She was 84 years old and has been through a tremendous amount of medical difficulties in her life. The last job she had was at Laconia Shoe Company in 1969 when she was admitted to Mary Hitchcock Hospital (presently Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital) for open heart surgery. You see she had rheumatic fever when she was a child and that caused scar tissue to form on her mitral valve, which had to be removed.

In 1981 I was stationed in Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ and they were living just outside of Yuma. We received a call that her husband, Alvah was quite ill and needed help. I drove them to the VA Hospital in Phoenix where he passed after three days. Mary has been our dependent ever since.

The most difficult part for me was witnessing my children, who had known "Grandma" as a part of our immediate family ever since they were born mourning her death. This is the first time they have experienced this type of tragedy for someone they loved.

it is with loving memory that I write this dedication to a person that gave everything she had for those in need.

We will miss you Mom.