Mrs. Geraldine Estelle Deal Searles, 95, passed away December 29, 2020 at Hanover Terrace in Hanover, NH.

Mrs. Searles was born June 26, 1925, in Boston, MA to Jack and Lola Deal. She was raised in Newton, MA. She was the owner of the Ruggles Mine attraction in Grafton, NH, which she built into a prime NH attraction. The mine opened in 1963, and under her leadership, added a museum and gift shop. She enjoyed traveling to gem shows around the country in support of the mine's programs.

Mrs. Searles was a talented watercolorist and was affiliated with AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH. As a young woman, she worked as a colorist at a Boston photography studio and worked on portraits of the Kennedy family.

Mrs. Searles is survived by her son, John Wahlstrom; daughter, Andrea Brownell; step-children Marjorie Searles and Richard (Kathleen) Searles; grand-daughters Rhiannon Brownell and Robyn (Frank) Tragresser; step-grandchildren Kate Hobbie, Clark (Sue) Hobbie, Marjorie (Andrew) Johnson; great-grandchildren Alora and Alex Tragresser and Miles (Kiera) Lagoze; cousin Tony Lewtas; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was pre-deceased by her husband, Robert N. Searles; ex-husband, Arvid Sven Wahlstrom; sister, Ginny Abbott; and son-in-law, Lance Brownell, as well as her sister-in-law, Anita Lewtas, and cousins Ted and Eric Lewtas.

Services will be privately held.