Joan A. Blake

Joan A. Smith Blake, 89, of Pinnacle Hill Road, New Hampton NH, passed away peacefully at home on the farm on Monday Sept. 9th, surrounded by her children.

Joan went to school in Ashland, NH and vocational school in Dover, NH to become a beautician and cosmetologist after which she worked at the Beauty Box in Plymouth, NH. She then married her husband Sam Blake and resided in New Hampton where she raised her children and built her life.

Joan was always very involved with all the aspects of working the farm and caring for her children and many others. She was a member of the 4-H, Squam Lake and Lower Intervale Grange for 76 years. She spent many years teaching her children the love of music and was a 7th generation fiddle player herself. Joan was a proud ticket seller and sewing lady for her much loved Royal Eagles Drum and Drill Corp. She would often set you back by rooting for the New York Yankees, but she loved watching the Patriots and yes, the Red Sox too!

Joan spent years working hard at the local apple orchards, the family farm and making sure that everyone was taken care of, including feeding you and making sure that you were happy. She sold flowers, vegetables and pumpkins to help support her children and the farm. She did everything from haying, planting, weeding, harvesting, canning and even treading the corn in the silo. She also won many baking awards and grange awards over the years. Joan was always giving 'family history lessons' and traced back many generations of relatives. She really enjoyed helping others learn about the family tree and how everyone was connected.

Joan was predeceased by her parents Ziba H. and Minnie E. Smith, two brothers, Ziba A. Smith and Kent A. Smith and her husband of 49 years Clifton "Sam" Blake.

She is survived by her children Annette and Harry Lindenberger of Ledyard CT, Andy and Edna Blake of New Hampton NH, Peter and Melanie Blake of New Hampton NH, and Beth and Eric Anderson of Belmont NH, ten plus grandchildren and many great grandchildren. The number always grew because when she loved you, she counted you as her own and you "were family". Joan is also survived by her sisters June Smith of New Hampton NH, Nina and Stanley Huckins of Bridgewater NH, and Juanita and Wayne Gates of Columbia Crossroads PA, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services to honor Joan's life and legacy will be held at Mayhew's Funeral Home, 204 Daniel Webster HWY., Meredith, NH, Tuesday, Sept. 17th, at 11am. Burial will follow in the New Hampton Village Cemetery and a reception to follow.