ORRINGTON – Louine Mercie (Spinney) Cotter, 91, went home to be with the Lord Dec. 10, 2010. She was comforted by her loving family: son, Billy; daughter, Ellen; and granddaughters, Jody, Amanda and Chiyanne, at the time of her passing. She was born Aug. 29, 1919, in the house she grew up in and where she and her husband raised their own family in Orrington, the daughter of Mercie Annie (Conley) and Charles Oscar Spinney. Louine graduated from Brewer High School in 1937. She was a cheerleader during two of her high school years. She married the love of her life, William A. Cotter, March 16, 1941, with whom she shared 66 years until his death in December 2007. During that time, they lived in Jacksonville, Fla.; San Diego; Patuxent River, Md.; Westfield, Mass.; Brunswick; the Blake Farm, Orrington; and finally back to the home where she was born until March 2009. She was employed by Julie Comforter Co., Holyoke, Mass.; Coutures Gardens, Westfield, Mass.; The Orrington Jet Diner; Rice and Miller/Emery Waterhouse, Bangor; Freese’s department store, Bangor; and The Korner Kitchen, Bangor, where she was well known for her famous “sky high” blueberry muffins and homemade pies. After her retirement, she dedicated her life to her family and took care of many of her grandchildren and neighborhood kids, all of whom she loved and adored. She was raised with the passion of music in her heart. She was an entertainer, singing and dancing in Harold Moon’s minstrel shows throughout Maine, the Nashville Comes to Orrington Show, and volunteering her piano and singing talents at many nursing homes in the Greater Bangor-Brewer area. She was a wonderful cook, always making each meal and holiday a special time of gathering for her family and friends. She had so much love to give and was happiest when everyone was around her. She was a loving wife, mother, nana, sister, aunt and friend who held a very special place in everyone’s heart. She was a member of Orrington Christmas Club, for which she hosted many get-togethers in her beautiful home, and also Orrington Vashti Rebekah’s. She sang in the choir at First United Methodist Church of Orrington for many years and volunteered her time and donated homemade goods and handmade items to their Christmas fairs. She is survived by her loving children, Wilfred Cotter, Ellen Cotter and Dianne Levesque; 13 grandchildren, Michael Levesque, Richard Cotter Jr., Mark Cotter, Monte Levesque, Tracy Adkins, Matthew Levesque, Jody Croft, Andrew Hillman, Benjamin Levesque, Adam Bullard, Amanda Hillman “Nannie’s Pookie Girl,” Luke Cotter and Chiyanne Cotter; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and John Buckingham; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Spinney; a special cousin, Lorraine Whaley; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and two beloved “daughters,” Carol Ann Crosby and Merry Carrigan. She was predeceased by her husband, William, in December 2007; her son, Richard Sr., in April 2007; and a brother, Samuel. She was also predeceased by dear lifelong friends, Marion Moffatt, Ethel Kennedy and Irene West. She will be sadly missed by two very close friends, Lorraine Coulter and Lucille Randall. Many thanks to staff members, Sarah, Stacey, Kathy, Meaghan, Carol, Michelle and Tim at Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and to Beacon Hospice for the care and love they gave during her stay. A celebration of Louine’s life was held Dec. 12 at Auburn Hall, Bangor, with the Rev. Robert T. Carlson officiating. Many thanks to Rev. Bob for making it possible to send her “home” in peace. Contributions in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.
LOUINE MERCIE (SPINNEY) COTTER
