Dorothy Kendall Bailey

Dorothy Jeanette Britton Kendall Bailey, 103, of Keene, New Hampshire, died December 13, 2013 at Langdon Place of Keene.

Dorothy was born at home in Marlow, N.H. on September 23, 1910, daughter of Fredrick Britton and Mary Elizabeth (Crough) Britton. Fredrick died when Dorothy was two, her mother remarried John Wesley Good and was subsequently raised by her mother and step-father. Dorothy attended the Keene, Walpole and Bellows Falls schools going to both Boston University and Keene Normal School where she graduated in 1932 obtaining her teaching degree. She began teaching in one room school houses in Dalton and Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Following the death of her first husband, she taught Grade 3, 4 and Title I reading in the Jaffrey School District for many years.

Dorothy married twice, first to Dr. Anson H. Kendall of Walpole, NH. Anson died in Jaffrey in the early 1950s. After being a widow for over 30 years, Dorothy married Robert Bailey of St. Petersburg, Florida. Robert was a former classmate of hers in the Keene State College class of 1932. Dorothy and Robert then split their time between St. Petersburg Florida and Concord New Hampshire. Robert died in 2002.

Dorothy’s life was rich in experiences. She often entertained family and friends with historical stories of the Keene area. She traveled extensively both alone and with her niece Susanna Sands and good friend Eleanor Eaves. She traveled to Scotland to visit her cousins in her ancestral home, and to England, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.

When Dorothy’s sister, Ernestine Mae Good Sands passed away in 1961, Dorothy took over the job of being a mother to her nieces Susanna Mansfield Sands (deceased 1996) and Erica Wesley Sands. The girls lived in Michigan until high school graduation while coming home to Dorothy in Jaffrey on vacations and holidays and eventually calling her Jaffrey home, theirs, after high school graduation. “Aunt Dottie” had boundless energy and spirit and a deep love for ‘her’ girls and Erica’s three children. Among the many values Dorothy instilled upon all of her children was the value of higher education. She was known and loved by most as “Aunt Dottie”, and will be missed greatly.

Dorothy lived most her final years with Erica, Larry and Skylar in Royalston, Massachusetts, where she continued to enrich the lives of her family and everyone she knew, especially Skylar’s 4-H friends where she often shared stories of her youth on the farm and her love of her horses and cattle. She shared her extensive knowledge of cooking and baking with family and loved to decorate cookies with the children of the family.

The last 1-2 years Dorothy spent in assisted living at Prospect Place and Langdon Place, both of Keene New Hampshire. She made many wonderful friends at both, participated in many activities and received a wonderful level of care.

At 102, Dorothy was honored by Keene State College as one of the oldest alums. She was also honored by the Keene Swampbats and twice threw the first pitch at their games.

Survivors include her niece Erica Sands Brouillet and husband Lawrence Brouillet of Royalston, Massachusetts. Her two grand nephews, Marine Capt. Micah Joshua Miner and wife Jennifer Lynn (Courtney) Miner and great-grand niece Adelynn Mae Miner of Winchester, California; Lucas Ryan Miner of Marlborough, New Hampshire and great-grand niece Makenna Lauren Miner of Sanford, Maine; and grand niece Skylar Elizabeth Ryll of Modesto California; cousin Ellen Morrisey Martin and husband Douglas Martin of Bellingham, Massachusetts and their children Jenna and Brett; and good friend Mary K. Duquette of Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Dorothy is also survived by her step-daughter Edla Kendall Duncan of Vero Beach, Florida and by Robert Bailey’s children, grandchildren and families.

There will be no public calling hours. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 20 at 2:00PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202) Jaffrey, NH 03452.