Katherine Pushor Perkins

EXETER and BANGOR - Katherine Pushor Perkins died peacefully Jan. 16, 2010, late in the evening, having been comforted lovingly through her last days by her youngest sister, Prudence; and her eldest grandchild, Alicia and husband, Barry Harriman, with the support of the kind and gentle people at Westgate Manor and Beacon Hospice. She was born June 28, 1916, in Exeter, to Mary Edna Thomas and Merton Pushor. Katie graduated from Bangor High School in 1933, Castine Normal School and the University of Maine with her Bachelor of Arts degree, Master of Education and certificate of advanced study. She taught elementary school in West Enfield, Exeter and Bangor. During her younger years, Katie was a writer, a poet and an actress involved in local productions in West Enfield and Exeter. Katie never outgrew the harsh lessons of the Great Depression and was always saving and contributing. After her three older children left the family home for homes of their own, Katie provided room and board for college students along with her responsibilities as a full-time teacher. One of those students reentered her life recently as a caregiver in her role as much appreciated chaplain for Beacon Hospice, Ms. Jackie Soucie. Katie and Stanley both retired in 1976 and enjoyed several years of traveling around the country in their fifth-wheel RV before settling in Zephyrhills, Fla., and returning to Maine for the beautiful summers. Katie was predeceased by her husband, Stanley B. Perkins in January 1992; and her daughter, Susanne Cyr George in May 2007. Katie is survived by younger siblings, Faith Galarneau of Zephyrhills, Fla., Donna Dowell of Central, S.C., David Pushor of Etna and Prudence Corey-Barry of Alton; and three daughters, Pamela Perkins of Houston, Texas, Penelope Ewing of Newport, N.J., and Chrystobel Sawhney of Clifton, Va. She is the grandmother of Alicia Harriman of Orrington, Brett Ewing of Wales, Maine, Stephanie Babcock of Woodbridge, Va., Brian Ewing of Virginia and Julia Babcock of Houston, Texas; aunt to many nieces and nephews; and great-grandmother of 12. We will hold a graveside memorial service at Waugh Cemetery, Levant, where her remains will be interred next to her husband during the summer of 2010, at a date to be determined. A service of Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.


This obituary was originally published in the BDN Maine.