Maude Doris Rees Obituary (1921 - 2013)

SANGERVILLE--Maude Doris Rees, 92, died Friday, August 2, 2013, at her home in Sangerville. She was born April 22, 1921 in Sangerville, the only child of Doris (Dow) and Eugene Vincent Rollins. She was a descendant of the second settler of Sangerville, James Waymoth, and resided in the same house where she was born. Maude attended Sangerville schools and served as secretary to the high school principal her senior year, graduating in 1939. She attended Colby College and Maine School of Commerce, now Husson University, majoring in administrative secretarial studies. After college, Maude began work as an administrative secretary for the former Guilford Industries. A hard worker, the loving mother of five, also drove one of her father's school buses and made and sold butter, the proceeds of which she salted away to ensure that all five of her children attended college. She was a huge supporter of higher education and spent many weekends driving across the state to ferry her children to and from the colleges they attended. For many years, Maude worked as a licensed insurance agent in her father's business, the former E.V. Rollins Company in Sangerville. She served as deputy town clerk for the town until her father, who was town clerk and registrar of voters, was injured in a motor vehicle accident. Residents then elected Maude as town clerk and registrar of voters, jobs she completed for many years from her home. She had also worked as a bookkeeper for Haley Construction Company and at the former Koritsky's Clothing Store in Dover-Foxcroft. A traveler, Maude toured Europe, visited Hawaii, California, Canada and most of the eastern seaboard. She especially enjoyed her several trips to Scotland, the birthplace of her grandfather, Alexander "Sandy" Dow, and her trips to the Chicago World's Fair and the New York World's Fair. In addition to her travels, her interests included dancing to the tunes of the Woody Woodman Band, knitting, and crossword puzzles. Civic-minded, Maude was involved in Boy and Girl Scouts in her earlier years, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and was a life member of Susie Carr Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. In addition, Maude was a volunteer at Mayo Regional Hospital for 20 years and previously served as secretary of the Mayo Hospital Auxiliary. She was a long-time member of the Sangerville Universalist Church where her mother played the organ and her grandfather manned the organ pumps. Maude later played the same organ for church services. She was a founding member when the church later changed to the Unitarian Universalist Church. Maude also was a member of the Sangerville High School Alumni Association. Maude is survived by her daughter and caregiver, Diana C. Bowley of Sangerville, who said she is blessed, honored and humbled to have been born to such a beautiful and loving woman. Their close relationship was not only as mother-daughter, but also of sisters and best friends. She also is survived by a son, Gary Rees of Newport. Her sons Kim, Harold Jr., and Eugene Rees and her former husband Harold Rees predeceased her. She leaves 13 grandchildren: Heather Bowley Dinwiddie, who helped care for Maude during the end of her life; Hope Bowley Cairnie, Chad Bowley, James Rees, Eugene Rees, Saundra Rees Haley, Kyle Rees, Brett Rees, Shawn Rees, Bryan Rees, Maegan Rees Miller, Kevin Rees, Penny Rees Pomeroy, and by several great grandchildren. She will be missed by her family including Ashley Bowley, a great granddaughter who provided Maude with comfort and compassion throughout her illness, and by Frannie, her loyal Scottish Terrier. There will be a memorial service at 11 AM, Saturday, August 10, 2013, at the Sangerville Unitarian Universalist Church with the Rev. Ellen Bridge officiating. Friends are welcome to stay for refreshments and share their memories of Maude. Private interment will be held later at the Village Cemetery in Sangerville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 33 Mildred Ave., Bangor, ME 04401,which helped save her life as an infant when she was stricken with pneumonia, or the Northern New England Westie Rescue, 203 Rosegate Farm, Manchester, NH 03109. This non-profit organization saved her beloved Frannie from an eight-year caged existence in a Missouri puppy mill. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal, Guilford. "Do not stand at my grave and weep: I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle Autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die." (author unknown)