Pauline Ryans Locke

Pauline Ryans Locke, 92, died peacefully on October 5, 2017, at the Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth, NH. She was born in 1925 in Stratford Hollow in the parsonage of the Methodist Church, where her father was the minister, Rev. John and Mary (Laing) Ryans. Growing up, they lived in Chesterfield and Auburn, where her father was minister at each location. She attended Auburn Village School, Manchester Central High School and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Nursing School. A bright girl, she skipped a grade in the one room school house. She married Eddie Locke and they had two sons, Chuck and Tommy. After graduation she worked at the Elliot Hospital, managed the Leslie Nursing Home and was Director of Nurses at the McKerley Nursing Home in Concord, one of the largest nursing homes in New Hampshire. The last few years of her career she did private duty for Morris Silver of Manchester and Mrs. Milne at the Milne Estate on Route 28 in Auburn. She administered shots to many neighbors in Auburn. A love of travel took her to Hawaii, Alaska, California, Florida, several countries in Europe, Canada and many other places. She and her family enjoyed renting cabins in the mountains and at the beach. A great organizer, she served the school board, budget committee and was one of the founders of the Auburn Historical Society, and a member of the Longmeadow Congregational Church in Auburn. A staunch Republican, she loved to talk politics, especially with Harley Eaton.

Polly is survived by her sister Barbara Brackett of Walpole, NH; niece Linda Kivela of New Ipswitch; son, Charles Sr., and wife June of Portsmouth, NH; grandson Chuck Jr., his wife Michelle and their children Hunter, Madison, Taylor (triplets), and Logan. She was predeceased by husband Eddie; son Tommy; sisters Dot Somero and Ruth Randall; and brother Robert "Buddy" Ryans. In her last years she was very close to her adopted family Kristen, Michael, Ian and Audrey Paddock of Beverly, and her dear friend Susan, sister Barbara, niece Linda Kivela, Chuck's wife June, and all the wonderful staff at Edgewood Centre.

A calling hour will be held from 10 to 11 AM with the memorial service beginning at 11 AM, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at Goodwin Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 607 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH. Memorial donations may be made to the Longmeadow Congregational Church, P O Box 356, Auburn, NH 03032. Please visit www.goodwinfh.com to sign the online guestbook.