Shirley D. Garnham

Shirley Dillon Garnham, 82, a longtime resident of Milford, died Thursday, November 10, 2011, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 31, 1929, in Amherst, New Hampshire, the daughter of Harold Joseph Dillon and Ruth Weeks Dearth Dillon. After pro-longed struggles with skin and bladder cancer, she finally succumbed when the cancer invaded her lungs. Shirley spent her entire primary and secondary education in the Milford School System, graduating from Bales High School in 1947. She began her study of the piano at age ten, eventually becoming an award winning, highly accomplished classical pianist. During apple-picking season, while in high school, she worked for the Parker Apple Farms picking apples that would eventually be sent to American troops fighting overseas during World War II. Upon graduation from high school, Shirley worked at the American Guernsey Cattle Club as a file clerk and was eventually promoted to the position of executive secretary. She got married in 1948 and over the next eleven years had nine children. After taking a number of years off to raise her family, Shirley worked at the Community Action Committee for Hillsborough County. She spent sixteen years at that job and was in charge of the first food stamp program ever established in the county. She was also responsible for the distribution of surplus food to low income families. In 1980, Shirley went to work for the Enright Law Offices as a legal secretary and remained in that position until she retired in 1994. In her spare time, Shirley loved to garden, read, travel and spend Saturdays during the summer exploring yard sales. She was widely known for her knitting and crocheting talents, making beautiful afghans, sweaters and baby sets. She also loved spending time with her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family members include four sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel A. and Donna Garnham of Wilton, NH, Kenneth J. Garnham of Milford, NH, Dennis M. and Janet Garnham of Raymond, NH, Timothy P. and Vandy Garnham of New Hampton, NH; four daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy A. and John Varney of Nashua, NH, Nancy and John Feeny of Chichester, NH, Theresa M. and Edward Gauthier of Nottingham, NH, Cynthia G. Shelc of Kennesaw, GA. In addition, she was blessed with nineteen grandchildren, Sasha Thompson, DJ Garnham, Jason Garnham, Rebecca Garnham, Jeff Garnham, Paul Garnham, Anne Cushing, Lenny Cushing, Hannah Clockedile, Ben Clockedile, Timothy Garnham, Jr., Matthew Garnham, Benjamin Garnham, Amanda Garnham, Katlyn Bohn, Nicholas Gauthier, Roger Gauthier, Patrick Shelc and Elizabeth Shelc; nine great grandchildren, Riley Thompson, Dillon Thompson, Jamison Thompson, Kayden Thompson, Brody Thompson, Ailia Garnham, William Bohn, Michael Bohn and Leo Garnham. Calling hours are Sunday, November 13th from 2:00-5:00 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 am in St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Amherst. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charity, The Share Program, 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH 03055.