Laura G. Daniels

CHESHIRE -- Laura Grace Daniels, 83, of 743 North State Road died Thursday at home.

Born in Aberdeen, Md., on March 16, 1922, daughter of James A. and Grace Street Mahan, she was a 1940 graduate of Aberdeen High School.

During World War II, she worked for the National Defense Department at the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams, inspecting and testing chemical warfare equipment.

Mrs. Daniels and her late husband, Harvey J. Daniels, raised chickens for many years at Rolling Acres Farm, which they purchased from the late John DiLego in 1953 after managing it since 1950. They later expanded to beef and slaughtering operations and sold the farming business to the former Astro Beef Co. of Lanesboro in 1969.

She and her husband also owned and operated the former Chicken Stop Restaurant on Route 8, known for its landmark giant chicken, from 1963 until selling it in 1971 to the Gaylord family, which ran it as Country Charm Restaurant until its closing in December 2004.

Mrs. Daniels had been one of the largest landowners in North Berkshire, buying and selling a number of well-known properties, including the former Rondeau farm at the base of Mount Greylock, the Pine Brook Club and the 1792 Richardson House, now the Harbour House Inn bed-and-breakfast.

She enjoyed painting, drawing, writing poetry, crocheting, knitting and antiquing. She enjoyed cooking and was known for her pies.

Her husband, whom she married June 14, 1942, in Churchville, Md., died Feb. 8, 2005.

She leaves two sons, John M. Daniels Sr. of Cheshire and James A. Daniels of Decatur, Ala.; a brother, Stanley Mahan of Aberdeen; two sisters, Esther Scarborough of Darlington, Md., and Mary Murray of Derry, N.H.; four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. An infant daughter died in 1943.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Laura Grace Daniels, who died Thursday, Feb. 16, will be conducted Monday, Feb. 20, at 10 at First Baptist Church of Cheshire by the Rev. William D. Furey, pastor of Berkshire Union Chapel, and the Rev. Mr. Robert Hitter, deacon of St. Mary of the Assumption Church of Cheshire. Burial will be in the spring in Cheshire Cemetery. Calling hours will be tomorrow from 4 to 7 at DERY-CHESHIRE FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mrs. Daniels may be made to First Baptist Church of Cheshire, Berkshire Union Chapel, St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Hoosac Hose Company or the Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, all in care of Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home, P.O. Box 445, Cheshire, MA 01225. Mrs. Daniels also leaves four grandchildren, Jacquelyn M. Fortier, John M. Daniels Jr., Todd Daniels and Heather Daniels. She was predeceased by six brothers and four sisters.