PRESQUE ISLE – Margaret Hanks Coffin, 84, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at Glenridge Nursing Home, Augusta. She was born May 18, 1926, in Augusta, daughter of the late Dana and Ethelle Libby Hanks. Margaret attended Cony High School, Fischer Business School and the University of Maine, Orono. She was a longtime member of Presque Isle Congregational Church and its choir – Caribou Choral Society, and Beta Sigma Phi. Born and brought up in Augusta, Margaret had a desire to be in radio at an early age. At UMO, she got involved in the Radio Guild Club, writing scripts, performing music, etc. Her love of radio brought her to Presque Isle, where they needed an announcer at WAGM. It was there she met her husband-to-be, Ted Coffin. Several years later when she worked for WRKD-Radio, Rockland, she and Ted were married. After only 10 years of marriage, Ted passed away leaving her to raise her two girls. Her work in radio and television ended with Ted’s passing. In order to support the family, she briefly taught school, but soon went on to work in the library field. Margaret earned her master’s degree in library science while working in the library at Aroostook State Teacher’s College. She was the first librarian for Northern Maine Technical College, where she was head librarian from the late 1960s to 1996, when she retired. Her work building the new library there was one of her proudest accomplishments. Her favorite things in life were her house and gardens, traveling, the family camp at Three Mile Pond, shopping, hosting luncheons, shoes and her dogs. But music was the biggest part of her life. Her piano playing and singing brought her great joy until she could no longer see the music. Her daughters were, and still are musical, thanks to the passion that she passed on to them. While she was truly not suited for retirement, she found ways to keep herself busy. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Caribou Choral Society, Presque Isle Community Players, even writing and assisting with the direction of a dinner theatre production in 2003. Her love of storytelling made her a welcome dinner guest. She was always “entertaining!” She was predeceased by her husband, R. Theodore Coffin, in 1964; her brother, Dana Hanks Jr.; and sister, Lois Hanks. She is survived by her two daughters, Nanci Lee (LaMarque) and her husband, Jim, and Lucinda Ann; her niece, Susan Gayne and her husband, Steve; her nephew, Dana McLean Hanks and his wife, MaryAnn; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Hews, Jackie Haines, Geraldine Wheeler and Helen King; brothers-in-law, Richard King and his wife, Irene, and Harold Quass; numerous nieces and nephews; her very special longtime friends from Presque Isle; and her beloved dog, Brandy Sue. Family and friends may attend calling hours 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at Presque Isle Congregational Church. Burial will be afterward at Fairmont Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. A celebration party will be held afterward at Northeastland Hotel to allow all of her friends and family to “tell stories” and sing together. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME, 04769; Caribou Choral Society, care of Dan Ladner, Fleetwood Street, Presque Isle, ME, 04769; or Diabetes Foundation, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
MARGARET HANKS COFFIN
