Rita A. Tibbetts, 74, passed away at the Charleston Nursing Home in Danville, Ky. on March 15, 2011 after a long illness. 

Rita was born in Bartlett and spent her childhood years there. She attended the Bartlett School system and graduated in 1955 as the valedictorian of her class. After high school she remained in Bartlett for the next 20 years where she was employed by the Kearsage Peg Mill. After her marriage to Robert she left Bartlett and moved to Lexington, Ky. and with a few moves in the interim finally settled in Danville, Kentucky where she lived out the remainder of her life.

  Rita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Her family meant the world to her and she would display that at all times by making sure they felt loved and were happy. She was beloved by all that knew her and will sorely be missed by all.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Robert S. Tibbetts; a son, Jonathan A. Mulkern and his wife, Rochelle, of Bartlett; a daughter, Tricia J. Beckham and her husband, William, of Lexington, Ky.; four grandsons, Jackson and Grant Beckham and Shea and Finnian Mulkern; two sisters, Gloria C. Grant, of Houston, Texas, and Brenda J. Stoner, of Gilford; two brothers, Richard E. Clemons, of Capon Bridge, W. Va., and Ralph C. Clemons Jr., of Raleigh, N.C., along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph C. Clemons Sr., mother, Floris M. Clemons, and brother, John G. Clemons.  The funeral and committal services will be on Saturday, March 26, at 11 a.m. in the Bartlett Union Congregational Church in Bartlett with refreshments after in the church basement.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations are made to the Bartlett Union Congregational Church P.O. Box 132 Bartlett, NH, 03812.  The Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway is in charge of arrangements.

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Thaddeus Thorne, surveyor, businessman, forester, fisherman, community leader, ski industry pioneer, entrepreneur, and beloved patriarch, died on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at his home in South Conway, with many of his large family at his bedside. (Photo below, 1983 at Attitash)

 

Born May 25, 1924, in Pasadena, Calif., Thad was the eldest child of Harold W. and Margaret Comstock Thorne. He grew up in New Canaan, Conn., and spent his summers on Conway Lake in New Hampshire.

 

When the U.S. entered World War II, Thad enlisted in the newly activated 10th Mountain Division, training on skis at Camp Hale in Colorado. As an army lieutenant, Thad saw action in the Pacific and was involved in the occupation of Japan. In 1951, he was recalled to duty and stationed in Germany. After World War II, Thad graduated from the forestry program at the University of New Hampshire, where he met his future wife, Virginia Chandler. They were married in 1949. He went on to earn a master's degree in forestry from the University of Michigan and then moved back to South Conway, where he and Virginia bought an old farmhouse and raised seven children. Thad enjoyed physical labor, clearing fields around his house, often pulling out the logs with his team of oxen. When Thad first moved to South Conway in the early 1950s, he opened his own survey business, Thaddeus Thorne Surveys. One of his earliest projects took him to Panama, where he explored and surveyed an extensive tract of land.

 

Throughout his life Thad was involved in many aspects of the ski business. He ran the ski patrol at Wildcat, took part in the original planning of Attitash Mountain, served as president and general manager of the Attitash Ski Area for over 20 years, and designed ski trails for many resorts throughout New England. When Thad retired from the ski business he began a lumber milling business, which he enjoyed running for the next fifteen years. In addition, he spent many summers working as a commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska. (Photo at Camp Hale Dormitories)

 

 

For numerous years he also served the Conway community as both a selectman and member of the Planning Board. More recently, he took pride in his role as chair of the fundraising campaign to build the Ham Ice Arena in the Mount Washington Valley. Thad loved his large family. He cherished time spent with his many grandchildren. He traveled to places like Fiji, China, and Costa Rica with his adventurous relatives. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, skied the Haute Route across the Alps from France to Italy, and explored the jungles of Samoa. He especially loved fly-fishing in the New Hampshire lakes and rivers. As an outdoorsman and nature lover, Thad believed strongly in permanently protecting the lands and waters that enriched his life. Before he died, he placed most of his land in conservation easement. (Photo above, selling tickets at Attitash 1973)

 

 

Thad Thorne will be remembered for his accomplishments, about which he was most humble, but also for his strong, persuasive and engaging personality. His was always a hearty greeting and firm handshake. He told a great story. He had an iron sense of ethics, unswayed by money or position. He was accepting of everyone, and formed strong bonds with the people he met through his many pursuits. All who knew him will miss his extraordinary presence. (photo above, training exercise at Camp Hale)

