E. Hampton Roy, Sr.

STEWARTSTOWN, NH—After a full and productive life of 86 years, Hamp Roy of Stewartstown, NH died peacefully on Nov. 29, 2012. Born on July 5th, 1926, in Fredon Township, NJ, to the late Coursen and Alberta Roy, he grew up on the family dairy farm where he learned a work ethic that he carried with him for the rest of his life. After graduating from high school, Hamp served his country by joining the U.S. Army. After the service he worked a variety of jobs including trucking for the family coal business. After marrying Mildred “Millie” Barbay on Oct. 12, 1950, he started a successful farming enterprise growing sweet corn in partnership with his father. During this enterprise he developed a lifelong respect for John Deere tractors and worked in his spare time as a John Deere salesperson. In 1959 Hamp and Millie purchased Sportsman’s Lodge at Diamond Pond and have lived at Diamond Pond ever since. Initially Sportsman’s Lodge was a 3-season business – fishing in the spring, family vacations in the summer, and hunting in the fall. Hamp offered guiding services to guests and was proud to be a licensed NH Guide. During the winter months when Diamond Pond Road was not plowed, the family moved to Colebrook where Hamp worked for Willard and Josephine Nugent. In the early years of snowmobiling, Hamp recognized the potential for incorporating this activity into the business. After getting a bill through the New Hampshire legislature to fund the plowing of Diamond Pond Road, Sportsman’s Lodge became one of the first area resorts open for winter business. Hamp was a pioneer in snowmobile trail grooming and spent untold hours creating and maintaining snowmobile trails that promoted the sport in its initial phases here in the North Country. He did this without any financial compensation. He was a charter member of the Colebrook Ski Bees and remained active with the club for many years. In 1979 Hamp and Millie sold Sportsman’s Lodge and built a home on Diamond Pond. At that point Hamp returned to work for the Nugent family, delivering home heating oil and LP gas, doing gravel construction work, and driving school bus. Always entrepreneurial, Hamp also offered services to Diamond Pond folks that ranged from light carpentry and firewood, to snowplowing and bulldozer work. The family wreath business was started at that time and continues today. Hamp also successfully completed the real estate course and hung his license at Joan M. Angwin Real Estate. Hamp always enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting and fishing and working in his woodlot. He harvested timber each year on his woodlot including firewood, pulp, and sawlogs until he was in his late 70s. At age 86 he was still helping split and stack firewood. Hamp served as a Deputy Fire Warden, a responsibility he held for many years. At age 59 he took up golf as well and enjoyed playing in the local league. His interest in the game brought him to yet another line of work: as a ranger on The Balsams Panorama Golf Course. He shared his knowledge of the outdoors by volunteering as an OHRV Safety Course Instructor. Throughout his life Hamp was a hard worker and at the same time had a keen sense of humor – always ready with a joke or witty remark. But most of all he was a genuine people person. Operating the lodge, delivering fuel, driving bus, working at the golf course, and performing all his other activities were a joy to him because he had the opportunity to interact with folks he knew and the opportunity to meet new people. Hamp leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Mildred (Barbay) Roy; his son E. H. Roy of Diamond Pond; his daughter Cindy Roy Hood of Lancaster; a number of nieces and nephews; and many close friends. His daughter's family includes her husband Paul “Skip” Hood, and his children Doug Hood, Caryn Hood Wright and husband Tyler, Jon and Anne Femenella Hood, and their children Ben and Olivia. Hamp was preceded in death by his sisters Phyllis Lorenzo and Virginia Minelli, and by his brother Andrew Roy. Calling hours will be held on Friday evening, Dec. 7, 2012, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Monadnock Congregational Church in Colebrook with The Rev. Rebecca Larson officiating. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Hamp may be made to the Keith Haynes Memorial Scholarship stewarded by the Colebrook Ski Bees at P.O. Box 125, Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

E. Hampton Roy, Sr.

July 5, 1926 - November 29, 2012