Richard 'Dickie' McDowell

Richard P. McDowell, 65, of Jaffrey, NH, died peacefully on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester after complications from a fall at his home.

‘Dickie’ was born in Ayer, MA on March 2, 1952, son of the late Robert H. and Irene F. (Campbell) McDowell, and had lived in Ayer until moving to Jaffrey in 1979. He was a 1970 graduate of Ayer High School.

Dickie tried his hand at a few different trades, but he found himself most at home with fireworks. He became a Master Pyrotechnician and had worked with Atlas Fireworks in Jaffrey for over 25 Years. His talents with fireworks, electronics, transportation logistics and fixing nearly anything mechanical in and out of the shop were overshadowed by a tremendous loyalty to the Atlas Family and his Friends.

Dickie was a marksman and always enjoyed shooting competitively. Occasionally he liked working as a projectionist at the Milford Drive-In. He loved a good game of Cribbage, snowmobiling, and of course, his New England Patriots. Dick was a lifetime auxiliary member of the Jaffrey VFW Memorial Post #5613, a 35 year member of the Sons of the American Legion Post #11 in Jaffrey, as well as a lifetime member of the NRA.

Dickie’s family wishes to acknowledge and express their sincere gratitude to all of the Atlas Pyrovision Family for all of their love and support throughout his career and especially over the last several weeks.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Marjorie Wright and Linda Haefke.

He is survived by two sisters and two brothers-in-law, Patricia and James Ramsden of Tallahassee, FL, Roberta Pelletier of Caribou, Maine and James Haefke of Youngstown, Ohio; 4 nieces, 5 nephews and many close friends

Family and friends are warmly invited to Calling Hours which will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018, from 4:00pm to 6:30pm at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202 South) in Jaffrey.

A brief Memorial Service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Friday, immediately following calling hours at 6:30pm. Rev. Wilfred Deschamps, Pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Jaffrey will officiate.

Burial will be in the spring at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Ayer, MA with his family.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. McDowell’s family has requested memorial contributions be made in his name to the Jaffrey Firefighters Company, Inc., 138 Turnpike Road, Jaffrey, NH 03452, or to the Jaffrey VFW Memorial Post #5613, PO Box 483, Jaffrey, NH 03452, or to the charity of one’s choice.