Mary E. Colby

Mary Evelyn (Thornton) Colby, 87, of Plaistow, NH, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Salem-haven Skilled Nursing Center in Salem, NH. She was born in Haverhill, MA on April 7, 1938, the daughter of the late Daniel M. and Evelyn M. (Hurteau) Thornton. She attended Haverhill schools (Haverhill High class of 1955) and then graduated from the Salem (MA) Hospital School of Nursing in 1959 as a Registered Nurse (R.N.). She married John Ellsworth Colby of Bradford in 1959, and moved to Plaistow. While her children were in school, she returned to college at night and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from New England College in 1978. She worked initially as a surgical R.N. at the Hale Hospital in Haverhill, and later as a school nurse in Sandown and Danville, NH. She then found her calling in geriatric nursing, working at several area nursing homes as Unit Manager until her retirement. She loved supporting her children's hobbies, and was proud of her son Mike's photography, son Rob's stock car racing and woodworking, and daughter Susan's Morgan horses. An animal lover her whole life, she had many beautiful collies, border collies and most recently corgis, as well as several orange tiger cats that found her warm body to provide the best possible sleeping perch. She passed on her love of horses to her daughter Susan, whom she helped breed, raise, and show seven Macushla Morgans. She loved to travel to Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Nova Scotia, enjoying many trips with family and friends. When her children were young, she also enjoyed camping, exploring, and showing them new places, from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. She was always up for a road trip with family or friends. She was an avid rug-hooker, belonging to several hooking organizations in New England. She spent many wonderful hours with her rug-hooking friends, and enjoyed gifting her creations to family and friends. She was thrilled to exhibit her rugs in several shows, including the Deerfield Fair, winning several ribbons. She is survived by her children, Dr. Michael E. Colby and wife Maha Ammar of Arlington, VA; Robert S. Colby and wife Dianne of Brentwood, NH; and daughter Susan L. Colby of Plaistow, NH, plus her "bonus daughter" Stefanie E. Baker and husband John and their three daughters, Hazel, Maisy and Vera, all of South Paris, ME. She is also survived by her two brothers, Michael Thornton and wife Nancy of East Kingston, NH, and Thomas Thornton and wife Gail of Hampton, NH, plus several nieces and nephews and families from them. A celebration of her life is being planned for the late Fall of 2025. Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home