Marjorie B. Couturier

DALTON - Marjorie B. Couturier, 85, of Dalton Road, died Saturday afternoon November 16, 2013 at Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster.

Mrs. Couturier was born in Whitefield, NH on July 21, 1928, the daughter of Herbert and Claribel (Curtis) Blakslee.

"Margie", also known as "Bridget" to many, was a lifelong resident of Dalton, NH. She attended schools in Dalton and was a graduate of Littleton High School.  She was the grand marshall of the graduating class in 1945.  For one year she attended Burdett College in Boston MA, studying accounting.  She was a longtime employee of Whitefield Savings Bank serving in many capacities throughout her career, including head teller and loan officer.  At one time she was employed at the Gilman Mill and at the Spalding Inn.

Margie served her community in many ways, including Dalton Town Treasurer, school board member of White Mountain Regional High School, and a volunteer for The Caleb Group.  She was the house-to-house census taker for Dalton in 1960 and 1970.

She held memberships to the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Dalton Ladies Aid Society, held a 50-year membership with the Riverside Grange, and was an active and devoted member of the Dalton Congregational Church where she served as church auditor, handled floral arrangements and sang in the choir.

Music was her passion.  She played the piano and later the organ and her beautiful voice was heard by many at home, at church, at weddings and for a time with the North Country Chorus.  She loved to read, knit, do crossword puzzles, play cards, tend her flowerbeds and travel.  She enjoyed her trips with her brothers, sisters and friends all over the United States, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the tropics.

Nothing however, compared to the love she had for her family and the special times she spent with them at her home, at Ida's camp on Forest Lake, and on the mountain.

She was blessed to be able to spend her last months at home under the loving care of her granddaughter Allison, Allison's partner Chuck Correll and great-granddaughter Gabrielle Couturier.

She is survived by her son Bruce Couturier and wife Vickie of Gilman, VT and Etowah, TN; two daughters, Ann Fitz and husband Gary of Litchfield, NH, Debbie Timson and husband Danny of Lunenburg, VT; 5 grandchildren Allison Couturier, Karen Bolduc, Patrick Couturier, Eric Fitz, Greg Fitz; 6 1/2 great-grandchildren, Gabrielle, Margarette, Rachel, Seth, Noah, Isaac; brothers Ralph Blakslee of Danville, VT, John Blakslee of Concord, VT, Robert Blakslee of Punta Gorda, FL; sisters Eva Lavoie of Littleton; Ida Blakslee of Dalton, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her husband Arthur H. Couturier; a sister Berta Holden and a brother Charles Blakslee.

There are no visiting hours.  A memorial service will be held Saturday morning November 23, at 11:00 AM at the Dalton Congregational Church.  Pastor Diane Raymond will officiate.  Burial will follow in John's River Cemetery, Dalton.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to the Dalton Congregational Church, % Jean Abbott, 770 Dalton Road, Dalton, NH or the Dalton Fire & Rescue, 756 Dalton Road, Dalton, NH 03598.