HENNIKER, NH:  Marie Catherine (Gardner) Knapton, 86, of Henniker, NH died on September 28, 2016, at the Hospice House in Concord, NH, surrounded by her family.

She was born June 25, 1930, in Ware, MA, daughter of Louis and Nora Gardner, owners of the Henniker Yarn Company, established in 1941. She graduated from Henniker High School in 1948 and earned her Bachelor's Degree from Becker College in 1950.

She worked at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City; Monadnock Paper Mill in Peterborough, NH, and the Henniker Pharmacy, where she worked for 39 years, before retiring in 1994.

She loved working outside; the Red Sox; traveling with other couples that grew up in Henniker to tropical locations; wintering in Englewood, Florida, where she would walk the beach and serve cocktails and enjoy the sunset with friends, and most of all a houseful of people. During the summer it was not acceptable to let a beautiful weekend go by without having the lawn and driveway covered in vehicles with her children, grandchildren, and their friends, and friends-of-friends spending their weekends having fun relaxing on the deck and by the pool.

She is predeceased by her parents Louis and Nora Gardner; her brother Louis Gardner, Jr; and her husband of 54 years Richard L. Knapton of Henniker.

She leaves behind to carry on family traditions, her son Thomas Knapton and his wife Suzanne of Henniker; daughter Deborah (Knapton) Hooper of Henniker; and Susan (Knapton) Dennis of Henniker. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren; Tia Hooper of Henniker; Jayme (Dennis) Bland and her husband Jared Bland of Bow; Heidi Hooper of Waltham, MA; Jeffrey Dennis of Manchester; Nicole Dennis of Bow; Matthew Knapton of West Hartford, CT; Benjamin Knapton of Henniker, NH; Lexi Knapton of Henniker; two great grandchildren, Jack and Jase, and five great-grand dogs.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2016, 11:00 a.m. at the Henniker Cemetery.

The Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, 30 Pillsbury St, Concord, NH 03301.