Lester H. Pickance

Lester Hunnewell Pickance, a longtime resident of Exeter, New Hampshire; devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; United States Navy veteran; and Mason, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025, at the age of 91.

Born on October 20, 1934, Lester was the son of the late Lester H. Pickance, Sr. and Lillian (Hellmuth) Pickance. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. During his service, he was a hard-hat diver and attended machinery repair school, graduating among the top students in his class. While serving, Lester married the love of his life, Edith (Daley) Pickance, beginning a marriage that would span 71 years.

Following his military service, Lester and Edith built a life rooted in Exeter. Lester pursued a career in the tool-and-die trade and eventually founded Circle Tool & Die Company in Epping, New Hampshire. Together, Lester and Edith raised four children: Sally (Pickance) Taylor, Beverly (Pickance) Barney, Thomas Pickance, Sr., and Wendy (Pickance) Clark.

He served for ten years with the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department and coached and refereed for Exeter Youth Hockey during the 1970s. He was a long-time member of the Exeter Sportsman's Club, where he was an avid and accomplished trap shooter. He was also a 50-year member of the Grand Lodge of Masons of New Hampshire.

Later, Lester and Edith purchased and operated Liar's Paradise, a convenience store in Nottingham, New Hampshire, serving the community for five years and residing there for 25 years. After retiring, they purchased a home in The Villages in Lady Lake, Florida, in March of 1996, becoming snowbirds before relocating there full-time in 2011. While in Florida, Lester was an active member of American Legion Post 347.

Lester treasured time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, clamming, trap shooting, camping, playing cribbage, and home brewing. Lester's award-winning beers were well known and enjoyed by friends and family alike.

Lester was predeceased by his son, Thomas Pickance, Sr.; his daughter, Sally (Pickance) Taylor; and his sister, Barbara (Pickance) Lindberg.

He is survived by his wife, Edith (Daley) Pickance; daughters Beverly (Pickance) Barney and her husband Robert of Nottingham, NH and Wendy (Pickance) Clark and her husband Michael of Strafford, NH; son-in-law Stephen Taylor of Lady Lake, FL; grandchildren Paul Langdon of Lago Vista, Texas; Keri Wentworth of Epping, NH; Lisa Langdon of Round Rock, TX; Nathan Wentworth of Kalispell, MT; Dorothy Ferrick and her husband Michael of Pflugerville, TX; Molly Sloan and her partner Andrew Smith of Strafford, NH; Thomas Pickance, Jr. and his wife Amanda of Blaine, ME; Hannah Sloan and her partner Mark Montgomery of Strafford, NH; and Emily Pickance and her partner Michael Saucier of Presque Isle, ME; as well as 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Michael Daley and his wife Rose of Epping, NH, and nephews Knute Lindberg and his wife Jimma of Amherst, NH, and Eric Lindberg and his wife Susan of Loudon, NH.

Lester will be remembered for his military service, strong work ethic, deep love and dedication to his family and community, and the many friendships he and his wife shared throughout their 71 years of marriage. Theirs was a true love story. May he rest in peace.

There will be a graveside service on May 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the South Side Cemetery, 34 Raymond Road, Nottingham, NH with a celebration of Life to follow at Robert and Beverly Barney's, Nottingham, NH