NANCY B. HOWARD
Nancy Jean (Baker) Howard, 69, of Brookline, NH passed away on Friday evening, October 19, 2007 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH.

Nancy was born in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine on January 10, 1938. After attending The University of Maine in Orono, she married George C. Howard Jr. In 1969 she moved to Brookline, NH where she spent the next 38 years active in the community and watching the small town grow. Before retiring in April 2006, she had the pleasure of getting to know most of the residents of the town through her role as the Brookline Tax Collector for 30 years and the Brookline Town Clerk for 21 years.

Her passion for reading frequently brought Nancy to the Brookline Library, where she was a past President and a life member of the Brookline Friends of the Library. She was the Treasurer of the Max Cohen Memorial Grove, where her four sons and many grandchildren learned to swim. Nancy was active in the Brookline Historical Society and served on the Board of Directors of Merrimack Valley Home Health Care. While raising her sons, she coached Little League and volunteered at Brookline Schools, also serving on the School Board.

In addition to her passion for reading and community involvement, she supported the New England sports teams, especially the Boston Red Sox and Celtics, loved to do crossword puzzles, Sudoku and card games. Nancy had many fond memories of playing bridge with her friends in Brookline. She took pleasure in family get-togethers and watching her family grow. Nancy leaves this world and her loved ones far too prematurely; the memories and stories she has passed along and created will be cherished and remembered forever.

Her loving family includes four sons and daughters-in-law Christopher and Cheryl Howard of Monroe, NY, Jeffrey and Deanne Howard of Hudson, NH, Matthew and Christine Howard of Amherst, NH, David and Angela Howard of Fitchburg, MA and Patricia Howard-Barnett of Brookline, NH. She was a devoted grandmother to her 14 grandchildren: Christopher, Mariah, Amber, Garrett, Brett, Matthew, Tyler, Sarah, Eric, Nathan, Nicholas, Ryan, Kyle and Cameron.

Nancy's family will be welcoming friends and relatives to the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH on Friday, October 26th from 4:00-8:00 pm. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 27th at 9:00 am in the Brookline Community Church, 2 Main Street, Brookline, NH.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends support to the following organizations that were close to Nancy's heart: Brookline Public Library, 16 Main Street, Brookline, 03033 or the Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054.

Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH (603) 673-1422. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit www.smith-heald.com