MACHIAS – Florence Armstrong died peacefully on Sept. 1, 2005, surrounded by many members of her family. She was born at Roque Bluffs on Aug. 3, 1915, the second child of Velma (Johnson) and Willie Corbett. Her childhood years were spent on Monhegan Island, Southern Island in Tenants Harbor and on Little River Island in Cutler where her father was the lighthouse keeper. As the oldest daughter in a family of eight children, she learned responsibility and unselfishness at an early age. In a time and place when a high school education was not easily available, she left her home and boarded in Machias in order to get that education. Following her graduation from Machias High School in 1935, she was employed as a cook at The Brick House in Bar Harbor, then at Sagamore Lodge in Rangeley and also in Florida. She later returned to Machias, where she was the cook at Hanson’s Hospital until 1945. Like many of her generation, she delayed marriage until the end of World War II, and then she married Keith Armstrong on Dec. 27, 1945. Following her marriage, she spent 60 years of her life as a full-time homemaker, putting to use her many practical skills in cooking, preserving, knitting, sewing, wallpapering and painting. She lived by thrift and self-sacrifice, another trait born of the depression childhood and carried throughout her adult life. Florence was first a member of the Machias Methodist Church, later transferring her membership to the Jacksonville Methodist Church when the Machias church closed. She was also a member of the Jacksonville Grange, The Susannah Wesley Guild, the Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star. She also served with the Friends of the Porter Memorial Library. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Pauline and Stephen Cates of Cutler; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Joanna and Anthony Liberatore of Webster, N.Y.; and her grandson, Steve Cates of Hickory, N.C. It was a special joy to her to know that her first great-grandchild would be born in December. Also surviving are her brothers and their wives, Neil and Allie Corbett and Purcell and Josephine Corbett, all of Cutler; her sister, Kathleen Johnson of Machias; and her sister-in-law and husband, Pauline and Guswin Squilanti, of Ellsworth. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as many devoted friends. She was predeceased by two brothers, Myron and Lester Corbett; two sisters, Ruth Farris and Emily Keaton; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Brooks and Dot Armstrong. A memorial service will be held at Jacksonville Methodist Church, the time and date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that if people wish, donations may be made to the Jacksonville Methodist Church Repair Fund, P.O. Box 59, East Machias, ME 04630, the Porter Memorial Library, 52 Court Street, Machias, ME 04654, or to the Friends of the Little River Lighthouse, P.O. Box 671, East Machias, ME 04630.
FLORENCE ARMSTRONG
