Janet Caswell
Janet Caswell, 90, of Sunapee, New Hampshire, and Holmes Beach, died Oct. 22 in New London, New Hampshire.
She was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Windsor, Ontario, to George and Christina Pilmer. Her bothers Robert and Colin were born soon after. The family had emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland in 1922 to join the growing automobile industry and moved to Detroit in 1931. In 1937, with the Great Depression, they returned to Scotland.
Mrs. Caswell’s father died within four months of their arrival, leaving the family destitute but near extended family. She survived World War II in Edinburgh — with blackouts, bomb shelters and USO socials part of her daily routine as she developed shorthand skills.
At the end of the war, she “enhanced” her age to 21 to qualify for and join the British Army of the Rhine — occupying forces in Germany — and was initially stationed in Hamburg in 1946. Earning the rank of captain, she recorded minutes of German Reconstruction Forces and authorized material shipments. She had a front row to the unfolding Cold War when posted in Berlin during the airlift.
Later, she returned to Edinburgh and, after a year, followed her wanderlust on a new adventure — moving to Montreal in 1949. She took an executive secretary position for the chief buyer for Eaton’s, the pre-eminent department store in Canada. She helped her brothers emigrate from Scotland and become established. Over the next 12 years, she developed an extended and diverse set of friends in Montreal, eventually meeting her husband Charles.
They married in 1961, moving to Massachusetts. In the mid-1970s, they began their own company, providing computer automation to stock exchanges. During this period, they raised sons Douglas and Stuart and summered in Sunapee. They retired in 1992 and began life between Sunapee and Anna Maria Island.
Mrs. Caswell developed her talent for writing during this period, participating in writing groups and publishing in newspapers. She had a lifelong interest in performing arts and acted in stage productions, including “Brigadoon” and “Guys & Dolls.”
In midlife, she decided to pursue higher education, matriculating at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, with a focus on English and writing.
She always had a keen wit and sense of the ridiculous, an overriding optimism and a broad perspective — living a philosophy of “why not?”
A service was held Oct. 29 in New London. Memorial donations may be made to the Manatee County Alzheimer’s Association, the McGill Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and the Kearsarge Presbyterian Community Church. Condolences may be shared at www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.
She is survived by husband Charles; sons Douglas of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Stuart of Sunapee; nephews David Pilmer and wife Ann of Boutiliers Point, Nova Scotia, Brian Pilmer of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Colin Pilmer and wife Fumico of Wainfleet, Ontario, Michael Pilmer and wife Heather of Markham Ontario; and niece Lorraine Hohloff of Sacramento, California.
James O. ‘J.D.’ Davis
James O. “J.D.” Davis, 80, of Beaverton, Michigan, formerly of Davison, Michigan, and Bradenton Beach, died Oct. 23.
He was born in Monongah, West Virginia, Feb. 2, 1936, to Harold and Veronica (McDonald). He married Dorothy Ratajczak Aug. 24, 1963.
He worked at Chevrolet in the hole for 30 years. He was a lifelong member of the Eagles, the Moose, Arrow Cordials and UAW #659. He was an avid hunter, outdoorsman and euchre player.
A service was held Oct. 28 in Davison. Memorial donations may be made to the family or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Remembrances can be posted online at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com.
He is survived by wife Dorothy; children Colleen Brown and Mike Toms, and Glen Davis; grandchildren Dustin and wife Tara, Aaron and wife Shanon, Zach, Ashley and husband Nathan, Tyler and Travis; great-grandchildren Rylen, Kingston, Maverick, Scarlett, Knightlee, Hawkins and Jasper; siblings Joann, Walter, Brenda, Danny, Dobbin; brothers-in-law Dan and wife Karen, Terry and wife Kathy; sister-in-law Ranae; many close friends, relatives and second kids.
Enrique Viera
Enrique Viera, 64, of Cortez, died Oct. 16. He was born May 6, 1952.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Funeral arrangements were handled by Shannon Funeral Home Westview Chapel in Bradenton.
Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson, 74, of Holmes Beach, died Oct. 22. He was born in December 1941 to James R. and Verna (Cole) in Hamilton, Ohio.
He worked a lifetime in construction, becoming a general superintendent in 1974, building notable projects throughout the Midwest, as well as in central and south Florida for Messer, Perin and Sundahl, Dugan and Meyers, Baker Concrete Construction, Frank J. Rooney, and for the past dozen years for Moss and Associates.
A private service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences may be made at www.griffithcline.com.
He is survived by his wife of more than 58 years, Marilyn; sons Wade and wife Melissa and Brad and wife Kathy; grandchildren Jennifer, Brittany, Abby and Joe; great-grandchildren J.V., Sierra, Matthew and Sean; and by his beloved puppies, Bibiana and Casita, who will miss the daily walks.