Violet Pease

Violet Pease, 84
HOLLIS -- After several years of decline, 'Vi' Pease, a well-known community and political activist from Salmon Falls, died of natural causes on May 12, 2011, at Springbrook Center in Westbrook. She certainly will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Violet Call Pease was born in 1927 on a 650 acre farm in Levant, the oldest of five children for Elmer Watson Call and Evelyn Leary Call. She attended grade schools, church, and 4-H club events in the Levant area. Confident and ambitious, she helped finance her education at Higgins Classical Institute and Farmington State Teachers College by working in Magnolia, Mass., and for five years at Lakewood Summer Inn and Theater in Madison.
During her college years she was active in social affairs, was a nominee for carnival queen, and excelled in sports.
At Farmington Violet met Allen Pease and their college romance led to working together for three years at Lakewood and marriage in 1950.
In 1949-50 Violet was employed at Madison High School as home economics teacher and girl's basketball coach. In 1950-53, while her husband attended graduate school at The Ohio State University, she taught home economics at Madison Township High School in Groveport, Ohio. Violet was an excellent teacher, competent, student oriented, and patient.
They returned to Maine in 1953, Al as a college instructor and Vi making good use of her home economic degree by starting and raising a family that increased to three children. Her husband's employment took the family to colleges in Farmington, Presque Isle, Gorham, and the University of Maine, requiring new homes and friends. In 1957 they settled in the Groveville area of Buxton before purchasing her present home in 1966 in Hollis.
In Buxton Vi expressed interest in community service and a commitment to organizing political activities. She was good at it, a natural leader, becoming president of Buxton Parent Teachers Club and a candidate for school board in SAD 6 and in 1966 she ran as Democratic candidate for state representative. Although she lost that election she soon moved to Augusta anyway as Governor-elect Kenneth Curtis asked Allen to serve as his chief administrative assistant. Uprooted again, the Peases moved for eight years to a new home on the Blaine House lot across from the State Capitol, but they also kept their residence in Hollis.
Vi became active in Democratic Party politics and organization. She was chairman of Hollis Democrats for many years and for 30 years a member of York County Democratic Committee. She was elected as a delegate to State Democratic Conventions
Violet Pease
from 1964 to 2002. After 1973 Vi expressed pride for being the 'first woman to be elected' as Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. Accolades would follow.
In 1991 she was recognized for 'outstanding contributions to the Democratic Party of Maine' by the State Committee. In 1998 she was recipient of the Jack Howells Democrat award bestowed by York County Democrats. Little wonder that many persons of both parties in Hollis referred affectionately to Vi as 'Mrs. Democrat'
Violet Pease was well regarded nationally. She was a member and vice-chairman of the National Democratic Chairman's Association and was appointed by two national Democratic chairmen to serve on national committees.
Vi returned to her Hollis home in Salmon Falls in 1975 continuing homemaking activities and community involvement. Vi was friendly and social but always ready to speak at town meeting or independently address issues. She was appointed by Hollis selectmen as chairman of trustees for Salmon Falls Library, a position she successfully held for 10 years during a time of change and growth.
Violet always enjoyed family life, close friends, and neighborhood events. She generously supported the interests and endeavors of her three children and grandchildren and was proud of their accomplishments. They reciprocated her affection by hosting a large event in 2000 to celebrate Vi and Al's 50th wedding anniversary.
Vi had varied interests. She loved gardening, growing flowers, and observing bird life at her home that overlooks the Saco River. For a number of years she collected books for children written by Maine authors Kate Douglas Wiggin, and historical and travel stories by Kenneth L. Roberts.
Violet was predeceased by her parents; and sisters, Genevieve Goodwin of Levant and Virginia Hilton of Carmel. She is survived by her husband, Allen; three children, Pamela Sue Pease and her husband Paul Donovan of Santa Fe, N.M., Sanford Howard Pease and his wife Sara Sjulander Pease of Buxton, Belinda Evelyn Pease of Portland; and two grandchildren, Daniel Allen Pease and Victoria Ann Pease of Buxton. She is also survived by her sister, Joyce Epstein of Tariffville, Conn., a brother, Norman Call of Levant; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
At Vi's request, arrangements for a graveside memorial service on June 25, at 11 a.m., at South Buxton Cemetery (Tory Hill), will be made by Dennett-Craig & Pate Funeral Home - Buxton. www.dcpate.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to:
The Salmon Falls Library
322 Old Alfred Rd.
Hollis Center, Maine 04042