MACHIAS – Julia (McIver) Luce, 84, died Oct. 18, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born July 24, 1922, in Greenville, the daughter of William and Florence (Littlefield) McIver. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1940. She married her husband, Charles W. Luce, in 1943 and moved to Machias, shortly after the end of World War II to raise her family. Julia’s name may not be familiar to many but her story will. In the early 1950s a local businessman, Larry Mugnai expanded his ice cream business into a full menu restaurant, Helen’s. At that time Mr. Mugnai needed a dessert that would be more fitting for a restaurant—pie. It was at that time that a long and successful adventure started for Julia and Helen’s restaurant. To start, Julia made four to five pies a week out of her home which expanded to 60 pies a day in the late 1950s and early 1960s. As the demand grew, even more Julia finally agreed to share her recipes with another cook to satisfy the demand for more pies. It was during these years that “pie was king and Julia was its queen.” Many a vacation or day trip had to include a drive Downeast to visit Helen’s and experience a little bit of the heavenly dessert. In the late 1960s Julia decided it was time to retire from baking and to start a new career. She graciously turned over all her recipes to Helen’s and moved on to a new chapter in her life. Julia worked for the State Department of Human Resources and retired in 1985 after 20 years of service. Many of her happiest times were spent with her family in Greenville and at the family camp on Bog Lake. Julia was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star and served as past worthy matron. She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Love and her husband, Roy, of Machias; a son, William Luce of Windham; a sister, Mercedes M. Blanchard of Greenville; three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law; five grandchildren, Carlton, Catherine, Christopher, Carolyn and Julia’s special traveling companion and caregiver, Lisa; five great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews; and special longtime friend and caregiver, Seamus Walsh of Windham. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles; a son, Charles Jr.; three brothers, Omar McIver of Greenville, William F. McIver of Sangerville and James McIver of Greenville. Visiting hours will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, Machias. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the funeral home officiated by the Rev. Gini King. Friends and family are invited to the Centre Street Congregational Church vestry after the service for a time of fellowship and refreshments. A committal service will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at the East New Portland Cemetery, New Portland. www.bragdonkelley.com
JULIA (MCIVER) LUCE
