Francis W. Brady

COLUMBIA, NH – Mr. Francis W. Brady, 91, of Columbia, NH, passed away early Wednesday morning, January 12, 2011, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, NH with family by his side. Born on July 17, 1919, in Newmarket, NH, he was a son of Daniel J. and M. Adaline (Varney) Brady. He had two brothers and two sisters, and only his sisters remain. He was married to Ruth (Smith) Brady and they had recently celebrated 68 years of marriage. They had lived in Newmarket, on the family homestead, until 1965, when they purchased the former Lyman Forbes farm in Colebrook. He was a long-time dairy farmer and was active in dairy organizations. Francis was one of the first farmers to use the Artificial Breeding Assn. of NH/VT. He grew up with horses being an important part of his life. His father was a blacksmith, as well as having a small family farm, and Francis used the horses for farm work and logging, often using his horses to help others, as well. He had raised and bred Percheron horses for many years, and he was a member of the Percheron Horse Association. He showed his horses for a few years at local fairs, and his love of them and his enjoyment in handling them produced many fond memories for family and community alike. Francis and his teams were fixtures at The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville, starting there in 1976 with weekly summer hay rides, eventually doing them in winter months, as well. There are many guests who will recall fondly Mr. Brady and his team of of horses. In October, 1985, he participated in a fund raising event for restoration work on the Statue of Liberty. He was the driver of a restored Concord stagecoach owned by the Cowles family of Randolph, Vt. The convoy of coaches went from Concord to Boston collecting funds along the way. He and his teams participated in numerous 4th of July parades in Woodsville and Colebrook drawing the Cowles’ stagecoach. They also re-opened covered bridges at rededications in Bath and Columbia with the same stagecoach. Francis supplied a four-horse hitch to pull a restored snow roller in a dedication in Pittsburg in 1990, and he always enjoyed being able to use his horses at home and for public events. He and his wife always put much work into their horses and harness for these events, and he took great pride in both “looking the way they should be.” His love of horses was only overshadowed by his love of family, and he was always there to help and give support. In particular, Francis enjoyed Sunday and holiday dinners, and having more family members around to share meals with and tell stories to. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Ruth, and his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters and many good friends. At his request, there were no calling hours. Private services will be held later at the convenience of the family in Newmarket, NH. 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.

Francis W. Brady

July 17, 1919 - January 12, 2011