GROVELAND–James F. “Jim” Devlin Jr., 73, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. He was the husband of Jane A. (Donovan) Devlin with whom he has spent the last 33 years.
He was born in Haverhill Nov. 29, 1941 and was the son of the late James and Beatrice (Hall) Devlin. He was a resident of Salisbury for many years and previously lived in Groveland. He was a graduate of the former Haverhill Trade School. Upon graduating he enlisted in the United States Navy on Feb.17, 1959 and was honorably discharged on Aug. 7, 1962. Devlin was proud and honored to have served on the USS Laffey during his time in the Navy.
Devlin owned and operated his own carpentry business, Diversified Builders of Groveland for many years. He was a former member of the Haverhill American Legion. He had passion for standard bred race horses. He owned several and enjoyed training them. Jim introduced horses to his young granddaughter and relished the time they spent together with them. Spending time at the ocean was among his favorite places to be as well fishing.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three sons, Scott Devlin and his wife, Janice of Bradford, Mark Devlin of Haverhill and Shawn Devlin of Danville, N.H.; a step-daughter, Lynn Edmunds of Danville, NH; a step-son, Luke Edmunds and his wife, Carey of Fort Worth, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lois Boettcher and her husband, Bob, Gayle McLaughlin and Patty Sirell and her husband, Paul all of Manchester, N.H. and a brother, Gary Devlin also of Manchester, NH.
A Funeral Service for Devlin will be held Friday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue at noon. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 10 a.m. until noon in the funeral home. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Jim’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.