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virginia Chandler Thorne; his two sisters, Mary Thorne Gould and Lydia Thorne Lucy and their husbands, Kingdon Gould, Jr. and Chester Lucy; his brother, Harold Thorne and wife, Evelyn McKinstry; his seven children, September Thorne Neville and husband, Richard, Halorie Thorne Rintel and husband, Theodor, Harvest Thorne Doucette and husband, James, Debony Thorne, Trillium Thorne Evans and husband, Mark, Thaddeus C. Thorne and wife, Elizabeth, and Jason Thorne; 22 grandchildren; and one great grandson. A celebration of Thad Thorne’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, , at the Thorne Residence at 312 Gulf Road in South Conway.  (Photo at South Conway 2011)

In  lieu of flowers, donations in Thad’s memory may be made to: The Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, PO Box 424, North Conway, NH, 03860 or The Ham Ice Arena, 87 West Main Street, Conway, NH, 03818.
 

Related Tom Eastman Article...
UNH Magazine Winter 2011  "Mountain Men"

The Mountain Ear, 2008 by Sarah Earle


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(Thad's Brother)

Harold "Harry" Wooster Thorne Jr. (1927- 2016) of Oakland, Calif., and South Conway died at home on Nov. 25, 2016, a few hours after Thanksgiving Day.

Born in Pasadena, Calif., Harry was the son of Harold Wooster Thorne and Margaret Comstock Thorne. His family moved to New Canaan, Conn., where Harry grew up. He graduated from Middlesex School in Concord, Mass., served in the Army until the end of World War II, and graduated from Yale in 1949.

Harry drove from New Hampshire to San Francisco in 1950 and began working for the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co., leaving three years later to begin his career as an insurance broker with Johnson and Higgins. He was head of their international department when he retired in 1988.

Harry and Evelyn (Muffy) McKinstry were married in 1952 and lived in Oakland, where their three children were born and raised. Their house of 40 years was destroyed in the 1991 Oakland fire. They rebuilt on the same property and lived there until 2014 when they moved to an apartment on Lake Merritt.

Harry enjoyed all aspects of the great outdoors, especially fishing, backpacking, and whitewater canoeing. He and a great friend went steelhead fishing on the Klamath River every fall for three decades. Harry loved playing all sports and was able to play tennis until he was 88. While he relished competition, sportsmanship and giving his opponent a good experience were always his top priorities.

Harry and Muffy spent parts of 18 summer vacations bicycling in Europe and the last 30 summers in South Conway, where Harry visited as a young boy and where his parents retired.

Harry looked forward to spending holidays and the summer in South Conway with his immediate and extended family. Conway Lake and its preservation were particularly close to his heart. He loved fishing in a canoe alone or with a family member and came to know every rock, and perhaps every fish, along the shoreline near his house.

Harry will be remembered for his huge, genuine smile, his respect for all people and his planet, and his absolute devotion to his family, his friends and the loons on Conway Lake. He set an extraordinary example of humility, generosity and civility.

Harry is survived by his wife, Muffy; sons, Charles and his wife, Alisa, and Nathan and his wife, Margaret; daughter, Ann Whalen and her husband, Timothy; six grandchildren, Wells, Nathan and his wife, Natalie, Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra, Andrew, Harry, and Ellen Whalen; sisters, Mary Gould and her husband, Kingdon, Lydia Lucy and her husband, Chester; and sister-in-law, Virginia.

Harry was predeceased by his brother, Thaddeus Thorne.

Harry was devoted to environmental causes, particularly those dedicated to rivers and freshwater. Gifts in his memory may be made to Friends of the Earth, 1101-15th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, Friends of the River,1418 20th Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95811 or The Conway Lake Association, P.O. Box 803, Center Conway, NH 03813.

At Harry's request, there will be no service.

 

 

Dale W. Trecarten, 75, of Bartlett, N.H., died Aug. 24, 2019, at the Memorial Hospital in North Conway. Born in Lewiston, Maine, the son of Sanford and Gertrude (Stanton) Trecarten, he was a lifelong resident of Bartlett, N.H. He was a graduate of Kennett High School, Class of 1963 in Conway.

Dale had worked on the family farm for many years and had been employed at the former Peg Mill in Bartlett and he also worked at Attitash and Cranmore ski areas and at Story Land in Glen, N.H.

He had been a member of the Grange and a former Boy Scout leader.

The family includes his wife, Catherine (Johnson) Trecarten of Bartlett; three stepchildren, Jennie, Heidi and Lori and their families and many cousins.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. in the Bartlett Village Cemetery in Bartlett. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway.

Donations may be sent to the Bartlett Jackson Ambulance Service in Glen.

