Donna Jean Goulding

SCARBOROUGH - Donna Jean (Myers) Goulding, 86, of Scarborough, Maine, wife of 65 years to Thomas S Goulding, passed away on Dec. 19, 2018, after a lengthy illness.

Donna was born in Spokane, Wash., on Aug. 30, 1932, the daughter of the late Erma and Clyde Myers from Spokane, Wash. She is survived by her husband and their four children; Kathleen E. and her husband, Mel Thebault, of Errol, N.H., Michael D. and his wife, Mary Ann Goulding, of Marietta, Ga., Thomas S. and his wife, Julie Goulding, of Ellijay, Ga., and James E. and his wife, Lori Goulding, of Waterboro, Maine. She had eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; brothers, James Myers of Daytona, Fla., Steven Myers of Dayton, Wash., and the late Judith Miller of Everett, Wash. She had several nieces and nephews.

Donna was a very creative woman and was a talented writer and painter. She attended the Writer's Conference in Ocean Park, Maine, for many years. She loved to sew and particularly loved to quilt. She belonged to the Amoskeag Quilt Guild in Manchester, N.H., with her daughter and the Pine Tree Guild in Maine. She loved to read and recently joined a Book Club in her community that she enjoyed attending. She was very involved in the community and took on many leadership roles, in particular the chairperson for the Saco, Maine Conservation Committee, where she led many activities that contributed to the preservation of environmental wellness for the City of Saco. She received an award from the community for her leadership in addressing the purple loosestrife, an invasive plant. She sang in the Saco Congregational Church choir for many years. Donna also held many career positions throughout her life, but none as satisfying as raising her four children.

She graduated from John Rogers High School, Spokane, Wash., in 1950 and attended Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass., receiving her teaching certificate. She was an early education teacher in the town of West Boylston, Mass. She attended classes to learn Braille and received a Braille certificate.

Donna believed in giving to others and through this, she and her husband became missionaries and traveled to Honduras, helping to rebuild a small community. Prior to leaving on the trip, she helped to gather supplies that were distributed to the locals when they arrived in Honduras.

After surviving pancreatic cancer in 2006, Donna became an advocate and mentor for others that were going through the same cancer. She also survived stomach cancer in 2016.

Donna was raised on the west coast and loved it. However, in 1956 she and Thomas moved from Spokane, Wash., to Holden, Mass., and New England became her home. Through a career transfer, Thomas and Donna moved to Michigan, however, she still loved New England and was glad to transfer back at retirement.

Donna's faith was very important to her. She was a member of the Blue Point Congregational Church in Scarborough, Maine, and a former member of the Saco Congregational Church.

Donna will be missed by many but leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at 11 a.m., at First Parish Congregational Church, 12 Beach St., Saco. Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, Saco is respectfully handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorable donations can be made to the Blue Point Congregational Church

PO Box 2055

Scarborough, ME 04070-2055

The Salvation Army

2 Church Street

Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064-2060

or the First Parish Church

12 Beach Street

Saco, ME 04072

in Donna's name.