Doris M. (Laurence) Homer

Doris M. (Laurence) Homer, 96, a resident of Presidential Oaks in Concord, died Thursday, September 1, 2011 following a brief period of failing health. Doris was born in Springfield, MA, July 31, 1915, daughter of Arthur W. and Cora A. (Houghton) Mundell. She spent her early years in Springfield and then her family moved to Saxtons River, VT. Doris attended Bellows Falls High School, Bellows Falls, VT and graduated in 1933. She married Nelson John Laurence on July 17, 1935, and they had three children. She later married Russell S. Homer, February 6, 1971. Doris lived in Amherst for a few years before relocating to Milford. She was a member of the Milford Congregational Church for several years and was a Sunday School Teacher. In 1960, she moved to Plymouth, transferring her membership to the Plymouth Congregational Church. A former member, past president and treasurer of the Pemigewasset Woman’s Club, Cemetery Committee, Diabetes Support Group, Chairman of both the Cerebral Palsy Association and the American Red Cross, all of the Town of Plymouth. She moved to Concord in 1992 to be closer to her son. Doris worked several years as a bookkeeper at the Merrimack Farmers and later for Melendy Tree Service of Milford. She had also been employed for several years as a bookkeeper for the Fred Speed Oil Company, which she later co-owned. Doris was a member and a Past Matron of Puritan Chapter OES No. 29 of Milford and was currently a member of Sawhegenit Chapter OES No. 52 of Bristol. She was a former Mother Advisor of the Rainbow Girls Club of Milford for 5 years and former Advisor of Custos Morum Theta Rho Girls Club of Milford for 3 years. An active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Doris was a member for 77 years. Currently a member of Enterprise Rebekah Lodge No. 46 of Bristol, NH Ladies Encampment Auxiliaries Jurisdictional Lodge, Auxiliary to Franklin Canton # 15 of Concord. A Member and Past President of the Rebekah Assembly of NH 1994-95, Treasurer Emeritus, past representative of International, Past President of the Department Association, Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant 1964-65, and former Treasurer. She was a recipient of the Decoration of Chivalry, awarded for work within and outside of the Order. Her first husband, N. John Laurence died April 2, 1957 and Russell S. Homer died October 13, 1990. She was also predeceased by her brother, Kenneth A. Mundell; her step mother, Gladys (Proctor) Mundell; a granddaughter, Carolyn A. (Parry) Reichel and a son-in-law, Victor Parry. Doris will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother! She is survived by two sons, Donald E. and Judi Laurence of Putnam Valley, NY; James A. Laurence of Concord; a daughter, Barbara J. (Laurence) (Patten) Parry of Milford; a step daughter, Janice R. (Homer) Waugh of Bainbridge Island, WA; ten grandchildren, Edward E. and Andrea Patten, Jr. of Belvedere, CA, Laurence J. and Marjorie Patten, Sr. of Daytona, FL, Victor H. and Janie Parry of Manchester, NH, David and Robbe Parry of Redondo Beach, CA, Aaron and Denise Laurence of Pearland, TX, Donna Laurence and her partner, Stacey Scarcella of Fridley, MN, Melinda Laurence of Alvin, TX, Whitney (Waugh) and Kevin Warren, Wendy (Waugh) and Ralph Krause, all of Bainbridge Island, WA, Weston J. Waugh of Palm Harbor, FL and eighteen great grandchildren; a niece, Janet (Mundell) Martin of Grafton, VT; a sister-in-law and dear friend, Elva (Lawrence) Rice of Saxtons River, VT; and a brother-in-law, Hilton “Barney” Homer of Laconia. A visiting hour will be held on Thursday, September 8th from 1:00-2:00 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A Rebekah Service will be conducted at 1:15 pm, followed by her funeral service at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Presidential Oaks, 200 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 or to Concord Hospice Regional Visiting Nurse Association, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord, NH 03301.