Marjorie Ann Nims

She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 28, 1921, the daughter of Joseph Willard and Laura (Curtis) Pierson. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College class of 1943 and also from Keene Teachers College, 1965 with a Masters degree in Teaching. She went on to earn a second Masters in Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire. Mrs. Nims was a long time resident of Keene.

While in college, she met and eventually married Stuart V. Nims on September 9, 1945 at Fort Benning Chatahouchee. They were married 46 years, before his death in 1991.

Mrs. Nims worked with her husband overseeing their farm in Davenport, Iowa earlier in their marriage. She taught at Marlborough High School for 10 years, then 18 years at Keene High School. She also owned and operated Azure Pools, a pool supply company, for a period of time.

She served 24 years on the Executive Board of the Cheshire County Retired Teachers Association where she was vice President, president and chair of the organization's remembrance committee as well as a member of the NH Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters.

Mrs. Nims enjoyed flower gardening, especially roses, and was a member of The Old Homestead Garden Club of Swanzey. She enjoyed using her gardening skills at the Ashuelot River Park. In addition, she was a part of the bowling league at Yankee Lanes for many years. She was an amateur photographer, a seamstress and enjoyed plant propagation. Being with family and social gatherings were important to her.

Her family remembers her as being very independent and a person that expected a lot from others for their own benefit.

She is survived by her daughters Martha A. Merenda, husband Marco, deceased of Stanhope, NJ, Deborah J. Cheever, and husband Thomas, of Concord, NH, Laurie L. Dunn, and husband John, of Swanzey; her grandchildren Mary-Melissa Merenda, Jason T. Cheever, and wife Kym, Jennifer L. Watson and husband Joshua, Nicole Higgins, and husband Vincent, and Lucas Dunn, and great grandchildren Brynn Elizabeth Cheever and Brooke Ellen Cheever. Her son Stuart C. Nims, husband Stuart V. Nims and brother Joseph Pierson, Jr. all died earlier.

Services for Mrs. Nims will be held on Monday, December 15th, 2014, at 1:30 PM at Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 33 Marlboro St., Keene, NH. (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com) An hour of visitation will be held beginning at 12:30 PM also at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Keene.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431. Gifts may be specifically noted for Hospice. Donations can also be made to the Asheulot River Park, made out to The City of Keene, 312 Washington St., Keene, NH 03431. Please note on the memo line: Asheulot River Park Donation.