DANVILLE – Thomas Henry Blaney Jr., 95, died peacefully Saturday, November 21, at home with family members present. He was born in Boston, May 29, 1914, and grew up in Rumford, Rhode Island. He is an alumnus of Moses Brown Prep School and graduated from East Providence High School.
He lived with his wife Lois S. (Tucker) Blaney in Seekonk, MA, from 1937 until 1999 when they moved to Danville. They have been lifetime members of the Newman Congregational Church in Rumford, Rhode Island.
During the Second World War, he served his country as a carpenter, building Liberty Ships in the ship yard at Providence, Rhode Island. After the war, he continued his carpentry skills as a much sought after furniture restoring expert, designer and builder and later as a cabinet maker. A lifetime member of the Carpenters and Joiners Union of America, Local No. 94, he was still completing wood working projects in his workshop at the time of his death.
An avid life-long outdoorsman, he also spent many summers at his camp in Maine with his wife Lois. There they enjoyed fishing, hiking, swimming and sharing time with their children and families.
Proceeded in death by his wife Lois in 2001, he leaves a sister, Rita Freberg of Maryville, TN; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas H. III and Patricia Blaney of Belle Meade N.J.; daughter and son-in-law, Janet L. and Kenneth C. Danisevich of Danville; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held November 25, at the First Congregational Church of Kingston. Burial was in Meetinghouse Cemetery in Danville.
Memorials may be made to Rockingham VNA and Hospice, 137 Epping Road, Exeter, 03833, or to The First Congregational Church, 6 Church St., Kingston, 03848.
James W. Bliss
SANDOWN – James W. Bliss, 62, of Sandown, passed from this life Fri., November 20, 2009 surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born in Glen Cove, NY, to Eleanor L. (Buchtenkirch) Bliss and the late Walter H. Bliss.
Jim graduated from West Virginia University, and attended Ranger School at Wana Kena in up-state New York. He was the former athletic director for the Litchfield School District’s, Junior High School and was also the physical education teacher for Griffin Memorial Elementary School located in Litchfield. Jim formerly taught physical education in the U.S. Virgin Islands, in North Stratford, and was a recreational specialist at Micronesian Occupational Center in Koror, Palau. Jim also spent time as manager of both Radio Shack and Olympia Sports Center stores.
Jim attended Calvary Bible Church in Derry. He spent lots of time enjoying and respecting the outdoors. Jim was an avid bass fisherman, and enjoyed tennis, baseball, swimming, and both water and snow skiing. Jim even tried his hand at taxidermy. Mr. Bliss was a pen and ink artist and an avid photographer. He especially enjoyed spending summers at Moose Pond in Bridgton ME with his family.
James leaves his beloved wife of 35 years, Valerie (Adams) Bliss, along with their loving children, daughter Carrie Conway and her husband Sean of East Derry, as well as their daughter Hailey; son Bryan Bliss and his wife Katie of Derry, and their son, Cody; and son Adam Bliss and his wife Jessica of Derry, and their son, Cohen. Jim also leaves his mother, Eleanor (Buchtenkirch) Bliss of Westbrook, ME, and siblings, Helen Sternberg of Gray, ME, and Walter Bliss of Belmont. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Carrie Adams of Bridgton, ME.
The funeral services was held on November 28, at the Calvary Bible Church, Derry.
Donations in memory of Jim may be made in lieu of flowers to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute 44 Binney Street Boston, Massachusetts 02115-6084 Attention Dr. Peter Black, Head Neuro Surgeon.
For further information and to offer online condolences, please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.
Arthur E. Pierce
DERRY – Arthur E. Pierce, Sr., 86, of Derry, died Sunday, November 22, 2009, in the Salemhaven Nursing Home, Salem.
Mr. Pierce was born in Hampstead, on September 18, 1923. He was a resident of Derry for the past two years, formerly splitting his time living in Interlachen, FL and at his camp in Keezer Falls, ME.
Mr. Pierce was a volunteer member of the Danville Police Force and the Fire Department in the early 1970’s. He was a shoemaker for many years, working for LaSands Shoe in Haverhill, MA, and he belonged to the Shoe Workers Union. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, deep sea fishing, growing his garden, and spending time at his camp in Maine that he built. Mr. Pierce was a member of the Plaistow Fish and Game Club. He also enjoyed baseball, football, watching NASCAR racing, and watching the shuttle launches while he was in Florida.
He is survived by a daughter, Eleanor Trow of Derry, two sons, Arthur Pierce, Jr. of Kingston, Russell Pierce of Haverhill, MA, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Phyllis (Barnard) Pierce in 2000, and a grandson.
His funeral service was held on November 28 at Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Londonderry. Burial was in West Hampstead Cemetery, Hampstead.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018. To send a condolence or for more information, please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.
