Mary J. (Dunning) Davidsson

Mary J. (Dunning) Davidsson, 87, of Santee, SC and formerly of Jaffrey, NH, died peacefully on Wednesday, April, 11, 2012. Mary was born in Richmond, NH on August 29, 1924, daughter of the late John and Anna (Fleur) Whipple. She was a 1942 graduate of Conant High School in Jaffrey. She lived most of her life in Jaffrey while working with her first husband, Lloyd Dunning, running his small construction company in town. Through the years she had also worked for a period of time at New Hampshire Ball Bearing, D.D. Beans and the Jaffrey Mills. She was well respected for her work ethic and honesty. Mary moved to Oregon in 1978 where she took care of her husband, Lloyd until his death in 1983. She moved back to NH for a brief time before moving to Florida where she remained unto moving in with her daughter, Anna until her death. Mary was a member of the John Humiston American Legion Auxiliary Unit 11, the Jaffrey Grange, The Monadnock Rod Gun Club and the Bradford Village Garden Club. She was an avid gardener and grew tomatoes that were the envy of all! Mary also enjoyed cooking, bowling and horseback riding. She had even won the Powder Puff Derby years ago with the Jaffrey Ice Racing Association on Contoocook Lake. Mary was predeceased by her husbands, Lloyd Dunning Sr. and Ika Davidsson; her sister, Doris Heikkala; her daughter, Keitha Poirier, and her grandson, Stephen Putnam. She is survived by her two daughters, Donna Comtois of Swan River, Minnesota, and Anna Lawn and her husband, Robert of Santee, SC; her three sons, Dean Dunning of Apple Valley, CA, Lloyd Dunning Jr. and his wife, Beth, of Rindge, NH, and Bruce Dunning and his wife Elizabeth of Hancock, NH; her brother, John Whipple; nine Grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, thirty-six great grandchildren and several great, great, grandchildren.

Burial will take place later at Conant Cemetery in Jaffrey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Monadnock Area Food Bank, P.O. Box 656, Peterborough, NH 03458.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mary’s life with a memorial service at the Cournoyer Funeral Home Cremation Center on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM.