SANFORD – Following a long illness, Louella M. McPherson Berube of Sanford, died in her home on Dec. 22, 2003, surrounded by loving family and friends. Louella was the eldest of seven children born to her parents Dennis and Alice (Gamache) McPherson in the town of St. John Plantation. Louella attended the French School of Design in Boston. In the 1940’s, she worked with chemists for the U.S. Rubber Co. to develop a process for the use of a rubber coating for shoes. Louella’s job was to determine the proper consistency and stretching capability of the rubber to make the concept work. In the early 1950’s, Lou was remembered by the owners of Betty Hartford Frocks as having been an outstanding employee of their company. They noted her excellence in craftsmanship and capabilities. She was invited to manage the Sanford branch of the company following their move south. She helped keep the company afloat for many years. Following her retirement from the Betty Hartford Co., Louella felt her working days were over. However in less than a month’s time she was pursued by Nike. Before long she became instrumental in opening Nike Shoes at the old Gendron building on Lebanon Street in Sanford, but only with the understanding that all of the employees of her Betty Hartford unit would join her at Nike. She became one of Sanford’s most beloved icons! In 1984, Louella retired for good. She devoted the remainder of her years to gardening, taking care of her animals, both domestic and wild and spending quality time playing cards and going out to dinner with her many friends and relatives. Louella was predeceased by her husband, Felix Berube, in 1996, a sister, Rena Turmenne Doucet; and by a brother, Elmer McPherson. She will be sadly missed by three sisters, Rita Sherman and her husband, Charles, of Old Orchard Beach, Tessie Tully of Jamaica Plain, Mass., Mary McPherson Bender of Long Beach, Calif.; a brother, Roger McPherson and his wife, Madlyn, of Old Orchard Beach; a sister-in-law, Marlene Nemitz McPherson of Lyman; and by many loving nieces and nephews who will realize a void in their hearts with the passing of their dear Aunt Lou! A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, in Notre Dame Church in Springvale. Burial will be in the spring in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 2208, Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements are through the LaFrance-Lambert Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford.
LOUELLA M. BERUBE
