Alton-----Constance M. Stevenson, 83, of Alton, New Hampshire went peacefully into the arms of her Lord Jesus on June 24, 2011 at her home surrounded by family and friends. Connie was the daughter of Elizabeth (Allen) Tyler of East Concord, New Hampshire and spent most of her childhood with her maternal grandparents, Harvey and Violet Allen, of Mexico, Maine. She had been declining in health for a long period of time. Connie is predeceased by her husband, Robert B. Stevenson, an infant son, her mother, her stepfather, Roger Tyler, of East Concord, and her sister, Barbara Bachelder, of Pembroke. Mrs. Stevenson was married on July 26, 1946 at the East Congregational Church in East Concord. She is survived by her brother, William Tyler, of Greencove Springs, FL, her sons, Robert P. Stevenson of Tilton, New Hampshire and Craig S. Stevenson of Alton, and her grandsons, Ryan Stevenson, Christopher Stevenson and Richard Stevenson.
Connie was born on May 8, 1928 in Rumford, Maine, and graduated from Mexico High School in 1946 where she was a clarinetist in the Concert Band.
In 1977, she graduated from New Hampshire Technical Institute with a degree in counseling. Early in her career, she was employed by WKXL in Concord, New Hampshire where she performed as salesperson and host of the weekly "Connie Stevenson Show", only the second woman in New Hampshire to have a live talk show format. She was hostess for International House of Pancakes in Manchester, New Hampshire for several years and then went on to be a leader in Alcoholics Anonymous, instrumental in establishing many new units throughout New Hampshire. She was a self-taught graphic artist known for her primitive painting, tole work, and lampshade design. She was the owner/artist of The Village Lamp & Shade Shop in Alton and distributed works throughout Nova Scotia, Canada, Maine, and New Hampshire. Connie and her husband, Bob, established "Stevenson's Dairy Bar" in Alton which served the area for several years. After receiving her degree in counseling, Mrs. Stevenson went on to work for NH State Hospital, Burbank House, Amethyst as alcohol abuse counselor, Manchester Mental Health and Carroll County Impaired Driver Intervention Program until her retirement in 1987. Since that time, Connie divided her time between her summer home in Canada and Alton where she continued to paint.
Services to be announced at a later date
Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Concord NH
Condolences to Craig Stevenson, PO Box 907, Alton NH 03809
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association of N.H., 1800 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family. For more information and to view an on line memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.