Mavis Farnham Carter

14 years ago

Mavis Farnham Carter

SH Mavis Carter OB

CARTER, Mavis Farnham, 96, PRESQUE ISLE, April 2, 2011. A graveside service will be held in the Crouseville Cemetery on May 31, at 1 p.m. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Lidstone Memorial Church in Washburn. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.

PRESQUE ISLE – Mavis Farnham Carter passed away on April 2, 2011, after a brief illness at a Presque Isle health care facility. She celebrated her 96th birthday in December. Mavis was born December 10, 1914, in Fort Fairfield, to Henry Charles Farnham and Annie Jane Palmer.

Mavis’s Mother was a long time school teacher and one of the first women to graduate from Teachers College in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  Her Father was a well-known home builder and cabinet maker. After Ray convinced Mavis that she didn’t need to attend Nasson Institute for that last year of college, they married on October 26, 1937, at the Farnham home in Fort Fairfield. Ray and Mavis started their first year together in an apartment on Barton Street in Presque Isle. They then moved to Washburn, to prepare Ray’s old family home for sale.  Mavis spent the rest of her life living in Washburn. She had three children. Gail was born in Presque Isle. Jim arrived three years later and was born at home in Washburn, as it was the war years. Then three years later, Mary came along.

She is survived by all three children: daughter, Gail Carter, her children, Mark Harvey and his wife, Linda and grandchildren, Anna Eve and Ethan Ray of Evanston, IL, daughter, Sarah and her husband, Keith Bobrowieki of Freeport, ME, son, James Carter of Washburn and his daughters: Alexandra and Marc Weeks of Jacksonville, FL, and Dr. Hannah Carter of Gainesville, FL, daughter, Mary Kaler of Boothbay, ME, and her sons: Sam and his wife, Jane Kaler with great-grandson, Silas of Boothbay Harbor, Ben Kaler and his wife, Stephanie with great-grandson, Jack of Spotsylvania, VA, and Jake Kaler of Boothbay Harbor.

Mavis was predeceased by Ray in August 28, 1988; and son-in-law, Dan Kaler, in July 31, 2010.

Mavis lived on Main Street in Washburn and over the years, built up many lasting friendships with her neighbors. She lived a great life, helping out Ray with his farming operation. Many enjoyed her Saturday night baked beans accompanied by homemade oatmeal rolls and delicious pies. She always supported Ray in his endeavors, helping with writing The Informal History of Washburn, Maine, and the organization of the Salmon Brook Historical Society. Over the years, she loved to travel. In 1957, the whole family took a six week cross country road trip to the West Coast and back. In August, she and Ray always visited the camp at Little Munsungan Lake, usually with Clifford and Wilda McIntire. In later years, she and Ray made several trips in both the United States and Canada, often traveling with their old friends, Jim and Margaret Porter of Perth Andover, NB, and Charlie and Marion Stone of Fort Fairfield.  Ray and Mavis also took three extended trips to the British Isles and Europe. She always took pride in her English heritage. This interest was manifested in her genealogy research leading to membership in both the Mayflower Society and the United Empire Loyalist of Canada.

Mavis will be remembered as a great cook, a clean freak and a gal who liked to garden.  After Ray’s passing, she looked forward to the daily get-togethers with her long-time neighbors, Arline, Barb and Louise.

Later in life, she moved into Leisure Village in Presque Isle.      The family would like to express their gratitude to those who cared for Mavis over the past two years. Very special thanks is extended to the management and staff at Leisure Village, as well as to her doctor, Dr. David Jones.

A graveside service will be held in the Crouseville Cemetery on May 31, at 1 p.m., with Dot Matson officiating. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Lidstone Memorial Church in Washburn. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish, may contribute to Salmon Brook Historical Society, P.O. Box 71, Washburn, ME 04786.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com