Dorothy Gorham Gorham Chase

Dottie was born, in Boston, MA, on January 24, 1926, the second daughter of Joseph T. and Alice (Gordon) Gorham. She grew up in Wollaston, MA where she once waited tables at the original Howard Johnson’s restaurant. She graduated from North Quincy High School in 1943, then went on to earn her Nursing degree from Mass Memorial Hospital in 1947. While working as a surgical nurse at Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, NH, she met her husband, Hamilton Chase, whom she married on April 21, 1951. Dottie and Ham moved to Keene, NH in 1956 and raised their six children on Maple Avenue. She worked alongside her husband when he started his own company, Clean Way Industries, and for many years, handled the bookkeeping and other business aspects of the company.

Like her husband, Ham, Dottie was an active member of the community. In addition to church groups at the United Church of Christ, skating club, and “mending club” meetings (ostensibly to sew and knit but, actually, to keep track of each other’s children) Dottie was a 30 year volunteer for Girl Scouts of America, earning their highest volunteer achievement award for her many positions held over the years. She also worked as a volunteer nurse at American Red Cross Blood Drives for over a decade.

Dottie was an avid gardener. Many gardens and homes in the Keene area bloom each spring with special varieties of iris and lilies that came from her gardens. She was an accomplished artist and crafter, and enjoyed playing the piano. During the winter months she skied and ice-skated, well into her late seventies. In her retirement years she traveled extensively with her husband, creating dozens of scrapbooks to remember the many trips taken throughout the US, Europe, and the Caribbean.

But what Dottie was most proud of was her family. She was a wonderful mother who by example taught her children to lead active and busy lives and to be good parents. She celebrated the accomplishments of her children; enjoyed keeping track of the successes of 18 grandchildren, and later, hearing of the milestones of her 7 great-grandchildren.

She is survived by five of her children, Alan Winfred and wife, Vanthia, of Naples, Florida, Carol and husband, Robert Craig of Malvern Pennsylvania, David and wife, Callie, of Cumberland, Maine, Suzan Springer of Westerly, Rhode Island and Robert and wife, Hien, of Keene. She was pre-deceased by her son, Dr. Thomas Hamilton Chase, her husband of 62 years, Henry Hamilton Chase, and her brothers, Joseph and George Gorham.

A memorial service, to celebrate Dottie’s life, will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 11:00 am, at the United Church of Christ, 23 Central Sq, Keene.

Burial will be private. There will be no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial donations may be made, in Dottie’s name, to the Girl Scouts of America, or to The Woodward Home, 194 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431.

Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com), 33 Marlboro St., Keene, has been entrusted with her arrangements.