Frederick Charles McDonough, Jr., of Newport, NH, died Monday, January 26, 2015 after a long period of declining health. He was surrounded by his family at his passing. He was 85.

Born at the family farm on January 1, 1930, he spent his entire life working the land that had remained in his family since 1780.

Prior to 1985, Fred held dual careers as a farmer at the family homestead and planer operator at area lumber mills. He left the farm only for a short time when he served in the United States Army as a veteran of the Cold War, stationed in Texas and Germany. He and his wife, Norma, were joined in the family business by his daughter and her husband in 1985 and was instrumental in building their retail outlet, Beaver Pond Farm Market.

Fred was a dairy farmer in the 1940’s, transitioning to replacement heifer, beef and hay production in the 1960s through 1980s. In the ‘80s, the farm concentrated on apples, raspberries, vegetables and maple production, and Fred worked in every aspect of the production. It was important to Fred to work daily, and his happiest moments were when working in the fields and forest lands.

Fred was pre-deceased by his parents, Frederick and Lucy McDonough and his sister, Mary McDonough. Nothing meant more to Fred than his family.  He leaves a sister, Esther McDonough of Unity and a brother, John McDonough and his wife Gloria of Newport. He leaves his beloved wife, Norma, who was by his side since 1956 and three children: Elaine Patterson of Claremont and her daughters, Shannon Kennett of Canaan, Heather St. Amand of Goshen and Melanie Patterson of Franklin and their families; Rebecca “Becky” Nelson and her husband, Bennie, of Newport and their children, Kathryn Nelson of Dover and Samuel Nelson of Durham; and Frederick Charles McDonough, III and his wife Nancy of Goshen and their children, Amanda McDonough and Joshua McDonough, both of Goshen. He leaves many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and two great-great grandchildren as well.

There will be no calling hours or services. A family memorial gathering will be scheduled in the summer. Memorial donations are invited to be made to the New Hampshire Timberland Owner’s Association, 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 or the American Heart Association of NH, 2 Wall Street, Manchester, NH 03101.