Barbara E. Hall

MOUNT VERNON -- Barbara Enid (Richards) Hall died unexpectedly at her home on Sept. 6, 2007.

Barbara was born in North Wayne on July 5, 1925, to Hazel (Littlefield) Richards and Alton D. Richards. She graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1944. The Richards family moved to Mount Vernon in 1935 where she met her husband, Milton Hall. They were married in 1945 and remained together until his passing in 2006. In 1949 the couple purchased the farm that became their home for more than 40 years.

Barbara and Milton had four daughters: Norma, Donna, Rayma and Sharon. Her nephew, George Carter, came to live with them when he was 11, after her sister, Flora, passed away. For many years Milton and Barbara raised Herefords for beef, and broilers for Fort Halifax in Winslow. Later, they turned the old barn into a modern milking facility. Barbara supported her husband in all his endeavors. She helped make it possible for "Mim" to do so many things away from the farm for the benefit of their family.

The farm seemed like the center of activity; there seemed to be a steady stream of visitors. She was a great conversationalist and was good at making company feel comfortable and welcomed. Even after they left the farm behind in 1985, their new home seemed always bustling with activity, and visitors. In her 60s she decided to go to work outside the home. For eight years she performed custodial duties at Saunders' Manufacturing in Kents Hill. She enjoyed the people she worked for and with, and especially liked the feeling of making her own "pocket-change."

Barbara was a great support for all of her family. She happily cared for grandchildren as their mothers worked. She was encouraging to all of her daughters in anything they tried to accomplish. Barbara had many interests. She passed along the tradition of home-canning to her daughters and granddaughters. Her baked beans were always a sensation. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens, and especially enjoyed her dog, Ben, and her cat, Nickie. She liked to do crafts and enjoyed doing ceramics with her daughter, Rayma. Two of her favorite movies were "Gone With The Wind" and "Titanic." She loved going out to breakfast all of her life, but especially so in her later years. She looked forward to going to the Coumadin clinic with Norma's long-time partner, Bob Laney.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Milton; a brother, Alton Jr.; a sister, Flora; and a grandson, Steven.

She leaves behind their daughters, Norma Wright and Bob Laney, Norma's daughter, Jennifer, and grandchildren Kassidy and Evelyn; Donna Michaud and her friend, Sonny Moore, Donna's sons Jerry and Frank, Jerry's wife, Stephanie and her grandchildren, Ryder and Heather; Rayma Jacobs and her daughter, Sherri and her partner, Mike Vogt, and grandson, Ian; Rayma and her partner David Byras and granddaughter, Hailee; Sharon Holmes and her husband, Ron, and their daughter Katie. She also leaves behind a brother, Marvin, and his wife, Janet, and a sister, Sylvia "Tibby" McLean; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Barbara was well-loved and will be missed by all.

Visiting hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where a funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10. Burial will follow in the Bean Cemetery, Mount Vernon. All are welcome to attend.

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