Obituary of Grace Davis Stevenson

GRACE DAVIS STEVENSON, eldest daughter of Alonzo "Lonnie" and Verna (Bessey) Davis passed away December 22, 2015 in Waterville. At 9 years of age Grace was driving a cut down GMC truck, hauling several 10-gallon milk cans to Brooks to fill them with water and drive back for Dad to empty contents into cattle troughs, as the family well in summers would not supply household and cattle needs. She enjoyed growing up on the farm, gardening, haying, where she drove the double team to neighboring farms and home with a loaded wagon of loose hay, gathering white Leghorn eggs daily, helping her Dad each spring gather maple sap, and adding wood under large syrup pans! She attended Roosevelt Grammar School in East Thorndike and played baseball on the boys team! She went to Crosby High School in Belfast, graduating in 1944. She was very proud to be one of four from her class to be elected to The National Honor Society. She lettered in the only girls sports at the time - basketball, captain her senior year, and played softball. She belonged to several school-sponsored clubs. She married Earl B. Stevenson and together they raised four sons; Earland, Brent, Randy and Gary Lou. She drove a school bus for 13 years and helped with raising of broilers for several years. Also assisted in a public garage, traveling for parts not only for the garage but for her husband's gravel truck, their own school buses and his milk truck that picked up milk for the farmers in 10-gallon cans. They also cut the hay on their farm. He had a wrecker that kept them quite busy. It was a busy life! Grace was Past Noble Grand, former, Favori Rebekah Lodge, Unity; Past District Deputy President #14, Past State President of the Rebekah Deputies Association, present member of Kynvetta R. Lodge in Searsport, Past Master Harvest Moon Grange in Thorndike, a member of Waldo Pomona, State National Grange, a member of Benjamin Berry American Legion Auxiliary #50 in Unity, a member of Unity and Brooks Senior Citizens, Past President Midcoast Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary, also Past President of Maine Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary for nine years, many years a member of Thorndike Fireman’s Auxiliary. She graduated from University of Maine with a degree in elementary education, taught school briefly for SAD #34, 16 years for SAD #3, mostly at Troy Central School where she was head teacher. She was a member in grammar school of the Rough & Ready Club in East Thorndike. She continued to be active throughout life organizing the Wide Awake 4-H Club in Knox and helping with Meals on Wheels in Unity. Her husband passed in 2002. She was also predeceased by her parents and a brother, Carl Davis; grandparents Walter and Grace (Hamlin) Bessey, Sarah Hunt-Wren Davis; two special aunts Stella Wren of Thorndike and Mildred Gould of Belfast. Survivors include sons; Earland and wife, Merrily, of Thorndike, Brent and wife, Cathy, of Oxford, Randy and wife, Sandra, of Knox, Master Sargent (USAF, Ret.) Gary Lou and wife, Susan, of Navarre, Florida; a special daughter, Janelle Pomeroy, of Clinton; 13 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Jeanette Work of Brooks, Irene Brown of Brooks, Charlotte Ryan of West Long Branch, NJ; as well as several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to Earl B. Stevenson Scholarship Fund, to be renamed Earl B. and Grace Davis Stevenson Scholarship Fund. A memorial service is being planned for in the spring. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Lakewood Manor Nursing Home in Waterville for their care and compassion given to our mother and grandmother. Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.