Gilford-Shirley Ann Grace, 82, of 16 Heather Lane, died at the Belknap County Nursing Home on Friday, August 5, 2011 after a brief period of declining health, her family at her side.
Shirley was born September 26, 1928 in Tamworth, N.H., the daughter of the late Charles and Doris (Whiting ) Brown. She lived in Tamworth for many years before moving to Laconia in 1947. She had been employed by the N. E. Telephone Company for seventeen years and then worked at Jordan Meats (formerly the Laconia Meat Packing Co.) retiring in 1988. Shirley was an avid golfer and was a member of the Oak Hill Golf Course and its Ladies Twilight League, the Ladies Bowling League in Laconia and Meredith, and the N. E. Telephone Pioneers.
Shirley is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Everett E. Grace, of Gilford; two sons, Brian E. Grace of Meredith, and Bruce C. Grace and his wife, Carole, of Tamworth; a daughter, Sandra E. Grace, of Laconia; three grandchildren, Curtis Monier of Laconia and Melissa and Christopher Grace both of Tamworth; a brother, Charles Brown, and his wife, Susan, of Northwood, N.H.; three sisters, Doris Remick and her husband, Ron, of Tamworth, Helen Shaw and her husband, Dave, of Michigan and Charlotte Covey of Meredith. Several nieces and nephews also survive Shirley. In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by a brother, Robert Brown, and by two sisters, Priscilla Welch and Babe Beede.
A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.at Pine Grove Cemetery, Belknap Mtn. Rd., Gilford, N.H. Rev. Michael Graham, pastor of the Gilford Community Church officiating. There will be no visiting hours.
For those who wish, the family suggests memorial donations in Shirley’s name be made to the Belknap County Nursing Home – Activities Fund, 30 County Drive, Laconia, NH 03246 or the Alzheimer’s Association, New Hampshire Office, One Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 105, Bedford, NH 03110.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.