Gary W. Richardson

WEST STEWARTSTOWN – Gary W. Richardson, 85, of W. Stewartstown, passed away on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at his home with his wife by his side and after a four-year battle with cancer. He was born on June 8, 1937, in West Stewartstown, a son to the late Wilbert A. and Cleora (Stillings) Richardson. He attended the local schools and was a 1955 graduate of Canaan Memorial High School. He later attended Lowell Tech. school in Lowell, Mass., for a short time and then served with honor in the U.S. Navy from 1956-60. In the Navy, Gary was a guided missile technician and he served for a period on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway and was deployed to the Far East for seven months. He continued his military service when he returned home in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1973 until he retired in 1992. Gary’s career and working life was varied. He worked for a time at Ethan Allen in Beecher Falls, did construction work for a time, and he owned and operated Currier’s Store from 1969-72. In the early 60s, he was a technician at N.H. Ball Bearings in Peterborough. In the north country, he was a truck driver for Gilles Rancourt and Corriveau Logging, a sales rep for Middlesex Fire Equipment, and he drove over the road for Diamond International and the James River Corp. for 15 years. He retired in 1998 from Wausau Papers in Groveton as a papermaker on the #5 paper machine. He joined the Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department in 1966 and remained for more than 40 years. He served several years as the secretary and treasurer of the department, and he was a certified fire instructor for both New Hampshire and Vermont. Gary was a proud member of the Vermont State Firemen’s Association, and was a former forest fire warden for the Town of Stewartstown. He loved to snowmobile and was a charter member of the Canaan Border Riders. He also maintained memberships in the Swift Diamond Riders and the Ski-Bees, VAST, and the NHSA. Gary also enjoyed collecting and shooting firearms, hunting and fishing, and he was a long-time member of the NRA. Gary was also a former instructor for the N.H. Hunter Safety courses. He was a long-time member of the local Granges, as well, both the Frontier Grange and the Aurora Grange in Pittsburg. Gary was also a faithful member of the Hope Baptist Church in W. Stewartstown. Gary leaves behind his wife of more than 36 years, Norma (Noyes) Richardson of W. Stewartstown; his son, Perry Richardson and wife Joanne Kinney-Richardson of Winslow, Me.; a brother, David Richardson and wife Shirley of W. Stewartstown; a sister, Patricia Nevers of Concord, N.H.; step-children, Kevin Brockney and wife Lisa of Canaan, Janet Kittleman and husband Scott of Marcy, N.Y., Deborah Kirk and husband Bill of Milton, Vt., Stephen Lavigne and wife Jennifer, and Matthew Lavigne and wife Bronwyn, all of Maryland; seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by a sister, Suzanne Haynes. There are no public calling hours. A memorial service with naval and fire department honors will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Hope Baptist Church in W. Stewartstown. Interment in the Colebrook Village Cemetery will be at a later date. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Gary may be made to the Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 218, W. Stewartstown, NH 03597; or to the Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 326, Beecher Falls, VT 05902. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Gary W. Richardson

June 8, 1937 - January 10, 2023