Signe H. McQuate

Signe H. (Watson) McQuate, 91, of Manchester, NH, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2024. She was born on November 12, 1932, in Manchester to Charles M. Watson and Signe (Welpley) Watson. The family eventually settled in Portsmouth, NH. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, Signe enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she served as a communications specialist.

While serving in the Air Force, she met her husband, Raymond, at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. During their married life, they lived in Elyria and Oberlin, Ohio, before moving the family back to Portsmouth, NH. Signe embarked on a career serving the City of Portsmouth in various capacities, eventually retiring as the billing manager for the Water Department. Raymond and Signe later moved to Manchester, NH, for their retirement years.

Signe is survived by her daughter, Ralene (McQuate) St. Pierre of Manchester, NH; twin sons, Rodney McQuate of Dover, NH, and Randall McQuate and his wife Deborah of Manchester, NH; and son, Reginald McQuate and his wife Tamara of Dover, NH. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Reilly (McQuate) Tatum, Susan (St. Pierre) Bailey, Chelsey (McQuate) Johnson, Sarah (St. Pierre) Patinskas, Mariah (McQuate) Denton, McKayla (McQuate) Griswold, Gavin McQuate, and Casey McQuate, as well as nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Signe was predeceased by her husband, Raymond G. McQuate; her grandson, Blaze McQuate; her sisters, Ruth Waltz and Charlotte Philbrook; her brother, Charles Robert (Bob) Watson; and the mother who raised her, Lena Watson.

Services will be held at the New Hampshire Veterans’ Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Manchester Animal Shelter, 490 Dunbarton Road, Manchester, NH 03102.