on September 13th, 1921, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, he was the son of William and Janie (MacRae) Younker. He had been a Derry resident for 64 years, before moving to Florida, in September 2009.
Mr. Younker was raised and educated in Brackley, Prince Edward Island, and played ice hockey with the Brackley Rovers. Following service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII, he moved to the United States in 1945, where he worked with his uncle at Warren's Esso Station on West Broadway in Derry. Taking over the business after his uncle's death, he continued operating the station, along with Fuelite Natural Gas Service of Derry, selling bottled gas and appliances; until retiring in 1977. He worked part time after retirement, for almost 20 years, with the Peabody Funeral Homes in Derry, Sandown, and Londonderry.
Mr. Younker became a United States Citizen by Naturalization in 1969.
He was a former director of the First National Bank of Derry and the Indian Head Bank of Derry, a member of the Hoodkroft Country Club, a former member and director of the Greater Derry Chamber of Commerce, a 15-year volunteer with the Derry Community Caregivers, a member of the former Derry Athletic Association, and a member and past president of the Gasoline Retailers Association of N.H. He was a life member of the National Skeet Association, and an accomplished marksman competing throughout New England and in Montreal, Canada.
Mr. Younker lead an active fraternal life, having held membership and offices in many Masonic organizations.
He was a 49-year member of St. Mark's Lodge No. 44, Free & Accepted Masons, of Derry, where he was Worshipful Master in 1967, and served as Secretary for 14 years. He was a member, past president, and a former director of the Derry Masonic Association; and a member and Past High Priest of Bell Chapter No. 25, Royal Arch Masons, of Derry.
He was Grand Steward for the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, Free & Accepted Masons, in 1996-97; a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Nashua; a member of the N.H. Council, Order of High Priesthood; Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of N.H., Royal Arch Masons, in 1982-83; a member and Past Illustrious Master of Israel Hunt Council, Royal & Select Masters, of Nashua; a member and Past Master of the N.H. Order of Thrice Illustrious Masters; and an Honorary Most Illustrious Past Grand Master of the Cryptic Masons of N.H.
He was a member and past commander of St. George Commandery, Knights Templar, of Nashua; and served as Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of N.H., Knights Templar, in 1995-96.
He was a member of the N.H. Past Commanders' Association; a charter member and former Preeminent Governor of Profile York Rite College of N.H.; a former member of Colonial Council, Knight Masons of New England; a member of Scenic Council Knight Masons of N.H.; a member of the N.H. Society of Veteran Freemasons; a member and Past Prior of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor (KYCH); a member and Past Sovereign of Granite State Conclave, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine; and a member and Past Preceptor of Palestine Tabernacle, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests of N.H. He was a former Noble of Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Concord; and a charter member of the Salem Shrine Club.
Among Mr. Younker's Freemasonry awards were the Major John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal; the Jeremy Ladd Cross medal; the International General Grand Council's Cryptic Masonic Medal; the Knight Commander of the Temple Award; the General Grand Chapter Medal, and the York Rite Sovereign College of North America's Purple Cross.
Mr. Younker was a former member of Victoria Lodge No. 2, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
He was a member and Past Patron of Ransford-Adah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, in Derry. He was appointed Grand representative of Manitoba, Canada in 1992-95, and attended their annual grand session in Winnipeg.
He was a member of Mizpah Rebekah Lodge in Derry, a division of the International Order of Odd Fellows.
Besides his wife of 25 years, Kathryn (Smith) Younker, formerly of Derry; Mr. Younker is survived by a sister, Marion Younker of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada; his mother-in-law, Marion (Smith) Ore of Palm Harbor, Florida; a sister-in-law, Jacqueline Lee of Manchester; and a step-son, George Whitcraft of Deming, New Mexico. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Whitcraft of Derry who died in 1981, and a step-daughter, June (Whitcraft) Lisofsky.
Following cremation in Florida, calling hours will be held on Friday December 3rd from 2 - 4 and 6 - 7:30pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. At 7:30pm members of St. Mark's Lodge #44 will offer a Masonic ritual, with Rev. Dwight Meader presiding over the service of remembrance.
Memorial donations may be made to the Community Caregivers of Greater Derry, 58 East Broadway, Derry, NH 03038; to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater FL 33760; or to the charity of one's choice.