Linda B. Livingston

Linda Bowman Livingston

GILFORD, NH - Linda B. Livingston, 75, of Gilford, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully, with her daughter by her side, on Wednesday, January, 17, 2024 at the Belknap County Nursing Home, after a lengthy and courageous battle with early-onset dementia.

Linda was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the daughter of Charles W. Bowman and Elizabeth (Meserve) Bowman on March 4, 1948. Moving to New Hampshire as a child, she went to school in Lyndeborough and Peterborough, graduating from Peterborough High School in 1966. After high school, Linda attended a small secretarial college where she "accidentally" met the love of her life, Forest Livingston. Linda married Forest on November 23, 1967, and later moved to Gilford, New Hampshire, where Forest designed and built the family's first home and, eventually, a beautiful barn for horses that would become Linda's pride and joy. Linda and Forest had their first and only child, Karen, in May of 1968 and the small family of three enjoyed many years of traveling, camping, skiing, snowmobiling, and working around the family home.

When Forest received a terminal diagnosis of brain cancer in 1999, Linda's world came crashing down. Throughout her heartbreak, she remained by Forest's side, as both caregiver and confidant, until his death at age 53, in 2001. Shortly after Forest's passing, Linda was dealt another traumatic blow as she began to experience the challenges of early-onset dementia.

After welcoming two grandsons, Alexander Forest Muthersbaugh and Benjamin William Muthersbaugh, Linda became a permanent fixture at hockey rinks and baseball fields all over New England, serving as a proud grandparent and one of the boys' biggest fans. Nothing gave "Nini" more pleasure than spending time with her grandsons, celebrating their accomplishments and sharing in their lives. Linda lived with Karen and her family for many years until 2019 when she became a resident of Belknap County Nursing Home. Linda was well taken care of and loved by the staff at BCNH, who went out of their way to connect with her about Elvis and horses and always remembered to slip her an extra cookie or ice cream treat after dinner.

Linda loved all animals, especially horses, cats, and dogs. She will always be remembered enjoying time trail-riding with her horses, relaxing in the shade with her dogs, or snuggling up for a movie with a lapful of cats. Over the years, she enjoyed working at different jobs in the local community including R&R Jewelry, Lynch's Clothing Store, Gunstock Ski School, and Village Bank & Trust.

Linda was fortunate and grateful for the friendship of many amazing people throughout her life. She always spoke fondly of cherished memories shared with the Mears, Farrell, Carrier, Harriman and Niskala families.

Along with her parents, Linda is predeceased by her brother, Robert Bowman and husband, Forest Livingston. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Muthersbaugh, grandsons, Alexander and Benjamin Muthersbaugh, and her brother, Ronald Bowman and family.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in the spring with a subsequent family burial at Pine Grove Cemetery in Gilford, New Hampshire.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made in Linda's name to the NH Humane Society at 1305 Meredith Center Rd., Laconia, NH 03246 or the Myhre Equine Clinic at 100 Ten Rod Rd., Rochester, NH 03867.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.