Marlene Davis

Marlene Davis, 88, of Jaffrey, NH, died peacefully on January 19, 2024, at the Monadnock community Hospital in Peterborough after a period of failing health.

Marlene was born in Jaffrey, on October 31, 1935, daughter of the late Clarence Leo and Emma (Naylor) Beauvais.  She was raised in town and graduated with the class of 1953 from Conant High School.  From a young age, Marlene was an avid candlepin bowler and she always loved to fish. She soon became one of the greatest Horned Pout cleaners around!  One of her wildest moments was when she landed a 9-foot, 125 pound Sailfish while vacationing in Mazatlán, Mexico.  Marlene had also shot 2 deer in her days hunting the woods around her hometown.    

In her younger years, Marlene had worked in private homes in Dublin, caring for both the homeowners and the homes. She later worked at NH Ball Bearing, the Tack Shop in Jaffrey, and lastly at Yankee Magazine.  She retired in 1987 and began volunteering at many organizations in Jaffrey and Rindge. 

She first started volunteering at the Rindge Swap Shop four days a week, and soon worked at the Jaffrey Swap Shop as well for the next 15 years. Marlene had also volunteered at Helping Hands in Troy until the Covid Pandemic hit.  She was instrumental in helping bring about the very first Scarecrows on the Common Event in Jaffrey, donating most of the clothing and the accessories needed.  In recognition, she was presented with a golden scarecrow award.  For more than 20 years, she collected food baskets for the holidays, making sure every local family on the town’s welfare lists had Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to enjoy, and she loved being a member of Santa’s House during that same time, and being the coordinator and organizer of the special wrapping events for all of the children’s presents.   

Through the years, Marlene always sacrificed much of herself to help her husband with his efforts to grow the VFW Posts and American Legions in Jaffrey and Fitzwilliam.  She hosted countless events at both locations and even helped cater at receptions of all kinds at these facilities.  Marlene was an Auxiliary Member and past president of the VFW Auxiliary Post 5613 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 38 in Fitzwilliam and past president of Jaffrey’s Unit 11 in 1994.  Marlene was also one of the first four women inducted into the original Jaffrey-Rindge Lions Club

She was predeceased by her husband, Richard ‘Dick’ Davis, Jr. on April 21, 2010.

Marlene is survived by her daughter, Linda Dubois and her husband Bernie of Jaffrey and her son, Michael Niemela and his wife Mary of Maryland; 4 grandchildren, Shawn, Jessica, Erin and Wesley; 3 great-grandchildren, Naya, Aaralyn, and Sebastien; her sisters, Bette Ascani of Jaffrey and Sally Jarest of Colebrook, her brother, Leo Beauvais of Dennisport, MA; her 2 step-daughters, Kirsten Davis and her husband Robert Krueger, and Deirdre Conroy and her husband Ron; her step-son Richard D. Davis, III and his wife Tara; 3 step-granddaughters, Danielle, Brittney and Kelsey; 3 step-grandsons, Mark, Sam and Alan; her sister-in-law, Sandra Stowell and her husband Ted, her 2 brothers-in-law, Terry Davis and his wife Carole, Glenn Davis and his wife Susan, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends throughout the community and the Legion and VFW families. 

Family and friends are warmly invited to calling hours which will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (US Rte. 202) Jaffrey, NH. 

A celebration of Marlene’s life will take place immediately following calling hours at Dick and Marlene‘s ‘home away from home’ the Jaffrey VFW Memorial Hall, 12 Hathorn Road in Jaffrey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial contributions in Marlene’s name to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 W Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.