Raymond – Clarence C. “Junior” Bemis, 78, died peacefully June 6, 2008, at his home surrounded by family.
He was born In Hooksett, on August 23, 1929, to Clarence Gardner and Albertha (Bernard) Bemis. He grew up in Hooksett and moved to Epping in 1952, where he married his beloved Alice before settling in Raymond in 1964. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time in Florida.
He had a major stroke in April 2007, and made an amazing recovery that gave his family another whole year of precious time with him. He moved in with his daughter Tami and her family in August 2007, and with the help of her brothers and other family members, he spent many enjoyable days with them all.
Junior served in the U.S. Army as a mechanic for 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company and was stationed in Korea. He worked as a volunteer for Raymond Community Action. He also attended Raymond Baptist Church and soon became part of the church family. In his final year he came to know Jesus and is resting in Heaven now. He will be truly missed by all.
Junior was predeceased by his amazing wife Alice (Eaton) in 1987, two brothers, Wilder Bemis and Leon Bemis, and a sister Nora Bemis.
Family members include two brothers, Andrew Bemis and his wife Louise of Goffstown, and Frank Bemis and his wife Vi of Manchester; three sons, Greg Bemis and his longtime companion Kathy Daskal Lee of Raymond, Peter Bemis and his wife Karen of Northwood, and Bill Bemis and his wife Kim of Raymond; one daughter, Tami Cole and her husband Michael of Raymond; 11 grandchildren: Melissa Buckner and her husband Daniel of Deerfield, Daniel Bemis of Northwood, James Bemis and his wife Tracy of Northwood, Ryan Bemis of Northwood, Sean Bemis of Raymond, Richard A Smith III and his fiancé Stevie St. Hilaire of Derry, Derek Bemis of Raymond, Matthew Bemis of Raymond, Marc Bemis of Bedford, Benjamin Cole of Raymond, and Nicholas Bemis of Raymond; two great-grandchildren, Rigby Buckner and Noah Buckne, both of Deerfield; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on June 9, at the Raymond Baptist Church, Raymond. Burial with military honors was in the New Pine Grove Cemetery, Raymond.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Rte. 27, Raymond, NH 03077.
To sign an on line guest book, please visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com. Brewitt FH-603-772-3554.
Nancy I. Connell Rubin
ATKINSON – Nancy I. Connell Rubin, 47, of Atkinson, died Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at her home.
Born in Methuen, MA, daughter of William R. Connell and the late Irene (Cheney) Connell, she was raised in Atkinson and was a member and the Honor Essayist of the Class of 1979 of Timberlane Regional High School.
Nancy was a certified orthodontic assistant and was employed until recently as the office manager for Dr. Arthur Pernokas, D.M. D. and Dr. Jaime Holland, D.D.S.
A resident of Brentwood from 1982 until moving back to Atkinson in 2001, Nancy enjoyed sewing, gardening and crafts.
She is survived by her father, William R. Connell of Atkinson, a brother William R. Connell, Jr. of Atkinson, three sisters and brothers-in-law, Janet and Thomas Ingham of Newton, Barbara and Richard Childs of Kingston, and Wendy and David Lewis of Atkinson, her fiancé, John Babineau of Baldwinville, MA, eleven nieces and nephews and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Relatives and friends may call on Friday, June 6, 2008 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow, NH.
Her funeral was held on June 6, at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, Plaistow. Burial was in Atkinson Cemetery.
Cpl. John R. Lapham
ATKINSON – Cpl. John R. Lapham, 40, a member of the Atkinson Police Department for the past six years, died Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Raised and educated in Hampstead, Cpl. Lapham, attended Pinkerton Academy in Derry, and received his degrees in accounting and criminal justice from Hesser College.
A February of 2001 graduate of the 124th Class of The New Hampshire Police Academy, he began his law enforcement career as a part-time officer and later full time officer for the Town of Hampstead from 1997 until 2002, and served as the department prosecutor. He was also employed by the Sandown Police Department before joining the Atkinson Department in 2002. A member of the Atkinson Police Department since 2002, Cpl. Lapham served as the town DARE Officer. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from 1993 until 2000.
Cpl. Lapham has resided in Chester since 1994 and was a volunteer coach for the Chester Soccer League and Little League. He was also a member of the Rockingham County Law Enforcement Association, DARE America Association, and The Chester Congregational Church and a former member of the Hampstead Congregational Church. He enjoyed snowmobiling and vacations at DisneyWorld.
He is survived by his wife of thirteen years, Amy (Towle) Lapham, and two sons, Matthew W. Lapham and Justin R. Lapham, all of Chester, his parents, Stanley and Gail (Clark) Lapham of East Hampstead, brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Dorothy Lapham of Hampton, sister, Susan Lapham of Sandown, and sister and brother-in-law, Julie Lapham-McDevitt and James McDevitt of Portsmouth, one niece, two nephews, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Relatives and friends may call on Monday, June 9, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow, NH.
His funeral was held on June 10, beginning at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, Plaistow. His funeral cortege traveled through the towns of Plaistow, Atkinson, Hampstead, and Sandown, with the funeral service continued in the Chester Congregational Church. Burial was in the Great Hill Cemetery, Chester.
Relatives and friends who wish are encouraged to make donations in memory of John at any Banknorth location for the Cpl. John Lapham Fund, c/o TD Banknorth, N.A., 47 Plaistow Rd., P.O. Box 368, Plaistow, NH 03865.
Daniel W. Parkhurst
PLAISTOW – Daniel W. “Danny” Parkhurst, 48, of Plaistow, died Friday, June 6, 2008, at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital, after being stricken at work.
Born in Haverhill, MA, son of Annie (Spencer) Parkhurst, of Haverhill and the late Eugene Parkhurst, he was a member of the Haverhill High School and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Class of 1978.
He was presently employed as an auto technician and service writer for Lakeside Motors and was previously employed at Main Street Mobil in Haverhill and Bradford Towing. He was also the former owner of Dan’s Auto in Gorham, Maine.
A former longtime resident of Haverhill before moving to Plaistow ten years ago, he was a member of The Liberty Club, The Haverhill Dart Club, and the Salvation Army. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoyed camping and fishing.
In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife Lisa A. (LaPorte) Parkhurst, a son Joseph D. Parkhurst, of Methuen, MA, two daughters, Danielle Parkhurst of Methuen, MA, and Brianna Parkhurst of Haverhill, MA, a stepson, Connor Sproul and a step-daughter, Chelsey Sproul, of Plaistow, eight brothers, Eugene Parkhurst of Lawrence, MA, Raymond Parkhurst of Haverhill, MA, William Parkhurst of Haverhill, MA, Timothy Parkhurst of Illinois, Gilbert Parkhurst of New Bedford, MA, Kirk Parkhurst of Haverhill, MA, James Parkhurst of Lincoln, England, Arthur Parkhurst of Ocala, FL, four sisters, Susan Combs, Karen Murphy, Wanda Parkhurst, and Patricia Fortier, all of Haverhill, MA, his maternal grandmother, Edith Spencer of Haverhill, MA, grandchildren Gaige and Rylee Swan, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 from 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow.
His funeral was held on June 12, at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, Plaistow. Burial was in Plaistow Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made ton Camp Wonderland, c/o The Haverhill Salvation Army, Main St., Haverhill, MA.
