North Haverhill , NH- Edwin "Doc" Blaisdell, DVM, 88, peacefully joined his beloved wife, Kay, in heaven, at Brookside Nursing Home and Rehabilitation, White River Junction, VT on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. He was born in Laconia , NH , June 18, 1927, to Ellis and Eva Merrill Blaisdell.

Ed graduated from Belmont High School in 1945. He served one year in the US Navy; the majority of his time served in hospitals, having contracted Scarlet Fever which then turned into Rheumatic Fever, barely surviving. He was given a medical discharge, with 100% disability; the doctors having determined he would never be able to work. He then went on to the University of New Hampshire pre-veterinary course in 1949 and graduated from New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell in 1952.

While at UNH, he met his wife of 66 years, Katharine "Kay" Frizzell, daughter of Theodore and Martha McDanolds Frizzell of Charlestown , NH . Both attended Cornell and married in 1949. Kay earned her PhD in Veterinary Parasitology and Physiology in 1952. They worked side-by-side in the veterinary practice he joined in 1952 with Dr. Frederick Erb in North Haverhill , while raising six children. Doc brought many innovative vet practices to the area which greatly enriched the dairy and cattle farming industry. In 2007 he was presented the Andrew Felker award for service to the promotion of agriculture. He retired in 2008 after 56 years of compassionate care of all creatures, great and small. From homes, farms and the wild, to Natureland in North Woodstock, to Bill Green's Rare Bird and Animal Farm in Fairlee, VT where he treated emus, elephants, mountain lions, lynx, cheetahs, bears, chimpanzees, giraffes, snakes, exotic birds and descented skunks.

Both Doc & Kay were interested in local history and he came home from his veterinary travels with many stories of the past. They worked together to preserve this history , including writing a series of books. He was active in the Haverhill Historical society, contributing greatly to bringing about the reconstruction of the Bedell Bridge and the Ladd Street School , both in Haverhill . His love of history extended to collections of antiquities that he exhibited at the North Haverhill Fair, of which he was president for several years when it began as the Pink Granite Grange Fair. In 2007 the fair constructed and dedicated the "Ed Blaisdell Maple Museum" to which he donated his collection of maple sugaring equipment and memorabilia. His service to the fair included "Special Events" with the greased pole and pig and calf catching for the kids and horseshoe pitching and the fireman's water polo for the adults. He served as precinct commissioner, on the North Haverhill Fire Department for over 30 years and was active in Grange from childhood to adulthood.

Ed was an avid hunter and ice fisherman, traveling the US and the world, often with his best hunting buddy, son Roscoe, by his side. Ed and Kay traveled extensively; Dominican Republic , Azores, caribou hunting in Quebec , Germany , Africa, Scotland , Hawaii , the Galapagos Islands, and mountain climbing in the rain forests of South America . They drove cross country in their mini van camping in it along the way. They presented many slide shows of their travels, as well as educational historical programs. He enjoyed managing his Christmas tree farm in Ryegate , VT.

He was predeceased by his best friend and wife of 66 years, Kay, who passed in June 2015; his parents, Ellis and Eva Merrill Blaisdell of Belmont , NH and three of his brothers, Roger Blaisdell, David Blaisdell and Melvin Blaisdell. He is survived by his six children: Carl Blaisdell and wife Gloria of North Haverhill, Dorothy Custance and husband Dana of Belmont, NH, Brian Blaisdell and wife Pamela of Hillsboro, OR, Roscoe Blaisdell and wife Kathleen of Raymond, NH, Marilyn Blaisdell of North Haverhill, and Kenneth Blaisdell and wife Vickey of North Haverhill; 23 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren (3 more on the way); one brother, Robert Blaisdell and wife Bertha of Rochester, NH; two sisters, Mildred Shaw of Sanbornton and Alice Hurst of Northfield; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours will be Friday, January 15 from 6-8 PM at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street , Woodsville , NH .

A memorial service will be Saturday, January 16 at 11 AM at the North Haverhill United Methodist Church , 2900 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill , NH with Pastor Clint Brake, officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the church after the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Haverhill Fire Department, PO Box 429 , North Haverhill , NH 03774 or to the Haverhill Historical Society, PO Box 25 , Haverhill , NH 03765 .

Condolences may be mailed to his daughter, Marilyn Blaisdell, 2247 County Road , North Haverhill , NH 03774 , which will then be shared with the family.