GREENVILLE – Avis A. Richardson, 77, has joined her loving husband, Earl E. Rich-ardson Sr. She passed away Oct. 12, 2007, surrounded by her family at home, after a short illness. Avis was born Jan. 14, 1930, in Brownville, to Frank and Lala (Faulkner) Weir. The Weir family lived in the small town of Orient in Aroostook County, before moving to Lakeville Plantation. While living in Lakeville Plantation, Avis would sometimes walk five miles in the coldest part of winter with her brother, Frank, to ice fish and bring home dinner for her mom, dad, younger brother and three sisters. From Lakeview Plantation, the family moved to Stetson, where her father made a living by cutting trees for pulpwood and raising hay and beans. It was on this farm that Avis learned how to drive a team of Belgians when she helped her father to harvest the hay and bring it to the barn. The family farm was sold to purchase another farm in Carmel. While attending high school in Carmel, Avis met her future husband and lifelong mate, Earl. Avis and Earl married in 1947 and began nearly 60 years together, first residing in Carmel, then moving to Oakland, Calif., while Earl served in the U.S. Navy. Their third child was born just before the family moved back to Carmel in 1951. Avis looked after the three children while Earl attended Husson College. The Richardson family moved to Monroe, where Earl took a job as town manager. They settled in Greenville in 1958 when Earl was hired as the town manager. In the early years, Avis assisted Earl in his accounting business. She served as secretary to the superintendent of schools for many years and managed the Boom Chain Restaurant for more than three decades. Avis dedicated her life to her family, raising four children. She loved taking her family to Indian Pond for holiday family camping trips, especially at Thanksgiving. Avis and Earl made several cross-country trips by automobile, stopping to visit various family members along the way. Cable TV conventions in Las Vegas were a great excuse to visit her son in Nevada. In her later years, Avis enjoyed reading, quilting, knitting, campaigning with Earl and foraging for wood and blueberries. A special treat was a yearly trip to the Maine coast with family and friends. In her final weeks, she drew great comfort from visits by friends and family from Carmel and Charlotte, as well as from West Virginia, Texas, Nevada, and New Hampshire. She is survived by her four children; daughter, Karen and her husband, Richard “Stretch” Kennedy, of Hopkinton, N.H.; and her sons, Scott and wife, Barbara, of Greenville Junction, Stuart and wife, Debbie, of Fallon, Nev., and Earl Jr. and wife, Susan, of Greenville Junction. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Mildred and husband, Eric Stirling, Anne, Julie, Kristine, Star and husband, Jason Rothert, Ariel and Martha; a great-grandson, Steven Rothert; a brother, Russell Weir and wife, Pat; sisters, Theo McDonough, Edna Farley and husband, Bill, Vera Deering and husband, Philip; plus numerous nieces and nephews. Avis was predeceased by her brother, Frank Weir of New Mexico. Her loving presence will be greatly missed. Friends may call 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Greenville Chapel of Crosby & Neal, located on the first floor of the Masonic building, 281 Pritham Ave. Private graveside services will be held at Greenville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Avis’ memory to Community Health and Counseling Services, P.O. Box 425, Bangor, ME 04402 or C.A. Dean Hospital, P.O. Box 1129, Greenville, ME 04441.
AVIS A. RICHARDSON
