Stephen George Loader

Stephen George Loader, 76, of Merrimac, MA, passed away on April 28 th 2024, surrounded by loved ones at Beth Israel Hospital, following a battle with liver disease and leukemia.

Stephen was born May 13, 1947 in Lawrence, MA to the late George and Louise Loader. After graduating Haverhill Trade School in 1964 Stephen enlisted in the Navy where he served in Vietnam and traveled the world. This was the beginning of his life-long commitment to serving his country within several branches from active service and reservist. While in the Air Force, he served in Desert Storm. He retired in 2006, Master Sergeant after faithfully serving for 35 years.

In his youth he met and married Karen Porter. Although their union was not to last, they had one beautiful daughter together, Donna-Marie Loader whom he treasured and adored.

He went on to work at Raytheon in Andover, MA and retired after 35 years. This is where he met his wife, Jeanne Loader, of nearly 50 years. He lovingly embraced her three children, Karen, Kelly, and Michelle. They built their life around family. Their time together was spent hanging with family and friends, traveling to Disney World (often), New Zealand, and local New England hot spots like Cape Cod, Newburyport, and Rockport.

Stephen enjoyed traveling, fishing, dancing, playing cards and anything working with wood. He loved cooking and finding new kitchen gadgets to experiment with! He took great pride in helping people no matter what it was, fixing something, moving, basically jumping in wherever and whenever needed. He loved his family and supported their interests whether that be attending sporting/school events or spending time just talking to them and listening.

Stephen’s service shaped the man he was to become. He will be remembered as a loving family man ready to help anyone who needed it. A service man at the ready. A storyteller ready to break the silence and share with you a fact or story on anything from a cooking recipe, a personal experience, a loved one’s experience and the beautiful Country of New Zealand. The quintessential “nice guy” and will be missed by many.

Stephen is survived by his devoted wife, Jeanne, daughter Donna-Marie Perring (Loader), and husband Owen of Christchurch, New Zealand, three step-children, Karen Marable (Edgerly) and husband Bill of SC, Kelly Freschlin (Edgerly) and her husband Randy of CT, Michelle Graham (Edgerly) and husband Joe of Merrimac, MA. Other survivors include siblings Carol Callahan of Florida, Rick and wife Diane of Meridith, NH, cherished grandchildren, Logan, Kyle, Chloe, Jordan, Christina, Jana, Mya, and one great grand-child Landon as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and those close as family too numerous to mention.

A service for Stephen will occur Tuesday, May 7, 2024 with visiting hours from 3 PM - 4 PM at the Highland Chapel of Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Avenue (Route 150), Amesbury,MA followed by a Memorial Service at the funeral home at 4 PM with Military Honors to conclude the services with the Team from Hanscom Air Force base.

http://www.paulcrogers.com/Amesbury.php