To send a message of condolence or for more information, go to furberandwhite.com.

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Geraldine Disbrow Tilton, affectionately known as “Gerry” or “Gram” passed away on July 10, 2024, in North Conway, N.H., surrounded by her family.

Gerry was born in Binghamton, N.Y., on Dec. 14, 1937, to Clarence and Viola Disbrow. She moved to the Mount Washington Valley in the 1960s, quickly fitting right into the area. She lived a life marked by kindness, devotion and service to the community. Gerry dedicated 25 years as a secretary to the Josiah Bartlett Elementary School.

Many have spoken of how she was such an important part of their childhoods and have fond memories of her during their formative school years. She also served as a minister in many different roles for over 20 years. You could say she wore many hats. She spent countless hours every year laboring to make the best blueberry crisp which could be found at the church booth at the Fryeburg Fair.

She was also a Justice of the Peace, Notary and had her own daycare while her children were young. She was a fierce advocate for victims of domestic and sexual violence and was an integral part of the creation of the Conway division of the organization Starting Point.

Known for her caring nature and ever present willingness to lend a listening ear, she was often called an earth angel by those who knew her. Her love for the Lord was profound and she set an example of it every day.

She found pleasure in the little things in life such as crossword puzzles and bird watching; both reflecting her peaceful and thoughtful nature. She leaves behind her legacy of kindness and service and will be cherished and remembered by all that knew her. Her family will especially miss her unique home made coleslaw as it was always a crowd favorite and requested at all family gatherings.

 Preceded in death by her husband of 22 years Richard Tilton; daughter Colleen Allen; grandson Ethan Allen; and stepson David Tilton.

She is survived by her son Craig France and his wife, Nancy; son Charles Thompson and his wife, Kimberlee; stepson Dickie Tilton and wife, Linda; stepdaughter Kathleen Turner and her husband, Kenneth; stepdaughter Mary; stepson Jeffery Tilton and wife, Tracy;

 granddaughters, Melissa Rendleman and Jenny France; step-granddaughters, Alleson Huckaby and Sarah Talbot; grandsons, Dustin Allen, Seth Allen and Liam Thompson;

great-grandsons, Jordan Devon Jackson, Ryan Rendleman, Ryon Pandora-Allen and Rhett Walker;

 great-granddaughters, Marilyn Allen, Beatrice Allen and Colleen Allen; and many more nieces and nephews.

 Every winter Gram would do a “snow dance” to hurry along winter as it was her favorite season. This winter when the first snowflakes falls, we are sure it will be her dancing up in Heaven. She will be missed by many, but she will live on in the hearts of all those whose lives have been touched by her.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug. 10 at the First Church of Christ UCC at 2521 White Mountain Highway in North Conway. Following the funeral, the family would like to invite you to her celebration of life at the Red Parka Pub in Glen, N.H., from noon to 2 p.m. Both the funeral and celebration of life will be open to the public. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gerry’s name to Jen’s Friends. ===

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Richard D. Tilton, 79, of Bartlett died on Jan. 25, 2005 at the Memorial Hospital in North Conway from complications of emphysema.

Born in Haverhill, Mass., the son of Sewall and Elizabeth (McGall) Tilton, he moved to Jackson in 1965 and later to Bartlett.

He was a corpsman in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked for Thomas & Betts, an electrical equipment company, for many years as a salesman.

 Later he owned and operated a doughnut shop in Laconia and then moved back to the Bartlett-Jackson area and did maintenance at the former Barnabys Restaurant in North Conway.

 He also operated Grandpas Toy Shop and sold his toys at area craft fairs.Dick was a member of the Bartlett and Jackson yoked churches and served as Moderator and Deacon in the Jackson Community Church.

He was an avid fisherman and loved to sing.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Gerry (Disbrow) Tilton of Bartlett; three sons, Dick Tilton of Maui, Jeff Tilton of Intervale, and David Tilton and his wife Nancy of North Conway; two daughters, Kathleen Turner and her husband Kenneth of Concord and Mary Tilton of Madison; three step-children, Colleen Allen of Bartlett, Craig France and his wife Nancy of North Conway, and Charles Thompson of Glen;

15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Kenneth Tilton of Dunnellon, FL.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. in the First Church of Christ Congregational in North Conway with the Rev. Dr. Donald F. Derse, pastor, officiating.

There will be no visiting hours. Donations may be sent to the First Church of Christ Congregational, P.O. Box 401, North Conway, NH 03860 or to the Bartlett-Jackson Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 422, Glen, NH 03838-0422.The Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway is in charge of arrangements.====