Jean C. Hamilton

Jean Anne Charles Hamilton, 85, went to dance in heaven with her beloved husband, Dale, on December 23, 2025. Jean passed away at home surrounded by family.

Jean was born at home in North Fryeburg, Maine, the daughter of Esther and Sherman Charles. Jean grew up in East Conway and graduated from Kennett High School in 1958. After high school, Jean attended beauty school in Portland, Maine, and went on to work at Eastern Slope Beauty Salon.

Jean married the love of her life, Dale Hamilton, on September 13, 1959, in North Conway, NH, with a reception at the East Conway Grange Hall. The newlyweds made their first home on Seavey Street. They later moved to Birch Street (now called Ash Street) and then finally to their home, which they built on Sunset Hill.

In 1961, Jean and Rita Rancourt opened up the Beauty Lounge, which was located above Robbins & Kollin, known to younger folks as The Penguin. Jean left the Beauty Lounge upon starting a family. After joyfully settling into parenthood, Jean and Dale added on to their home on Birch Street, creating a space where Jean could continue doing hair while staying home with her family. Feeling that their family was incomplete, in 1969, Jean and Dale adopted their daughter, Heather. Brad and Heather grew up in a home filled with love and learned the true meaning of what it is to be a family.

During her working years, Jean was employed at the Conway District Court, Frechette Tire, The Christmas Loft, and at a couple of different flower shops, creating and delivering arrangements. Jean’s green thumb could also be seen at her home, where she lovingly maintained an assortment of plants, including her Christmas cactus, which is currently in bloom.

Jean's working life is just part of her story. Her real story is not what she did to make money; it is the friendships and family she made throughout her life. You can't tell Jean's story without mentioning her best friend, Gail James, and Gail’s husband, Gerald. Jean, Dale, Gail, and Gerald were lifelong friends, taking trips together to the Amish Country and many other amazing places. The four of them played cribbage together weekly right up until Dale passed away in 2024.

Jean’s greatest joy was her family, and she was endlessly proud of the lives they built and the accomplishments they achieved. To Jean, it didn’t matter if you were born into the family, adopted, or married in - she loved everyone all the same. She kept track of everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, faithfully sending cards and reaching out on special days. Jean’s kitchen was a gathering place for family dinners, birthdays, and card games. She always had room for one more at the table, at times instructing us to open up the table by adding the leaf to make room.

Jean’s second greatest joy was her hobbies and her knick-knacks. If you knew Jean, you knew her love for anything with a fawn pug dog on it. Jean and Dale had always loved fawn pugs and, over the years, had multiple pugs as part of their family. In addition to pugs, Jean also had a special place in her heart for cardinals, which was shown throughout her house on all different kinds of decor and clothing. Jean took special joy in hanging out her bird feeders to attract the cardinals and numerous other types of birds.

Jean’s third greatest joy was her cats, Harry and Vinnie - just kidding, she would deny that she loved them, but she was also the only one who knew if a meow was a request for wet food, attention, or opening the door (numerous times per day). For someone who was typically a dog lover, Jean spoiled the cats and sat with and talked to them frequently.

Jean was an active member of our community. She was a member of the North Conway Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary and belonged to the Wife Tribe of the Old Indians Softball Team. For many years, you would see her at the Conway voting polls. Jean was a Justice of the Peace and happily officiated wedding ceremonies. Jean married hundreds of couples, many being friends and family, in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida. In 2015, Jean didn’t want to miss out on marrying her grandson Ryan, who was getting married in Maine, so she became ordained online by the Universal Life Church, which gave her the ability to perform marriages in Maine.

The Brown Church in Conway was an important part of Jean's life. She was an active and devoted member, and Jean looked forward to her weekly Bible study group and church on Sunday. She also loved to play cards, and at times would play cards two to three days a week with friends.

Jean was predeceased by her loving husband of 64 years, Dale(February 2024); her sister, Carol Andrews (May 2025); her brother, John Charles (July 2025); her father, Sherman Charles (1971); her mother, Esther Charles (January 2, 1987); and great-grandchildren Kashton Tower and Waylen Hamilton.

Jean leaves behind her son Bradford (Wendy) Hamilton; daughter Heather (Marc) Tower; grandchildren Nicole (Scott) Brown, Grayelle (Felicia) Tower, Danielle (Ryan) Sawyer, Seth Tower, Ryan (Megan) McDonald, Caitlin (Ben) McPherson, Brittany (Justin) McLain, Jacob Tower, Erik (Selenia)Hamilton, Annetja Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton, Mauricio Hamilton, Jaeden Hamilton, Devon Hamilton; great grandchildren Ethan Brown, Emily Brown, Payten Tower, Lucas Brown, Brooklynn Culbertson, Nathan Brown, Maddison McLain, Grayson Tower, Ledger McPherson, Cora McPherson, Jacob Brown, Marshall McLain, Gabriel Sawyer, Gunnar Tower, Evander Tower and a future grandson due in February, Orion Hamilton.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the Brown Church, 132 Main St, Conway, NH. A reception will be held immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jean’s name to the Conway Village Congregational Church, P.O. Box 333, Conway, NH 03818.