PORTLAND – Gladys K. (York) Petrie, 93, died Sunday morning, Dec. 13, 2009, at her home at The Woods on Canco Road where she has resided for the past four years. Gladys was born Oct. 26, 1916, in Milbridge, the daughter of George and Lula Mitchell Kelley and was educated in Milbridge schools. As a young lady and mother, she worked in Milbridge at various sardine-packing firms and during the summer months worked at the blueberry factory in Cherryfield. After moving to Portland in the late 1950s, she worked at Grants store on Congress Street, Portland, and also for Burnham and Morrill Co. Gladys always had the desire to reach out and help others in need and it was this desire that gave her the opportunity to enter health care as a certified nurse’s aide at Mercy Hospital, Portland. Her true genuine need to help and understand people during their most difficult time led her to work as a funeral attendant for 17 years with her son, Morrell York, owner of York Funeral Chapel, Gorham and Kezar Falls. During these years, she and her late husband, William “Bill” York, lived at the two funeral homes and it was not unusual for her to invite grieving families to spend the entire evening at the funeral home apartments and offer them home cooked meals, knowing full well the difficulty involved for those grieving to have to leave their loved ones for only a short period of time. She was a member of Cressey Road United Methodist Church, Gorham, and throughout the years had been a member of the church choir and ladies affiliations of that church. She also was a member of Eastern Star and Cape Elizabeth Grange No. 242. She was predeceased by her first husband, Bill York; and her most recent husband, Harold Petrie. Her most difficult times in her life were the deaths of her son, Billy; and her grandson, Lance. She is survived by one son, Morrell York and his wife, Judie, of Yarmouth; one grandson, William York and his wife, Jennelyn, of Gorham; two great-grandchildren, Alana and Alex York, both of Portland, as well as relatives in the Milbridge area. She was also blessed with an extended family on Judie’s side of the family with Jayne and husband, Kevin, Ted, Diane and David; two stepgrandchildren, Christine Legere and her husband, Jerry, of Portland, and Mark Colby and his wife, Vicki, of Gordonsville, Va., and their children who adored “Grammy Gladys.” Special thanks to those from 1Call Senior Services and Hospice of Southern Maine who cared for her with so much compassion and love. They truly made it possible for her to remain in her home where her many friends were able to visit with her daily. A period of visitation will be noon-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at Cressey Road United Methodist Church, Gorham, where a funeral service will begin 2 p.m. with the Rev. Linwood Arnold officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Milbridge. It is the family’s request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to either Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or to HART House – Homeless Animal Rescue Team; a no-kill shelter and adoption center for cats, P.O. Box 351, Cumberland, ME 04021. To sign a guest book, offer words of condolence and share memories, go to the obituary page at www.independentdeathcare.com.
GLADYS K. (YORK) PETRIE
