Helen M. Pierce

Peterborough, NH Helen M. Pierce, 84, of Peterborough formerly of Hancock, died on July 31, 2015 at Rivermead after a period of failing health. Helen was born in Peterborough on April 15, 1931, the daughter of Thomas B. "Bert" Manning, Sr. and Marion Duffy Manning. She was a graduate of Hancock High School and Attended both Keene Teachers College and the University of Maryland. For 20 years, Helen was the proprietor, along with her husband, Ray, of The Barn of Hancock Village, an antique and art gallery on the town's historic Main Street. A devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a quintessential 20th century military wife. Moving her family nearly every two years during her husband's 34-year Navy career, she was known as a consummate hostess to Pentagon officials, diplomats and military officers in such far-flung locations as Annapolis, MD, Monterey, CA, Long Beach, CA, San Diego, CA, Newport, RI, Guam and Philadelphia, PA. Always an active member of whatever community she found herself a part, Helen devoted considerable time and effort to The Navy Relief Society, chairing the local chapters in the Marianas Islands, Annapolis and Philadelphia. She was also President of Officers' Wives Clubs in the Marianas Islands and Philadelphia and she chaired the American Red Cross at the Naval Hospital on Guam, providing aid to local residents during Typhoon Pamela in 1977. She taught junior high school classes in Carmel, CA and Annapolis, MD. Upon her husband's retirement in 1981, the couple returned to Hancock, the town they both considered home and where they met as teenagers. During the ensuing years, she was known for her welcoming smile behind the counter of The Barn of Hancock Village. She was a member of the Hancock Woman's Club, the Hancock Historical Society and for more than 10 years co-curated exhibitions by local artists as a Friend of Hancock Library. Helen is survived by her husband of 63 years, Capt. Ray Edward Pierce, USN/Ret. They have three daughters; Debora Pierce Settle who resides with her husband John in Hancock, Rebecca Pierce of Clearwater, FL and Meredith Pierce Martin who resides with her husband Cdr. Richard Martin, USN/ Ret., Of Chesapeake, VA. She also raised and treated as a son her nephew, Scott Manning who lives with his partner, Frank Guerra in Hancock and New York City. She has six grandchildren; Robert Burnes and Cameron Burnes, both of Clearwater, FL, Sara Martin of Gainesville, FL, Zachary Martin of Blacksburg, VA, Rebecca Martin Gaynor and Lt. Jason Stone, USN both of Falls Church, VA. She has three great-grandchildren; Hannah Burnes of Clearwater, FL, Reed Pierce Gaynor and Evelyn Manning Gaynor both of Falls Church, VA. Her sister, Barbara Manning Gregoire, lives in Santa Barbara, CA and a niece, Pat Manning Yeaton resides in Hampton, NH. She is predeceased by her brother, Thomas B. Manning, Jr. who died in 1971. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday August 5th at 11:00 a.m. at Norway Plain Cemetery, Main Street, Hancock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen's name to The Navy Relief Society, https://donate.nmcrs.org/page/contribute/donate2015

---