JESSIE M. DUSTON

CHERRYFIELD, WOLFEBORO, N.H., and LYNNFIELD, Mass. – It is with sadness that we announce the death of Jessie M. Duston of Cherryfield, April 30, 2008, at the age of 93. She was our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor and friend, and we will miss her dearly. She was born Jessie Mildred Bunker, Oct. 10, 1914, in Sandown, N.H., to Louis C. and Annie Mae (George) Bunker, descendents from the earliest 17th Century Dover, N.H., settlers. Attending schools in Sandown and Kingston, N.H., she graduated from Sanborn Seminary, Class of 1932 and from the University of New Hampshire, Class of 1936, with a Bachelor of Science in home economics. She was a sister in Phi Mu sorority while at University of New Hampshire. Jessie taught home economics for one year at North Stratford (N.H.) High School before marrying Harold E. Duston of Hampstead, N.H., July 25, 1937. Harry and Jessie lived in Melrose and Wakefield, Mass., Homer, N.Y., Lynnfield Center, Mass., and Andover, Mass. After Harry’s retirement in 1978, they moved back to New Hampshire and lived in Melvin Village and Wolfeboro, N.H. A homemaker and mother of four, Jessie was also an accomplished artisan and gardener. Her wonderful quilts, needlepoint, paintings, stenciling and crafts are still much appreciated and cherished by family and friends, and her flower gardens always brought her great pleasure and admiration. Jessie was an avid and knowledgeable birdwatcher and conservationist, and enjoyed the outdoors. After the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, she actively campaigned the cause of eliminating the toxic pesticide DDT from the environment, which had been so detrimental to eagles. So, during the last eight years as a resident of Sunset Hill Home, Cherryfield, she was able to enjoy the frequent sight of eagles flying up the Narraguagus River. In addition, Jessie was honored in 2007 by the Mic Mac people of Eel Ground First Nation, New Brunswick, with a white eagle feather for her efforts to save their sacred bird and messenger from the creator. An adventurer and good sport, Jessie paddled the Allagash River, rafted the Colorado River, hiked the White Mountains and camped and traveled across America and overseas with her husband. Jessie and Harry were pioneer New Hampshire skiers in the 1930s and skied into their ’80s and they enjoyed playing a competitive game of tennis and golf. Always the mother, homemaker and hostess, Jessie practiced her thoughtfulness toward others in community service. Giving freely of her time, she served on a number of committees in her Congregational church life and volunteered many hours at Huggins Hospital, Wolfeboro, N.H., where she placed bird feeders for the enjoyment of patients and staff. We are grateful for the long and wonderful life she shared with us. Jessie’s many memberships included Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Society to Protect N.H. Forests and Cherryfield Legion Auxiliary. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry, in 1998; and her seven brothers and sisters. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Peter and Alice Duston of Cherryfield, who lovingly cared for Jessie in their home for her final eight years, Tom and Paula Duston of Chesterfield, N.H., Bill and Jan Duston of Littleton, Mass., and Sally and Dean Whitlock of Thetford Center, Vt.; 14 grandchildren and spouses, 19 great-grand-children; and special family members, Anne and Immo Christoph of New Boston, N.H. She and the family are appreciative of her many caregivers in Cherryfield, especially Karyn Roy, Heidi Harrington; senior companion, Barbara Mitchell, and other local folks who showed so much kindness and love. There will be a memorial service 2 p.m. May 24 at Cherryfield Congregational Church, Cherryfield. A graveside service will also be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Wolfeboro, N.H., at a date to be established. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider memorial donations in her name to Cherryfield Congregational Church, Cherryfield Historical Society or your local Audubon Society. Arrangements by Bragdon-Kel-ley Funeral Home, Milbridge. www.bragdonkelley.com