EMMA O. CONLOGUE

PRESQUE ISLE – Emma Octavia (Gray) Conlogue, 84, died Feb. 5, 2007, after a lengthy illness at a Caribou health care facility. She was born Nov. 29, 1922, in Mattawamkeag, the daughter of Eugene James and Letitia (Travis) Gray. She was a graduate of Fort Fairfield High School. She also received a two-year teaching degree from the Aroostook Normal School and eventually received her four-year degree from the University of Maine – Presque Isle in 1969. Education was her lifetime career. Emma was a school teacher for 40 years and she taught most of those years in Easton in grade four, with a few of her early years spent in Bath and Monticello. She loved teaching and her students. On special holidays or the end of school, she would treat the children with many goodies and parties suited to the occasion. She was an old line teacher, who believed in the three R’s. She held high expectations for her students and maintained appropriate discipline to ensure a proper learning environment for all. She enjoyed a reputation as being tough, but fair and she never had a child she did not like. She imparted the value of learning to her family. She expected her sons to go to college and she worked hard and sacrificed much to ensure they got their education. Her expectations became a lifetime gift to both of them. Family was most important to her. On Sept. 25, 1948, she married Paul David Conlogue at St. Denis Parish, Fort Fairfield. Paul passed away Aug. 4, 2005, just a few weeks short of their 57th wedding anniversary. Emma was a great daughter, wonderful sister, loyal wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grand-mother and a caring friend to many. She sought and wanted nothing in return. She was very generous to her family and friends. She also loved all animals, especially cats. She will be deeply missed by her two sons and their wives, Eugene J. and Donna A. Conlogue of Presque Isle and Jon A. and Donna O. Conlogue of Springfield, Mass; her grandchildren, Casey Lynn Johnson and her husband, Scott, of Presque Isle and Thomas, Emily and Garrett Conlogue of Springfield; great-grandchildren, Sherralyn and Kendall Robbins of Presque Isle; stepgrandchildren, Todd and his wife, Tonya (Ouellette) Simpson and Dale and his wife, Deanna (Stevens) Simpson, all of Presque Isle; and great-stepgrandchildren, Chelsea, Brandon, Noah and Alexis Simpson, also all of Presque Isle. In addition, she is survived by her sister, Alwilda Munson of Wiscasset and several nieces and nephews, including Theresa (Munson) Golan, James Munson, David Johnston, Bernard Johnston, Barbara (Johnston) Clevette, Jane (Johnston) Zagranis and Dale Johnston. Emma was predeceased by her husband in 2005; her father in 1949; her mother in 1963; grandson, Troy in 1975; and stepgrandson, Billy Simpson in 1992. The family extends their deepest appreciation to the staff at the Caribou Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center for their care throughout the past 17 months. They also extend a special thank you to Fr. David Raymond, who administered the anointing of the sick to her as she passed. Friends may call 9:30-11 a.m. Friday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Church Street, Presque Isle, where 11 a.m. services will be celebrated by Fr. Raymond Morency. She will be buried at Fairmont Cemetery, Presque Isle, in the spring. Because of her lifelong enjoyment of reading, as well as, her deep love of animals, the family respectfully suggests that donations in her name be made to the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, 39 Second St., Presque Isle, ME 04769 or to the Central Aroostook Humane Society, P.O. Box 1115, Presque Isle, ME 04769.