ATKINSON, N.H. — Dale A. (Deyermond) Childs, 66, of Atkinson, died Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester.

Born in Methuen, daughter of the late Warren Deyermond and Eleanor McEvoy she was raised in Lawrence and Methuen and was a member of the Tenney High School, Class of 1962. She later attended Merrimack College in North Andover in the Accounting Program.

A longtime resident of Atkinson, Mrs. Childs was a member of the Atkinson Police Department from 1981 until 1998, serving as Juvenile Office from 1992 until 1995 and the Animal Control Officer from 1980 until 1995. She served on the Town Building Needs Committee and was a member of the Budget Committee from 1985 until 1994, serving as chairman from 1986 until 1994 and also served on The Highway Safety Committee from 1989 until 1995 and Co-Chairman of the Dispatch Committee. She has also served as a Cemetery Trustee since 1999 and a Trustee of the Trust Funds for the past 25 years.

Mrs. Childs was also a 24 year member of the Hampstead Police Department, beginning in 1987 and also served as the Town Animal Control Officer and Juvenile Officer. A founder and member of the Hampstead Schools Crisis Team, she represented the Police Department at Project Respect at the Hampstead Middle School. She was Past President and Secretary of the Hampstead Police Association and Past Chairman and presently Board Member of the Family Mediation and Juvenile Services and member of the Board of Directors of the Community Alliance for Teen Safety since 2004.

Mrs. Childs also served as a Special Deputy for the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department.

A member of the Atkinson Congregational Church, she served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 until 2010 and was presently a member of the Pastoral Relations Committee.

A member of the U.S. Trotting Association since 1971, Mrs. Childs owned, trained and raced harness horses and was one of the few women starters in the horse racing industry throughout New England. She was employed by the State of New Hampshire Pari-Mutuel Commission since 1987 and was named Director of Racing Enforcement for the State of New Hampshire in 2006.

She enjoyed traveling, gardening, raising animals and spending quality time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Fred J. Childs; a son and daughter-in-law, Shane G. and Michele Childs of Atkinson; a daughter, Dawn K. Amiss of Cordova, Md.; a step-son, Fred D. Childs of Peabody; three step-daughters, Sue H. Gatzimos and her husband Stratton of Merrimack, N.H., Carol A. Tobey of Eliot, Maine, and Paula J. Hovey of Danvers; nine grandchildren, Kerri, Ryan, Shawn, Courtney, Ashley, Danielle, Zachary, Makenna and Emerson; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Brittany Dawn Childs in 1997.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St.., Route 121A, Plaistow, N.H. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Atkinson Congregational Church, Main Street, Atkinson, followed by burial in Atkinson Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Brittany Dawn Childs Scholarship Fund, c/o Hampstead New Hampshire Police Department, P.O. Box 78, Hampstead, N.H.