Archie C. Burnett Iii

Archie C. Burnett III of Milford, New Hampshire died on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the age of 84. Born on June 24, 1928, he was the son of the late Archie C. Burnett Jr. and Grayce Elwell Burnett, and resided in Rehoboth, Massachusetts for many years. Archie was a graduate of Providence Country Day and attended Brown University in its ROTC program. Following college, Archie served in the Army in Officer Training School at the beginning of the Korean War. In 1954, Archie started a Ford Franchise auto dealership in Rehoboth, Massachusetts called Burnett Ford, Inc. For a time he also owned Crest Real Estate with his good friend Rudy Backlund. Archie operated Burnett Ford until 1971, when he purchased Milford Ford and moved to Milford, New Hampshire. He was a Ford dealer for over 40 years. Archie was a member of the National Association of Auto Dealers. He also served on the Board and was a former president of the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association. Appointed by the Governor and Executive Council, Archie served on the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Industry Board, which implements the provisions of State law by providing a forum for the regulations of unfair and deceptive practices among other motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors and dealers. He also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the B. Mae’s Condominium Association of Gilford, N.H. In addition, he was active in the Lions Club and the Masons. Archie was a long-time member of the Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club. An avid tennis player to the end, he played tennis with other senior players and friends until several months before his death. Archie loved golf, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, and was an enthusiastic reader of murder mysteries and other fictional drama. He loved jazz and big band music from the 1940’s and 1950’s. He loved escaping the winter and travelling to St. Maarten, staying at the Pelican Resort, where he owned several weeks of time share. Archie loved boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, owning a cottage on Locke’s Island for many years and a boat house in Smith’s Cove, both in Gilford. Archie was an astute businessman and a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Hope Westcott Burnett, four children, Candace Hope Burnett, Sherilyn Burnett Young, Jeffrey Keith Burnett and Bonnie Lou Burnett, and seven grandchildren: Cooper, Garrett, Julia, Alanna, Valerie, Andrew and Jared. A private ceremony will be held only for immediate family. A Celebration of Life honoring him will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 2:00-5:00 pm at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford. There will be music, food and good memories of Archie to share as we remember him and his contributions to family, friends and the community. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the non-profit SHARE Outreach Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH 03055. Archie said “they will put it to good use.”