BUCKSPORT – Bertha Thurston Higgins, 98, passed away May 13, 2009, in Brewer. She was born March 24, 1911, in Bucksport, daughter of Frederic and Susanne (Eaton) Smith. Bertha attended Eastern Maine Conference Seminary, Bucksport, and graduated in 1929. She returned to the seminary the next year for postgraduate studies. Bertha was truly loved by all the members of her large extended family. As long as she was able, she made a special afghan for each new baby to welcome them into her family. In her earlier years, she enjoyed traveling to visit family members throughout the U.S. and abroad to Brazil, Japan and South Korea. During her later years, she lived in Winston, Ga., with the Joslin family and continued to spend her summers at her beloved camp at Long Pond, Bucksport. Her children and grandchildren were fortunate to have been able to share many of these summers with her. In 2003, Bertha and her sister-in-law, Barbara, moved to Dirigo Pines, Orono, where they lived until Barbara passed away in 2006. Bertha’s final years were spent at Woodlands Assisted Living Facility, Brewer, where she remained active until her death. She was predeceased by two husbands, Everett Thurston of Bucksport and Myron Higgins of Arlington Mass.; two brothers, William Smith of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Frederick Smith of Bucksport; grandson, Gary Thurston of Winter Haven, Fla.; granddaughter, Tamara Thurston of Tucson, Ariz.; stepson, Carleton Higgins of Lexington, Mass.; and two sisters-in-law, Barbara Joslin of Orono and Lora Ames of Dedham. Surviving are her children, Richard Thurston and wife, June, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Robert Thurston and wife, Betty, of Penobscot, John Thurston of Seabrook, N.H., and Jean Poulin and husband, Paul, of Sullivan; her stepdaughters, Hazel Graham and husband, Donald, of Lexington, Mass., Inez French and husband, Albert, of North Hampton, N.H., and Barbara Lovering of Townsend, Mass.; stepdaughter-in-law, Rachel Higgins of Bedford, Mass.; and grandchildren, Rick and Jaye Thurston of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tracy Thurston of Ellsworth, Tenley Mossing of Swansville, Tiffany Webster of Bucksport, Kevin Thurston of West Warrick, R.I., Keith Thurston of Somersworth, N.H., Deanna Metcalf of San Jose, Calif., Frank Baiarrio of Veazie and Regina Piatt of Bangor. Also surviving are her stepgrandchildren, Donald, Gary and Mark Lovering, Helen Cohen, David Graham, Martha Alicia, Steven Lyons, Janet Poitras, Beverly String, Carol Patterson, Ronald and Alan Higgins, and Diane McIver. She leaves a total of 38 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. Bertha maintained a very close relationship with her brother, Bill’s children, Fred, Susanne and Bill; as well as her sister-in-law, Barbara’s children, Phil, Cynthia and Jocelyn. A memorial service will be at East Bucksport United Methodist Church conducted by Pastor Peter Remick later this summer on a date to be announced. Donations may be made in her memory to East Bucksport United Methodist Church, care of Joyce Johnson, P.O. Box 551, Bucksport, ME 04416, where she was a loyal and grateful member for many years. Arrangements are under the direction of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.
BERTHA THURSTON HIGGINS
