HAMPDEN and BREWER – Mildred Natalie Thayer, 92, died Jan. 6, 2005, at a Bangor healthcare facility. She was born Sept. 18, 1912, at Brewer, the daughter of John Craig Thayer and Natalie Mae (Thurston) Thayer. Mildred attended Brewer schools and graduated from Brewer High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and Magna Cum Laude from Washington State Normal School at Machias (now the University of Maine), and holds bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Maine at Orono. She received scholarships from Alpha Psi Maine and Delta Kappa Gamma. She taught for three years in a one-room rural school in Hampden; for 19 years in Brewer, the last 11 years in science at Brewer Junior High School; and taught science for 18 years at Garland Street Junior High School in Bangor. Mildred was a member and past president of Brewer Teachers’ Club, a life member of Brewer Public Library Assoc., was an honorary member of Brewer Historical Society, and a life member of Holden Grange. In addition, she was a member of Bangor Nature Club, the State and National Teachers Associations, the local State and National Retired Teachers Associations, Hampden Historical Society, St. George Historical Society, Steamboat Historical Society of America, Hampden Senior Citizens, Maine Association of Retirees, Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and International Library of Poetry. Mildred was a lifetime member of First Congregational Church of Brewer and served as church school teacher and superintendent for about 25 years, clerk, deaconess, first editor of the Steeple News and adult advisor of young peoples’ group. She was selected as a Leader in American Secondary Education and was selected as typical of the best in church school teachers across the states. Mildred’s volunteer service included almost 25 years in Girl Scout work, 15 years as a leader and the remainder in committee work; Brewer Recreation Committee; site committee for Meals for Me in Hampden; secretary for Republican Town Committee for 10 years; served dinners and prepared programs for Meals for Me. She also volunteered as a correspondence visitor for Hospital Chaplaincy Service in addition to her other volunteer work in the church. She was instrumental in the writing of the History of Brewer 1962. She also wrote the book “Patchwork and Ploughshares” in 1994. Mildred also had articles printed in the Downeast Magazine, the Maine Teacher, The Science Teacher (National), The Grade Teacher, Junior Arts and Activities, Steamboat Bill and several educational magazines. Her poems were published in anthologies of National Library of Poetry. In addition to her many accomplishments, she also chaired a group of team teachers in an experimental project under the Ford Foundation and the University of Maine and was a lecturer for the University of Maine. In addition to her parents, Mildred was predeceased by two brothers, Wilbur Craig Thayer and Raymond Everett Thayer; one sister, Stella Alice Thayer; and a close friend, Lura Hoit. She is survived by close friends, Victoria and Peter McLean, John Hatch, Joyce and Ron Rankin, and the McIntosh family. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Congregational Church of Brewer. Interment in the spring time will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Brewer. Arrangements entrusted to the Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden.