Warren, NH Leona Irene Foote, 82, died on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the Grafton County Nursing Home in North Haverhill, NH after a brave struggle with Alzheimer s. She was born on Trussel Road in Thetford Center, VT, April 23, 1928, the daughter of Harry and Helen (Savery) Paige. She grew up in Thetford Center attending Thetford schools and graduated from Thetford Academy in 1946. One week later, on June 14 she married the love of her life, Claude Robie Foote of Piermont, NH. In the early years, they worked and lived on logging jobs in the area. Leona and Claude lived briefly in Haverhill, NH, Newbury, VT, Piermont, and Center Harbor, NH before buying the Foote Farm, a family farm for five generations, in Warren, NH in 1952, where they lived the rest of their married life. Leona was a fiercely loyal and loving matriarch to her family. She took excellent care of her family and loved to cook, sew, and knit for people she cared for. Leona was a hard worker. When young, she did camp laundry, baby sat, and as a teenager she spent summers cooking for a family on the Ridge in Orford, NH. All her married life she opened her home to boarders and hunters. As a farm wife, she also picked up and delivered milk cans on her way to Hatch Dairy in Plymouth, NH. When her children were in high school she went to work as a cook and dietician at the Glencliff Home for the Elderly until her retirement after 20 years. Leona was an excellent business woman who did all the books for the farm, Claude s logging business, and their successful sugaring business. Leona was most proud of earning the prestigious Carlisle Trophy from the NH Sugar Makers Association for the best maple syrup in NH. Leona was devoted to her community. When her children were young, she was a Girl Scout leader and was involved in the PTA. She was a 50 plus year member of the Minerva Temple #40 of the Pythian Sisters in Warren, and held local and state offices. She had been a member of the Warren United Methodist Church since 1953 and was active in the Christmas Club and the Women s Fellowship. She was involved with many Town suppers over the years that raised money for good causes. She was a proud alumna of Thetford Academy, attending many alumni weekends and founder s days. Around 2004, Leona was a very active member of the family support group for Operation Iraqi Freedom, based out of Plymouth, NH, when her grandson was deployed. Leona s zest for life lead her to compete in horse and mule riding competitions and dog racing, travel to 48 States and 5 Canadian Provinces, and to be the first woman to ride a snowmachine to the top of Mt. Moosilauke. She was also a successful hunter. She was predeceased by her parents; two brothers, Alvin Paige and Edwin Paige; and her son-in-law, Ralph Harlow. Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Claude R. Foote of Warren, NH; a daughter, Jeanne I. Harlow of East Thetford, VT; a son, Charles A. Foote and wife Nancy of Glencliff, NH; six grandchildren, Jonathon Foote and wife Wanda of Wentworth, NH, Heather Sackett and husband Chuck of Warren, Wanda Vaughan and husband Jeff of East Thetford, Christine Busby and husband Paul of East Thetford, Drew Foote and wife Joye of Rumney, NH, and Buck Foote and wife Jen of Ashland, NH; four step grandchildren, Jamie Weikert of Bozeman, MT, Jeffrey Weikert and wife Melissa of Crestview, FL, Shannon Weikert of Florence, SC, and Jean Taggart of Medfield, MA; nine great grandchildren; a special niece Kim Cole and husband Bucky of Wells River, VT, whom she helped raise as a baby and stayed close to until her last days. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Lois Paige of Thetford Center, VT and Louise Kimball of North Haverhill; as well as many nieces and nephews. She is survived by two special young men, considered grandsons, and their families, Dan and Mike Clark of Warren. There will be no calling hours. A funeral service will be on Monday, October 25, 2010, at 1 PM, at the Warren United Methodist Church, Warren, NH, with Rev. David Moore officiating. Burial will follow in the Warren Village Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Minerva Temple #40 of the Pythian Sisters, c/o Mrs. Marlene Wright, Warren, NH 03279 or the Grafton County Nursing Home Activities Fund, 3855 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill, NH 03774.