Tamworth, NH -- Joanne Stoddard Ames, 83, of Whittier Road, passed away unexpectedly on September 12, 2016 at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Portsmouth NH after a brief illness.

Joanne was born in Melrose, MA on December 29, 1932 to the late Russell Adelbert Stoddard and Grace Marion (Thurston) Hurd. Her family later moved to North Reading, MA, then to Center Ossipee, NH in 1940.

She graduated in 1950 with the last graduating class of Ossipee High School and, after marrying James Wesley Ames, moved to Tamworth. For 43 years, Joanne worked at Frankson's Furniture in West Ossipee (which later became Yield House). She was a hardworking woman, not fully retiring until her late seventies. Her last job was working in the ticket booth at White Lake State Park, which kept her mostly out of trouble.

She loved working with her dear friends, Millie and Danny, and enjoyed many walks throughout the Park as well. Anyone who knew Joanne, was well aware that she was fiercely independent, quite spirited, and didn't have any problem speaking her mind, especially when it came to bragging about how she had "the best family". Her family meant the world to her.

When her first two granddaughters were small and had several grandmothers, they began calling her "White Grammie" because of her snow white hair, which she had had since her late twenties. Her family nickname was fully embraced from that point on, morphing at times into "Whitey", "White G" and "Great White". She signed cards to the great grandchildren from "Great White Grammie", which always made her family smile.

Joanne had an undying love for the Old Man of the Mountain, "her mountain" (Mount Chocorua), covered bridges, and anything red, white and blue--she was extremely patriotic. She was a passionate bingo competitor and especially enjoyed family bingo games at Camp on Ossipee Lake. A huge John Wayne fan, now she can finally meet the man she fawned over for years and years (we know she's smiling down on us for that one)!

Predeceased by her mother and father, four brothers (John Whitehouse, Robert Stoddard, Donald Stoddard and Clark Melvin Stoddard), and a sister (Virginia Thebeault), she leaves a son and daughter in law, Alan and Jo-ann Ames of Effingham; a daughter and her fiancé, Susan Lyndes and Peter Rose of Dover; a sister, Carol Stoddard Caulkins, of Center Ossipee; four grandchildren, Derek Ames, Tracy Ames and partner Jeff Colvard, Lucas Lyndes and Jillian Lyndes; four great granddaughters, Ashley Hayford and husband Tim, Allison Frost and husband Ethan, Morgan Colvard and Katie Colvard; four great great granddaughters, Mallory & Josie Hayford and Bristol & Everly Frost; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She will be sorely missed by many others who cared about her, including her extended family, neighbors and all her friends at Ossipee Concerned Citizens (OCC).

The family would like to invite everyone to a graveside service on Saturday, September 24th at 11am at the Effingham Falls Cemetery on old Route 25 in Effingham Falls, NH.

There will be a celebration of life immediately following at Ossipee Concerned Citizens, 3 Dore Street, Center Ossipee NH. The Baker-Gagne Funeral Home and Cremation Services of West Ossipee is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joanne's memory to OCC, PO Box 426, Center Ossipee NH 03814.