Mary Alice Fox

Mary Alice Fox and her husband, Allan, started The Friendly Farm in Dublin, NH, to encourage people of all ages to see, feel and feed farm animals up close. Allan died peacefully at home in 2017 at age 93 and now Mary Alice has also died peacefully at home on September 30. She was 98.

Mary Alice Cande was born in Pittsfield MA on September 19, 1925, and grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Dalton MA. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, where she met Allan James Fox. They married in July 1948 and lived in Greenfield MA and Concord MA before moving to Dublin NH in the fall of 1964. Mary Alice is survived by a daughter, Nancy Jo Merrill (David); four sons, Bruce (Sylvia), Tom, Ken (Kate), Andy (Giovanna); daughter-in-law Katharine; thirteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

True life partners, Mary Alice and Allan welcomed adventure, faced challenges, and enjoyed great happiness during their marriage of 69 years. In 1965, with five children between the ages of 2 and 15, Mary Alice and Allan started The Friendly Farm. They believed that children and their families would benefit from a better understanding of what farm life entailed by experiencing the joys of getting up close and personal with farm animals. While taking care of the animals was primarily Allan’s domain, Mary Alice knit sweaters and hats from their sheep’s wool, allowed a runt piglet to be raised in her kitchen, and maintained a fondness for Milking Shorthorn cattle. She could be found working in the gift shop 7 days a week while also raising her family. The Friendly Farm, now run by their son Bruce, continues to be a vibrant part of the Monadnock Region and will reopen in May 2024 for its 60th year.

An active skier for many years and then an avid traveler into her 90s, Mary Alice was always up for a game of Scrabble, a discussion of a new book, the Red Sox on TV, or happy hour on her porch with friends and family.

In retirement, Mary Alice and Allan enjoyed wonderful adventures and met many friends while traveling and camping in the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Following their international traveling days, the Foxes spent many winters in Florida.

Mary Alice loved the fellowship at the Dublin Community Center and the Dublin Community Church where for her there were two groups of people: friends and soon-to-be friends. She recently turned over her coleslaw recipe and rummage sale responsibilities to the younger generation.

Living next door to her son Bruce and daughter-in-law Sylvia was a true blessing for Mary Alice. The entire family is particularly grateful for the loving care of Mary Alice provided by her beloved caregivers as well as the devotion of Bruce, Sylvia, and Katharine.

Services will be at the Dublin Community Church, 1125 Main Street, on November 11, 2023, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Dublin Community Center, the Dublin Community Church Garden Sanctuary, or a charity of your choice.