Herbert S. Currier

Herbert S. Currier
well-known and longtime Pelham resident

Herbert S. Currier, a well-known and longtime Pelham resident died May 3, 2014 at 100 years old, with his family present. He was born in Pelham, New Hampshire December 24, 1913, the son of Richard H. and Serena (Stickney) Currier. He was the beloved husband of Martha Ellen (Mansfield) Currier who died January 25, 2001. They were married April 1, 1939.

Educated in Pelham elementary schools, he attended grades 1 through 6 at the No. 5 District School in the Currier Highlands district and the Pelham Junior High grades 7,8 and 9. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1932 and the University of New Hampshire in 1936. While at UNH he played varsity football and baseball and was a member of the rifle team.

After graduating from UNH, he worked as a legislative Page for the New Hampshire House of Representatives during the 1937 and 1939 Sessions. He spent the World War II years in Connecticut working for the R.G. Davis Grain Company and for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Returning to New Hampshire after World War II he worked for the Textron Company, in Nashua, New Hampshire, taught elementary school for a year in Hudson, served five years as principal of the E.G. Sherburne School in Pelham, and continued his teaching career in Littleton, Massachusetts, retiring in 1978.

During his years etching, he worked summers painting houses with Roy Hardy, building houses with Albert Hirsch, working at Rockingham Race Track, and many summers filled in at the Pelham Post Office running the rural delivery route.

In Pelham, at his home on Currier Road, he started a garden which expanded every year and in which he took great pride. In addiction to food for his family it supplied vegetables, blueberries and strawberries to many neighbors and friends.

A lover of local history, after retirement he spent many hours recording his memories of growing up on a farm in Pelham, stories about his ancestors, helping to identify people in old photographs and generally researching Pelham history. He was an active member and past president of the Pelham Historical Society.

Active in local affairs over the years, he served Pelham as a Selectman, Town Treasurer, Volunteer Member of the Pelham Fire Department, School District Moderator, President of the Pelham Senior Citizens and the Pelham Council on Aging. In the 1990s until 1996 he was an active member of the Pelham 250th Anniversary Committee.

Hern was a lifetime member of the First Congregational Church of Pelham, and served the Church in many capacities. He loved music and for 56 consecutive years (1946-2002) was a member of the Choir at the First Congregational Church.

A lifetime sports fan, he loved baseball and the Boston Red Sox, and with his brother Edward and father Richard in the late 1930s played for the Pelham Town team in the Lowell Twilight Baseball League. In the 1960s he played on the OMABS in the Pelham Adult Softball League.

In the summer of 2010, at age 96, he became the holder of the Boston Post Cane and the oldest registered voter who had resided in Pelham for at least 15 years.

He is survived by four children and their spouses: Philip R. Currier and Priscilla, of Pelham; Herbert S. Currier, Jr and Cynthia, of Maryland, Nancy L. Currier and Tyrone Evans of Chicago, Illinois, and Sue C. and Daniel Straughan of Manchester, New Hampshire; seven grandchildren: Michelle P. Currier, Phillip R. Currier, Jr., Deborah A. Calhoun, David S. Currier, Rebecca Lynn Currier, Yohance Trice, and Ayana Henderson; two step-grandchildren: Tyrone Evans, II and Christine Clements; eight great-grandchildren: Emma Michelle Richardson, Joseph Currier Richardson, Joseph Andrei Wiemann, Alyssa R. Currier, Zachary S. Currier, Travis M. Pugliese, Zachary Sy Churco, Rowan D. Schultz and six step great-grandchildren: Olivia Evans, Allison Evans, Ian Evans, Ethan Clements, Evelyn Clements and Ethan Gilliam.

He also leaves two nephews: Bruce H. Currier and Richard Jones, and a niece: Cynthia Gilchreast.

CURRIER -- Friends may call at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME, 11 NASHUA RD. in PELHAM from 4 to 8 P.M. Thursday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service to be held SATURDAY morning at the FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of PELHAM at 10 o'clock. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. E-condolences/directions at the pelhamfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Pelham Senior Citizens, 8 Nashua Rd., Pelham, 03076, or the First Congregational Church of Pelham, 3 Main St., Pelham, NH 03076 and or the Pelham Good Neighbor Fund, Pelham, NH 03076. Arrangements by the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME - (603) 635-3333.